wayground logo

Free Printable Worksheets

Font size

S
M
L
XL
Worksheets

The Federalist Era

Total questions: 45

Worksheet time: 32mins

Name
Class
Date
1.

Who was the first president of the United States?

a)

John Hancock

b)

John Adams

c)

George Washington

d)

Thomas Jefferson

2.

Something done or said that becomes an example for others to follow.

a)

bond

b)

precedent

c)

compromise

d)

ordinance

3.

Which of the following is NOT a precedent established by Washington?

a)

creation of the cabinet

b)

the farewell address

c)

"Mr. President"

d)

Refusing to shake hands with people.

4.

Some people opposed Hamilton's financial plan because (CHOOSE ALL THAT APPLY):

a)

Speculators would get rich.

b)

Southern states already paid their debts.

c)

George Washington disagreed with Hamilton.

d)

Americans were prosperous and needed no help.

5.

Hamilton's financial plan was ultimately adopted because

a)

There was widespread support for it in Congress.

b)

Government leaders made a compromise to move the capital.

c)

There was no other plan offered.

d)

George Washington used the army to get it passed.

6.

This event involved protests by farmers in western Pennsylvania against a tax and established the precedent of executive authority by the president.

a)

Shays' Rebellion

b)

Bacon's Rebellion

c)

Whiskey Rebellion

d)

Pinckney's Rebellion

7.

Conflict between Britain and France led to the precedent of

a)

neutrality

b)

declaration of war against France

c)

impressment

d)

sedition

8.

All of the following were members of Washington's cabinet EXCEPT

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Alexander Hamilton

c)

Henry Knox

d)

James Madison

9.

Select ALL that are TRUE about America's first political parties.

a)

Conflicts within Washington's cabinet led to their creation.

b)

The founders of these parties were Hamilton and Jefferson.

c)

Washington did not belong to either political party.

d)

In his Farewell Address, Washington warned the nation against them.

10.

Which political party was Pro-France and Anti-Britain?

a)

Federalist

b)

Democratic-Republican

c)

Neither

11.

Which political party was Anti-France and Pro-Britain?

a)

Federalist

b)

Democratic-Republican

c)

Neither

12.

This event involved French officials and resulted in Adams becoming unpopular with his own party.

a)

XYZ Affair

b)

Alien and Sedition Acts

c)

Whiskey Rebellion

d)

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

13.

The Alien and Sedition Acts were passed because (check all that apply)

a)

The Federalist party was worried that opposition to the federal government would weaken it.

b)

The Federalist party wanted to weaken the Democratic-Republican Party.

c)

The Federalist party was pro-France and anti-Britain.

d)

The Federalist party had evidence of treason among members of the government.

14.

Activities aimed at weakening the established government by inciting resistance or rebellion to authority.

a)

sedition

b)

treason

c)

caucus

d)

states' rights

15.

How long did John Adams serve as president?

a)

2 terms/8 years

b)

1 term/4 years

16.

In response to the Alien and Sedition Acts, (select all that apply)

a)

the Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions were passed.

b)

John Adams became an even more unpopular president.

c)

America declared war on France.

d)

America declared war on Britain.

17.

Tax on imports

a)

tariff

b)

innaugurate

c)

bond

d)

nullify

18.

How did George Washington handle the Whiskey Rebellion?

a)

He allowed it to go on because he agreed with the rebellion

b)

He diplomatically spoke to the rebels and calmed them down

c)

He personally went with an army to shut down the rebellion and send a message

d)

He resigned as president

19.

What is the president’s cabinet?

a)

The place where a president keeps their dishes in the White House

b)

The people who oppose a president in Congress

c)

The president’s group of advisors, each overseeing a department and assisting the president

d)

The committee appointed by the Senate to advise the president

20.

In his Farewell Address, what advice did George Washington give to the nation?

a)

Become very involved in foreign affairs

b)

Form political parties to allow citizens to express their opinions

c)

Do not become entangled or overly involved in foreign affairs

d)

Be quick to declare war

21.

In which event during John Adams’s presidency did French agents demand a bribe from the United States?

a)

The Whiskey Rebellion

b)

The French Conspiracy

c)

The XYZ Affair

d)

The Alien and Sedition Acts

22.

What was the significance of the presidential election of 1796, when John Adams and Thomas Jefferson ran against each other?

a)

It was the first presidential election to involve political parties

b)

It was an unimportant election which did not affect the nation

c)

It was the first election in which everyone running was from the same political party

d)

It was the first election without any political parties

23.

What law was passed by Congress and President John Adams as a result of fear of foreign influence and treason in the United States?

a)

The Intolerable Acts

b)

The Arrest and Warrants Expedition Act

c)

The Alien and Sedition Acts

d)

The Laws of Customs Duty

24.

