1. What were the Alien and Sedition Acts? Describe them both and explain why Congress passed them at the time. Do you think similar acts could be passed today? Explain.
2. For what reasons did Congress declare war on England in 1812? Which geographical parts of the country supported the War and which did not? Why? Was the War of 1812 desirable for the country? Was it justifiable? Explain both answers.
3. What was Andrew Jackson’s vision of democracy and how did that vision shape the policies of Jacksonian Democrats in the 1830s? Discuss, in particular, his racial vision of democracy and how that applied to Native Americans. Is democracy truly democratic if it excludes various racial, religious, or ethnic groups? Explain.
4. The Mexican-American War profoundly altered U.S. boundaries and borders. What prompted the U.S. to wage war with Mexico? What was President Polk’s justification for war? What new territories, land, and resources did the U.S. acquire as a result of the War? Was the War justifiable? Explain.
5. Explain the concept of manifest destiny. How did it contribute to the mid-19th century drive for expansion in the U.S.? Make sure you understand the concept and all that it implies.
