roarksources

Quiz for Reading the American Past, Chapter 8

Quiz for Reading the American Past, Chapter 8

Document Links

Document 8-1: Richard Allen Founds the First African Methodist Church

Document 8-2: Thomas Jefferson on Slavery and Race

Document 8-3: Benjamin Rush Proposes a Proper Education for a Republic

Document 8-4: Making the Case for the Constitution

Document 8-5: Mercy Otis Warren Opposes the Constitution

Question

1. Why did Richard Allen start his own church? (See Document 8-1: Richard Allen Founds the First African Methodist Church)

African Americans had been kicked out of white church services in Philadelphia.

Allen wanted to shield black Christian worshippers from what he called "white devils."

Allen had fundamental ecclesiastical disagreements with white Methodists in Philadelphia.

The city of Philadelphia had awarded him a contract to build an all-black church.

Correct.

Incorrect. The answer is The answer is a. Richard Allen recounted in his narrative how African Americans, including himself, were evicted from a white church service.

Question

2. Why did Thomas Jefferson believe that black people were inferior? (See Document 8-2: Thomas Jefferson on Slavery and Race)

Poverty in Africa had deprived them of some crucial mental faculties.

The brutality of slavery had stultified their senses.

Hard physical labor had made black people mean-spirited and lazy.

Black people were by their natural history inferior to whites.

Correct.

Incorrect. The answer is The answer is d. Jefferson reasoned that people of African descent were inferior as a result of nature, not condition.

Question

3. Why did Benjamin Rush think the study of commerce was so important? (See Document 8-3: Benjamin Rush Proposes a Proper Education for a Republic)

Commerce best secured the republic against a new aristocracy.

Lacking natural resources, the United States had to prosper through trade.

Economic independence and prosperity was the central mission of education.

Success in commerce among citizens would lead to higher tax revenues.

Correct.

Incorrect. The answer is The answer is a. Benjamin Rush believed that the study of commerce was especially important in a republic since it broadened access to wealth and thus guarded against the rise of a new aristocracy.

Question

4. What did James Madison consider the most important and durable cause for the creation of factions in any society? (See Document 8-4: Making the Case for the Constitution)

Gender differences

Racial divisions

Generational divides

Unequal distribution of wealth

Correct.

Incorrect. The answer is The answer is d. James Madison explained that "the most common and durable source of factions [had] been the various and unequal distribution of property."

Question

5. Which of the following arguments did Mercy Otis Warren level against the new Constitution of the United States? (See Document 8-5: Mercy Otis Warren Opposes the Constitution)

The Constitution openly and explicitly sanctioned African slavery.

The Constitution spoke exclusively of men rather than "the people."

The Constitution failed to properly define the powers of the judiciary, executive, and legislative branches.

The Constitution was so long and mired in specifics that its utility as a law had been compromised.

Correct.

Incorrect. The answer is The answer is c. Mercy Otis Warren objected to the U.S. Constitution because it failed to properly define the powers of the judiciary, executive, and legislative branches.

Question

6. What view did Richard Allen and Thomas Jefferson not hold in common? (See Document 8-1: Richard Allen Founds the First African Methodist Church and Document 8-2: Thomas Jefferson on Slavery and Race)

Allen cherished memories of the colonial period, whereas Jefferson did not.

Jefferson was a staunch supporter of Alexander Hamilton, whereas Allen was not.

Jefferson believed any free black would want to leave the United States, whereas Allen did not.

Allen was committed to republican values, whereas Jefferson yearned for a pure democracy.

Correct.

Incorrect. The answer is The answer is c. Thomas Jefferson believed free blacks would want to leave the United Statesóthe place where they had suffered slavery for so long. Richard Allen, on the other hand, was a free black man committed to making Philadelphia a home for himself and his community.

Question

7. What did both Benjamin Rush and James Madison consider an inevitable feature of a republic? (See Document 8-3: Benjamin Rush Proposes a Proper Education for a Republic and Document 8-4: Making the Case for the Constitution)

Political debate

The suppression of free speech

Racial segregation

An official state church and religion

Correct.

Incorrect. The answer is The answer is a. Benjamin Rush believed in the important of educating youth in the art of political debate, and Madison embraced debate as a means of expressing factional difference.