A founding document's themes, purposes and style
Grade 11 Reading Worksheet - Challenge Me
Circle the best answer.
Read this first
A Question Put to the People (founding document)
Background: [1] Alexander Hamilton wrote The Federalist No. 1, the first essay of the series, for a New York newspaper in October 1787. [2] It opened the case for the new Constitution, which the states were then deciding whether to ratify. [3] Like the later essays, it was addressed to the people of New York and signed with the pen name Publius. [4] The excerpt below is copied exactly, and a mark shows each cut.
From The Federalist No. 1 (1787): [5] …you are called upon to deliberate on a new Constitution for the United States of America.… [6] It has been frequently remarked that it seems to have been reserved to the people of this country, by their conduct and example, to decide the important question, whether societies of men are really capable or not of establishing good government from reflection and choice, or whether they are forever destined to depend for their political constitutions on accident and force.… [7] So numerous indeed and so powerful are the causes which serve to give a false bias to the judgment, that we, upon many occasions, see wise and good men on the wrong as well as on the right side of questions of the first magnitude to society.… [8] Yes, my countrymen, I own to you that, after having given it an attentive consideration, I am clearly of opinion it is your interest to adopt it. [9] I am convinced that this is the safest course for your liberty, your dignity, and your happiness.… [10] My arguments will be open to all, and may be judged of by all.
Word notes: [11] To deliberate is to think something over carefully before deciding. [12] Reflection and choice mean careful thought and free decision, while accident and force mean chance and power. [13] A false bias is a leaning that pulls judgment the wrong way. [14] Questions of the first magnitude are questions of the greatest importance. [15] To own is to admit, and it in sentence 8 is the new Constitution. [16] The marks show where whole paragraphs are left out, including the essay's account of why some people would oppose the plan.
Ari fills all three rows for this excerpt from Federalist No. 1. Which set of entries fits it?
- Theme: a people can choose good government by reason; purpose: to win readers to the Constitution; feature: direct address to my countrymen.
- Theme: a people can choose good government by reason; purpose: to win readers to the Constitution; feature: a story about the convention.
- Theme: a people can choose good government by reason; purpose: to report the debates held in Philadelphia; feature: direct address to my countrymen.
- Theme: the new Constitution for the United States; purpose: to win readers to the Constitution; feature: direct address to my countrymen.
Tala crosses out any entry that goes past the words. Which statement about sentences 5 and 10 goes no further than the excerpt?
- Hamilton promises that readers who judge his arguments fairly will then vote to ratify.
- Hamilton tells readers to leave the decision to the delegates of the convention.
- Hamilton keeps his reasons private and asks readers simply to trust his judgment.
- Hamilton tells readers that the decision is theirs, and he offers arguments that anyone may judge.
Jun fills all three rows for sentences 8 to 10 only. Which set of entries fits them?
- Theme: the choice should rest on open reasons; purpose: to urge adoption; feature: a list of three goods, liberty, dignity and happiness.
- Theme: Hamilton's own life and private opinions; purpose: to urge adoption; feature: a list of three goods, liberty, dignity and happiness.
- Theme: the choice should rest on open reasons; purpose: to stay neutral about adoption; feature: a list of three goods, liberty, dignity and happiness.
- Theme: the choice should rest on open reasons; purpose: to urge adoption; feature: a rhetorical question about liberty, dignity and happiness.
Pia must prove a two-part claim: readers are asked to decide, and their decision tests whether people can govern by reason. Which two sentences prove both parts?
- Sentence 5 (called upon to deliberate) and sentence 6 (reflection and choice or accident and force).
- Sentence 5 (called upon to deliberate) and sentence 10 (arguments open to all, judged by all).
- Sentence 11 (to deliberate is to think carefully before deciding) and sentence 6 (reflection and choice).
- Sentence 6 (reflection and choice or accident and force) and sentence 9 (the safest course for your liberty).
Bo checks a claim about sentence 7 before writing it in the matrix. Which statement goes no further than the words?
- Hamilton says that wise and good men are usually found on the right side of great questions.
- Hamilton says that a few small causes are what lead people to judge badly.
- Hamilton grants that many strong causes can lead even wise and good men to wrong judgments.
- Hamilton says the opponents of the Constitution are wise and good men who happen to be wrong.
