Short ID Questions

Front

Short Answer 1: Distinct Political Outlooks of Democratic-Republicans and Federalists

Back

In the 1790s, two political factions emerged in the United States:

• Federalists: Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams, they favored a strong central government to promote commerce and stability. They supported a loose interpretation of the Constitution, the creation of a national bank (1791), and maintaining good relations with Britain. They passed the Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) to suppress dissent.

• Democratic-Republicans: Led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, they advocated for states' rights and a limited federal government. They supported a strict interpretation of the Constitution, promoted an agrarian society, and aligned with France due to their revolutionary ideals. They opposed the Alien and Sedition Acts, viewing them as unconstitutional.

These differences shaped the first party system and set the stage for future political debates.

Front

Short Answer 2: Southern Treatment of Slaves and Justifications

Back

In the antebellum era (1800-1860), enslaved people in the South faced harsh conditions:

• Treatment: Slaves worked long hours in the fields, lived in small, poorly built cabins, and faced brutal punishments like whipping and beating. Bennett Barrow’s diaries from the 1830s describe strict discipline on plantations. Families were often torn apart due to the domestic slave trade.

• Justifications:

  • Economic: Slavery was essential for the cotton industry (King Cotton).

  • Religious: Slaveholders claimed the Bible supported slavery.

  • Paternalism: They argued they were "protecting" and caring for enslaved people.

  • Racial: Belief in white superiority justified enslavement.

These justifications maintained the institution of slavery despite growing abolitionist movements.