1. The rivalry between Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson gave rise to the first political party system in United States history.

(A) What was Alexander Hamilton's Federalist vision and program for America's political and economic development?

(B) How did Thomas Jefferson and other Democratic Republicans rebut that Federalist program-how did they envision America's future?

2. The notion of so-called "Manifest Destiny" characterized much American political discourse during the 1840s.

(A) What were the major ideological components of "Manifest Destiny" espoused by expansionists including John O'Sullivan? And how does each component connect to historical developments after 1815?

(B) What were the major U.S.territorial acquisitions during the 1840s, and how does each reflect belief in this "Manifest Destiny"?

3. After the Civil War, the (re)United States plunged into the difficult period of Reconstruction.

(A) What was the situation of the South in the year 1866: what challenges did Northerners face as they tried to rebuild and reincorporate it back into the Union? Reference Carl Schurz's observations in your answer.

(B) What did Radical Republicans hope to accomplish through their distinctive vision of Reconstruction?And what events and developments conspired to defeat this program for the postwar ex-Confederacy?