Examkin

Question

Difficulty: HardThe War of 1812 and the Monroe Doctrine

Report and Resolutions of the Hartford Convention, January 5, 1815:

'Resolved, That the following amendments of the Constitution of the United States be recommended to the states...
First. Representatives and direct taxes shall be apportioned among the several states... according to their respective numbers of free persons...
Second. No new state shall be admitted into the Union by Congress... without the concurrence of two thirds of both houses.
Third. Congress shall not have power to lay any embargo on the ships or vessels of the citizens of the United States... for more than sixty days.'

Which of the following historical circumstances most directly motivated the creation of the document excerpted above?

  1. A
    A desire by Democratic-Republicans to expand the power of the federal government to draft citizens into the national army.
  2. The growing political dominance of Southern Democratic-Republicans and the economic impact of federal trade restrictions on New England.Answer
  3. C
    The formation of a military alliance between the United States and Great Britain to curb Spanish influence in Latin America.
  4. D
    A Southern protest against high tariffs designed to protect New England merchant shipping.

Answer

The growing political dominance of Southern Democratic-Republicans and the economic impact of federal trade restrictions on New England.
The correct answer is correct because the Hartford Convention of 1814-1815 was convened by New England Federalists who opposed the War of 1812 and the economic hardships caused by federal embargoes. They proposed constitutional amendments to curb Southern influence (by abolishing the Three-Fifths Compromise) and protect commercial interests from federal restrictions.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the source text to identify the context and the grievances expressed.
The source is from the Hartford Convention of 1815. The resolutions recommend amendments to eliminate the Three-Fifths Clause (favoring free population apportionment), make the admission of new states harder, and restrict federal embargoes.
This establishes that the authors are New England Federalists protesting federal overreach and the growing political power of Southern and Western states.
2
Relate these grievances to the historical context of the War of 1812.
The War of 1812 and the preceding embargoes severely damaged New England merchant shipping. Furthermore, Federalists feared that Western expansion and the Three-Fifths Clause would permanently dilute their political power in favor of the Democratic-Republicans.
This explains the specific motivation behind the proposals to limit embargoes, state admissions, and Southern representation.
3
Evaluate the choices to find the one that accurately describes this motivation.
The option identifying the political dominance of Southern Democratic-Republicans and the economic impact of federal trade restrictions aligns with Federalist concerns at the Hartford Convention.
This confirms the correct choice based on historical evidence.

Key Concept

Sectionalism and Federalist opposition during the War of 1812
Estimated Time:2m 0s
Rate this question

Topics

The War of 1812 and the Monroe Doctrine

More questions from this topic