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This test consists of 5 multiple choice questions, 5 short answer questions, and 10 short essay questions.

Multiple Choice Questions

1. How many total shots were fired at the duel?
(a) Two, one by each man.
(b) Two, both by Hamilton.
(c) Six, three by each man.
(d) Two, both by Burr.

2. In its most simple terms, how did the Constitutional Convention formulate its documents?
(a) Unknown, all meetings were held in secret and no records were kept.
(b) Abigail Adams kep the minutes and published them in their entirety after the convention ended.
(c) All were written by Thomas Jefferson.
(d) Through debates, letters, private discussions and presentations at the meetings.

3. What are the two recognized methods to tell the story of the American formative years?
(a) Tories and Whigs.
(b) Washington and Adams.
(c) Communisim and Democracy.
(d) Pure Republicanism and the Jeffersonian interpretations.

4. What did John Adams see as the paradox facing the new republic?
(a) Tories versus Whigs.
(b) The needs of the many outweigh the needs of a few.
(c) The new title of the republic versus its goals.
(d) Legislating for 20 or 30 states, when all of the known legislative history had been for just one state.

5. According to the author, how did the creation of a separate American nation occur?
(a) Gradually rather than suddenly.
(b) Over a period of 200 years.
(c) With the approval of the British rules.
(d) Suddenly rather than gradually.

Short Answer Questions

1. What issue was discussed by the Constitutional Congress but specifically excluded from the final documents?

2. What was the name of Hamilton's new country house?

3. What term has changed in meaning from an inferior being to one of respect and might in the world?

4. According to the author, what action would have ended the move for American Independence?

5. Which state did Madison believe would suffer the most injustice under assumption?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe this generation of men such as John Adams and Thomas Jefferson.

2. What, in your opinion, were the greatest assets of the new republic?

3. Why were the new Americans so sensitive to being compared to British citizens?

4. Why does the author feel comfortable calling the encounter between the two men "The Duel" without fear his readers will not know to which duel he is referring?

5. Why was it so important that Hamilton and Madison meet away from the public eye?

6. Why would John Adams think that his correspondence would be of interest to future generations?

7. What is different about the generation of leaders and their methods of communicating and the present day methods?

8. Why was Virginia so important to the decisions of this time?

9. What roles did the seconds (Pendleton and Van Ness) have in the days before the duel? Describe how each one played out these roles, and how they handled their roles after the duel.

10. Why do you think Jefferson was the ideal moderator for this discussion?

(see the answer keys)

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