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Quiz for American Voices: Factional Politics and the War of 1812

Question

1. According to George Washington’s 1796 farewell address, what is the ultimate cause of political factionalism?

Human nature

Regional differences

The spirit of revenge

Concerns about despotism

Correct. The answer is a. George Washington suggests that factionalism is inseparable from human nature, “having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind,” and that, as such, it exists in every type of government.

Incorrect. The answer is a. George Washington suggests that factionalism is inseparable from human nature, “having its root in the strongest passions of the human mind,” and that, as such, it exists in every type of government.

Question

2. What did Josiah Quincy fear would happen if the United States went to war with Great Britain in 1812?

The French would begin to seize American ships.

The British would invade the United States.

Britain would take American sailors hostage.

Canada would take possession of New York.

Correct. The answer is b. Quincy expressed the fear that, if the United States invaded British Canada, Britain would respond by invading the United States and bringing the “horrors of war” to its shores.

Incorrect. The answer is b. Quincy expressed the fear that, if the United States invaded British Canada, Britain would respond by invading the United States and bringing the “horrors of war” to its shores.

Question

3. In their manifesto, Josiah Quincy and his fellow Federalists characterized the Republicans as

short-sighted and anti-British.

greedy and deceptive.

self-interested and bloodthirsty.

pro-British and anti-American.

Correct. The answer is a. Quincy and the Federalists characterized the Republicans as unreasonably biased against the British (and unwilling to acknowledge that the French were also in the wrong) and unable to foresee the long-term implications of invading Canada and starting a war.

Incorrect. The answer is a. Quincy and the Federalists characterized the Republicans as unreasonably biased against the British (and unwilling to acknowledge that the French were also in the wrong) and unable to foresee the long-term implications of invading Canada and starting a war.

Question

4. In his 1815 newspaper comments, Hezekiah Niles characterized the New England Federalists as

vengeful and belligerent.

cowardly and defensive.

competitive and ambitious.

greedy and unpatriotic.

Correct. The answer is d. Niles suggested that the New England Federalists greedily held onto their money, unwilling to use it to aid the country, and that their actions were weakening the nation and enabling Britain to continue the war.

Incorrect. The answer is d. Niles suggested that the New England Federalists greedily held onto their money, unwilling to use it to aid the country, and that their actions were weakening the nation and enabling Britain to continue the war.