What did the Federalist Party stand for?

a)

Powerful government and rule by the elite and well-educated for businesses and the wealthy

b)

Small, weak central government and rule by ordinary people and farmers

c)

Rule by a king

d)

Rule by a small group of people

25.

The Whiskey Rebellion - choose all that apply.

a)

Showed how weak the federal government was.

b)

Was over taxes.

c)

Showed the power of the federal government.

d)

Was over foreign trade.

26.

Which answers fit with Democratic Republicans? - Choose all that apply

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

Strict interpretation of the Constitution

d)

Loose interpretation of the Constitution

27.

Which answers fit with Federalists? - Choose all that apply

a)

Alexander Hamilton

b)

Thomas Jefferson

c)

Strict interpretation of the Constitution

d)

Loose interpretation of the Constitution

28.

What does STRICT interpretation or construction of the Constitution mean?

a)

If it is not in the Constitution, the federal government cannot do it.

b)

Just because it is not in the Constitution, does not mean the federal government cannot do it.

29.

What does LOOSE interpretation or construction of the Constitution mean?

a)

If it is not in the Constitution, the federal government cannot do it.

b)

Just because it is not in the Constitution, does not mean the federal government cannot do it.

30.

This person was a Federalist....(check all that apply)

a)

Hamilton

b)

Jefferson

c)

Adams

d)

Madison

31.

This person was a Democratic-Republican....(check all that apply)

a)

Hamilton

b)

Jefferson

c)

Adams

d)

Madison

32.

In another daring move, Hamilton proposed a tax on imported goods he hoped would protect American industries. What are these taxes called?

a)

bonds

b)

interest

c)

tariffs

d)

expenditures

33.

What was the purpose of Washington's Proclamation of Neutrality?

a)

prevent war with Native Americans

b)

prevent war with Spain

c)

prevent picking sides between Spain and France

d)

prevent picking sides between Britain and France

34.

Which treaty gave the Americans free navigation of the Mississippi River and the right to trade at New Orleans?

a)

Jay's Treaty

b)

Proclamation of Neutrality

c)

Pinckney's Treaty

d)

Washington's Treaty

35.

What was interesting about the relationship between the president, John Adams, and vice president, Thomas Jefferson, who were elected in 1796?

a)

they were of members of opposing parties

b)

they were brothers

c)

they had never met

d)

they voted for each other

36.

What circumstance led to the what, today, is called the XYZ Affair?

a)

British ships were forcing Americans to join the British navy.

b)

The French were seizing American ships.

c)

The US was attacking British and French ships.

d)

The British were attacking French ships.

37.

What legislation gave the president authority to deport—send out of the country— those people of foreign birth thought to be dangerous.

a)

Alien and Sedition Acts

b)

Judicial Act of 1789

c)

Proclamation of 1789

d)

Bill of Rights

38.

The Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions stated firm support for...

a)

John Adams as President

b)

neutrality in wars overseas

c)

states' rights in nullifying laws

d)

judicial review of federal laws

39.

What was one of the reasons for the Quasi-War with France during the presidency of John Adams?

a)

US soldiers attacked French citizens in the French port city of Louisiana.

b)

France refused to pay its debts to the United States.

c)

The British and the French formed a trade alliance.

d)

The United States refused to pay a bribe to France to restore diplomatic relations.

40.

Which party believed in the common man and that states should be more powerful.

a)

Democrat- Republican

b)

Federalists

41.

Which party believed in high tariffs and a US Bank?

a)

Democrat Republican (Jefferson)

b)

Federalist (Hamilton)

42.

The President of the United States has to deal with both FOREIGN and DOMESTIC issues.


FOREIGN POLICY MEANS...

a)

Not taking sides in a conflict

b)

to unite oneself with another to promote a common interest

c)

A government’s strategy in dealing with other nations

d)

laws, programs, and decisions that are directly related to all issues and activity within a nation's borders.

43.

The President of the United States has to deal with both FOREIGN and DOMESTIC issues.


DOMESTIC POLICY MEANS...

a)

Not taking sides in a conflict

b)

to unite oneself with another to promote a common interest

c)

A government’s strategy in dealing with other nations

d)

laws, programs, and decisions that are directly related to all issues and activity within a nation's borders.

44.

This stated that the United States would not take sides with any European countries that were at war.

a)

French Proclamation

b)

Neutrality Proclamation

c)

British Proclamation

d)

U.S. Proclamation

45.

Who wanted to help France because they helped the U.S. in the American Revolution?

a)

Thomas Jefferson

b)

Alexander Hamiton

c)

John Jay

d)

Edmond Genet