One Nation After a Contest (founding document)
Background: [1] Thomas Jefferson gave his first inaugural address on March 4, 1801, in the new capital city of Washington. [2] The election of 1800 had been a hard-fought contest between the two parties of the day, the Federalists and the Republicans, and the House of Representatives settled it. [3] It was the first time the presidency passed from one party to another. [4] The excerpt below is copied exactly, and a mark shows each cut.
From Thomas Jefferson's First Inaugural Address (1801): [5] …this being now decided by the voice of the nation, announced according to the rules of the Constitution, all will, of course, arrange themselves under the will of the law, and unite in common efforts for the common good. [6] …though the will of the majority is in all cases to prevail, that will to be rightful must be reasonable; that the minority possess their equal rights, which equal law must protect, and to violate would be oppression. [7] Let us, then, fellow-citizens, unite with one heart and one mind.… [8] But every difference of opinion is not a difference of principle. [9] We have called by different names brethren of the same principle. [10] We are all Republicans, we are all Federalists. [11] If there be any among us who would wish to dissolve this Union or to change its republican form, let them stand undisturbed as monuments of the safety with which error of opinion may be tolerated where reason is left free to combat it.
Word notes: [12] In sentence 5, this means the election, and to arrange themselves under the will of the law is to accept the result that the law announces. [13] Rightful means just, and to violate the equal rights of the minority is to break them. [14] Brethren is an old word for brothers, and here it means fellow citizens who hold the same principle. [15] Republicans and Federalists were the names of the two parties of 1800, and neither is the same as any party that exists today. [16] To dissolve the Union is to break it up, and to tolerate an error of opinion is to allow it. [17] Monuments here are lasting examples, and to combat error is to argue against it with reasons.
Milo fills all three rows for Jefferson's excerpt. Which set of entries fits it?
- Theme: unity across a difference of opinion; purpose: to bring the nation together after the election; feature: balanced repetition in sentence 10.
- Theme: unity across a difference of opinion; purpose: to bring the nation together after the election; feature: a rhetorical question in sentence 10.
- Theme: unity across a difference of opinion; purpose: to claim victory over the losing party; feature: balanced repetition in sentence 10.
- Theme: the election of the year 1800; purpose: to bring the nation together after the election; feature: balanced repetition in sentence 10.
Kira crosses out entries that go past the words. Which statement about sentence 11 goes no further than the excerpt?
- Jefferson wants those who would change the Union put on display as a warning to others.
- Jefferson knew of a plan to break up the Union and chose to say nothing about it.
- Jefferson says that error of opinion is too dangerous to be tolerated in a free country.
- Jefferson would leave people who hold even a mistaken opinion alone, trusting reason to answer them.
Ren fills all three rows for sentences 8 to 10 only. Which set of entries fits them?
- Theme: the two parties differ in principle as well as opinion; purpose: to calm the divide after the contest; feature: a contrast of opinion with principle.
- Theme: the two parties share one principle; purpose: to calm the divide after the contest; feature: a contrast of opinion with principle.
- Theme: the two parties share one principle; purpose: to announce that the parties will merge into one; feature: a contrast of opinion with principle.
- Theme: the two parties share one principle; purpose: to calm the divide after the contest; feature: a contrast of majority with minority.
Esme must prove a two-part claim: Jefferson calls for unity, and he says the two sides already share a principle. Which two sentences prove both parts?
- Sentence 7 (unite with one heart and one mind) and sentence 9 (brethren of the same principle).
- Sentence 7 (unite with one heart and one mind) and sentence 5 (unite in common efforts for the common good).
- Sentence 9 (brethren of the same principle) and sentence 11 (error of opinion may be tolerated).
- Sentence 14 (brethren here means fellow citizens) and sentence 7 (unite with one heart and one mind).
Noah checks a claim about sentence 6 before writing it in the matrix. Which statement goes no further than the words?
- Jefferson says a majority's will is rightful in all cases simply because it is the majority's.
- Jefferson says the minority's will should prevail whenever the majority is unreasonable.
- Jefferson says a majority's will must be reasonable to be rightful, and equal law must protect the minority.
- Jefferson says the Federalists were a minority whose rights had been broken during the contest.
