Examkin

Question

Difficulty: MediumPolitics, Hamilton's Plan, and Foreign Policy in the New Republic

Read the excerpt below:

“Not only the wealth, but the independence and security of a country, appear to be materially connected with the prosperity of manufactures. Every nation, with a view to those great objects, ought to endeavour to possess within itself all the essentials of national supply. These comprise the means of Subsistence, habitation, clothing, and defence.”
— Alexander Hamilton, Report on Manufactures, 1791

The economic vision outlined in the excerpt most directly contributed to which of the following political debates in the early republic?

  1. The scope of the federal government's authority to encourage domestic industry through protective tariffs and commercial regulations.Answer
  2. B
    The debate over whether the federal government could levy taxes directly on citizens under the Articles of Confederation.
  3. C
    The belief that both major political parties agreed on a strict constructionist interpretation of the Constitution regarding economic development.
  4. D
    The decision of the Democratic-Republicans to align with Great Britain to foster industrial trade relationships.

Answer

The scope of the federal government's authority to encourage domestic industry through protective tariffs and commercial regulations.
The correct answer is correct because Alexander Hamilton's Report on Manufactures proposed that the federal government actively support domestic industrialization through tariffs and subsidies. This recommendation sparked an intense debate over whether the federal government possessed the constitutional authority to promote specific sectors of the economy, laying the groundwork for the emergence of the first party system between Federalists and Democratic-Republicans.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the stimulus document.
The document is Alexander Hamilton's Report on Manufactures from 1791, which argues that national independence and security depend on the development of domestic manufacturing.
Identifying the source and the core argument of the stimulus establishes the historical context of Hamilton's financial program.
2
Evaluate the political debates surrounding Hamilton's plans in the 1790s.
Hamilton proposed loose construction of the Constitution to justify federal intervention in the economy (such as tariffs and the national bank), which was fiercely opposed by Democratic-Republicans who favored strict construction and an agrarian-focused economy.
Connecting the stimulus to the broader political developments of the era allows for matching the correct historical impact.
3
Select the option that matches the debate over federal economic authority.
The option concerning the scope of federal government authority to encourage domestic industry through protective tariffs directly aligns with the debate over Hamilton's Report on Manufactures.
This option correctly identifies the core policy division regarding constitutional interpretation and the federal government's role in the economy.

Key Concept

Hamilton's Financial Plan and the Rise of Political Parties
Estimated Time:1m 30s
Rate this question

Topics

Politics, Hamilton's Plan, and Foreign Policy in the New Republic

More questions from this topic