U.S. History H300c

Mr. Healy

Presidential Administration Essay

The Constitution of 1787, and the Bill of Rights added two years later, established a broad framework for a lasting system of government in the United States.  Part of what has allowed that system to endure for 200-plus years is its broad nature, and the way that broad nature has allowed it to adjust to changing times.  As the needs of the nation have changed, the Constitution has expanded and contracted, all while maintaining its basic form and structure.  While these changes are notable for different reasons during different historical periods, of particular interest to us at this point in our studies is how interpretations of the Constitution varied as the U.S. grew from a newly independent nation to an economic and military power that began to rival the nations of Europe. 

Your Task is as follows: examine the changing interpretations of the Constitution and the effect of those changing interpretations on the growth of the nation during ONE of the first seven presidential administrations (George Washington, John Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Madison, James Monroe, John Quincy Adams, Andrew Jackson).  In so doing, be sure you consider the following series of general questions:

• To what political party did your chosen president belong?  How would you characterize the typical values of that party?  To what extent did your chosen president adhere to those values?

• What was happening in the other branches of government during your chosen president’s time in office?  How would you characterize your chosen president’s interaction with these other branches?

• What was happening in the nation outside of government that influenced the actions of your chosen president during his time in office?  What challenges was the nation facing at the time?  What opportunities existed for the nation to experience significant growth?

Here are the particulars to keep in mind as you prepare for this essay:

• Though I am giving you the question in advance, you will NOT be allowed to bring notes to the test itself.  If you have a photographic memory, this should be no sweat; otherwise, work on committing the larger principles to memory.

• If you budget your time wisely, you'll have about 20-25 minutes to write this essay.  Be efficient!  Make sure you have a sense of the key points you're going to make, and make them without a whole lot of fluff.

• This is a broad essay question, and one that therefore lends itself to a number of different types of responses.  There is no one correct response to this question.  Choose a track that allows you to show an understanding of historical detail (the leaves, the branches, and the trees) as well as the big picture (the forest).