Fact, opinion and loaded words in writing about the past

Grade 8 Social Studies Worksheet - Challenge Me

Circle the best answer.

1. Read this first

   Use this

   Ratifying the Constitution, 1787 to 1788. Card A, an essay (Alexander Hamilton, Federalist No. 1, October 27, 1787; one of 85 essays signed "Publius" for New York newspapers to persuade voters to ratify the Constitution; spelling modernized; cuts marked): "… the obvious interest of a certain class of men in every State to resist all changes which may hazard a diminution of the power, emolument, and consequence of the offices they hold under the State establishments … To judge from the conduct of the opposite parties, we shall be led to conclude that they will mutually hope to evince the justness of their opinions, and to increase the number of their converts by the loudness of their declamations and the bitterness of their invectives." Card B, a summary in our words: opponents of the Constitution, called Anti-Federalists, such as Patrick Henry and George Mason, argued that it gave too much power to a distant national government and had no bill of rights. Card C, a summary in our words: the Constitution was signed on September 17, 1787, and needed nine of the 13 states to ratify. New Hampshire was the ninth, on June 21, 1788. Congress proposed a Bill of Rights in 1789, and the states ratified it in 1791.

2. 1.

   Hamilton wrote to persuade New York voters. How does that affect the way Bo reads card A?

   • He warns against loud words yet frames foes as self-interested
   • His warning means the essay can simply be ignored by historians
   • His warning shows that he used no persuasion himself in the essay
   • His warning shows that both sides were equally honest in 1787
3. 2.

   Card C says a Bill of Rights followed in 1789 to 1791. What does that suggest about the opponents' argument, Jun asks?

   • Concern about missing rights led to amendments
   • It shows that the opponents' motives were purely selfish ones
   • It shows the opponents were right on their other points too
   • It shows that the Constitution failed to be ratified in 1788
4. 3.

   A student writes: 'Hamilton proved the opponents wanted power.' Which revision best fits the evidence, Kira asks?

   • Card B confirmed that Hamilton's claim about offices was true
   • Hamilton argued some guarded offices, but B shows other reasons
   • Card C showed the opponents wanted a bill of rights for power
   • Hamilton showed that no opponent held any good reason to object
5. 4.

   How should Luz treat both sides' words, using all three cards?

   • Ignore both sides, since each of them argued from a view
   • Trust whichever side used the calmer words and kinder tone
   • Trust the side that won the vote to ratify the Constitution
   • Weigh evidence and note loaded words, since both wanted to win

6. Use this

   Starting a war with Mexico, 1845 to 1846. