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Quiz for Thinking Like a Historian: The Entrepreneur and the Community

Question

1. A historian examining this collection of sources would most likely come to which of the following conclusions about republican culture in the United States during the first half of the nineteenth century?

American republicanism emphasized the importance of the wealthy and the insignificance of the common man.

Whether they were rich or poor, most Americans viewed hard work and self-discipline as the source of their dignity.

Despite their republican rhetoric, most Americans recognized that economic privilege, not hard work, was the key to wealth.

In the early nineteenth century, Americans valued their political and religious opportunities much more highly than money.

Correct. The answer is b. A historian considering all five of these sources would most likely conclude that most Americans—whether or not they had achieved financial wealth—viewed hard work and self-discipline as an important source of dignity.

Incorrect. The answer is b. A historian considering all five of these sources would most likely conclude that most Americans—whether or not they had achieved financial wealth—viewed hard work and self-discipline as an important source of dignity.

Question

2. Which republican values were the American pewterers celebrating in their 1788 banner (source 1)?

Democracy

Self-reliance

Social equality

Separation of church and state

Correct. The answer is c. In addition to celebrating the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the pewterers were paying tribute to the idea that all American men had equal opportunities to achieve social and economic mobility, no matter the conditions of their birth.

Incorrect. The answer is c. In addition to celebrating the ratification of the U.S. Constitution, the pewterers were paying tribute to the idea that all American men had equal opportunities to achieve social and economic mobility, no matter the conditions of their birth.

Question

3. The author of “A Working Man’s Recollections of America” (source 3) would most likely have responded to John Jacob Astor’s claim in source 2 by stating which of the following?

Hard work does not inevitably create wealth.

Education, not hard work, is the key to riches.

Wealth comes more easily to the native born than to immigrants.

Only by using family connections can a man become wealthy.

Correct. The answer is a. The author of “A Working Man’s Recollections of America” would have responded to John Jacob Astor by explaining that hard work does not inevitably create wealth. His recollection details his diligent efforts and subsequent economic failure.

Incorrect. The answer is a. The author of “A Working Man’s Recollections of America” would have responded to John Jacob Astor by explaining that hard work does not inevitably create wealth. His recollection details his diligent efforts and subsequent economic failure.

Question

4. A member of which of the following groups would have been most likely to support the viewpoint expressed by Philip Hone in source 4?

Proponents of neomercantilism

Southern slave owners

Evangelical Baptists

Irish immigrants

Correct. The answer is a. A proponent of neomercantilism—a system of government-assisted economic development—would have been most likely to support Philip Hone’s celebration of John Jacob Astor and his successful economic enterprises. This group believed that government assistance to develop privately owned economic interests was the best way to increase the “common wealth” of the nation.

Incorrect. The answer is a. A proponent of neomercantilism—a system of government-assisted economic development—would have been most likely to support Philip Hone’s celebration of John Jacob Astor and his successful economic enterprises. This group believed that government assistance to develop privately owned economic interests was the best way to increase the “common wealth” of the nation.

Question

5. According to the author of the 1848 New York Herald editorial, what factor accounted for a significant proportion of John Jacob Astor’s wealth at the time of his death?

The Commonwealth System

The hard work of New York’s citizens

Good luck

New York bankers

Correct. The answer is b. According to the author, it was the hard work of thousands of New Yorkers in the city’s entire economy that accounted for a significant proportion of John Jacob Astor’s wealth by 1848.

Incorrect. The answer is b. According to the author, it was the hard work of thousands of New Yorkers in the city’s entire economy that accounted for a significant proportion of John Jacob Astor’s wealth by 1848.