View a FREE sample

This test consists of 5 short answer questions, 10 short essay questions, and 1 (of 3) essay topics.

Short Answer Questions

1. What does the author think Jefferson offered Madison to get him to accept the new financial plan?

2. What does the author compare this "Compromise of 1790" to?

3. How many total shots were fired at the duel?

4. How long did it take Hamilton to write the Report on Public Credit?

5. In Jefferson's opinion, how long should the laws of this generation stay in effect?

Short Essay Questions

1. Describe what is known about the duel between Burr and Hamilton

2. What does the author mean when he says the American Revolution did not "devour its own children"?

3. Why was Madison so opposed to Hamilton's suggestion that the debts of the states be assumed by the federal government?

4. Why do you think the author named the Preface "The Generation"?

5. How does the author differ from Lincoln's statement that America was founded on a proposition written by Jefferson in 1776?

6. Why do historians refer to this time in the course of American history as The Age of Passion?

7. Describe Alexander Hamilton's appearance and reputation.

8. 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?

9. What was the importance of the 1800 Presidential election?

10. Why do you think such prominent men chose a duel to resolve their differences? Did it work?

Essay Topics

Write an essay for ONE of the following topics:

Essay Topic 1

What do you believe is the greatest lesson to be derived from this work? Did the book change your understanding of the time following the Revolutionary War and its importance to the way America has evolved? Explain in detail.

Essay Topic 2

Did the author successfully establish his contention, stated at the beginning of the book, that the decade following 1776 was the most important in United States history to date? How did he accomplish this or fail to do so?

Essay Topic 3

After reading the known statements of Alexander Hamilton, and his writings and actions before the duel, do you believe he meant to shoot Burr and kill him in the duel? Why or why not?

(see the answer keys)

This section contains 839 words (approx. 3 pages at 300 words per page) View a FREE sample