A Short History of the United States eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 355 pages of information about A Short History of the United States.

A Short History of the United States eBook

This eBook from the Gutenberg Project consists of approximately 355 pages of information about A Short History of the United States.

c.  Do you think that roads should be built at national expense?  Give your reasons.

d.  Mark on a map the Erie Canal, and show why it was so important.  Describe the effects of its use.

Sec.Sec. 297, 298.—­a.  Do you think that railroads should be carried on by the state or by individuals?  Why?

b.  What influence has the railroad had upon the Union?  Upon people’s minds?  Upon the growth of cities? (Take your own city or town and think of it without railroads anywhere.)

Sec.Sec. 299, 300.—­a.  Explain how one discovery or invention affected other industries (as shown, for instance, in the use of anthracite coal).

b.  How did these inventions make large cities possible?

c.  Why is the education of our people so important?

d.  What were the advantages of Webster’s “Dictionary”?

CHAPTER 29

Sec.Sec. 301, 302.—­a.  Why is this chapter called the “Reign of Andrew
Jackson”?  Do you think that a President should “reign”?

b.  In what respects was Jackson fitted for President?

c.  What is meant by his “kitchen cabinet”?

d.  What is a “party machine”?  How was it connected with the “spoils system”?

e.  Did the “spoils system” originate with Jackson?

Sec.Sec. 303, 304.—­a.  Compare carefully the North and the South.  Why was the North growing rich faster than the South?

b.  Where have you already found the ideas expressed in Calhoun’s Exposition?  Why was this doctrine so dangerous?  Are the states “sovereign states”?

Sec. 305.—­a.  What view did Webster take?  How does his speech show the increase of the love of the Union?

b.  What is the “supreme law of the land”?  Whose business is it to decide on the constitutionality of a law?  Is this wise?

Sec.Sec. 306, 307.—­a.  How did South Carolina oppose the Act of 1832?

b.  How did Jackson oppose the South Carolinians?

c.  Would a state be likely to nullify an act of Congress now?  Give your reasons.

Sec.Sec. 308, 309.—­a.  Was the United States Bank like the national banks of the present day?

b.  Why did Jackson dislike and distrust the United States Bank?

c.  If a bill is vetoed by the President, how can it still be made a law?

Sec.Sec. 310.—­a.  Where did the United States government keep its money?

b.  How did Jackson try to ruin the United States Bank?

Sec.Sec. 311-313.—­a.  Why did people wish to buy Western lands?  How did the favoring the “pet banks” increase speculation?

b.  What was done with the surplus?  What was the effect of this measure?

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A Short History of the United States from Project Gutenberg. Public domain.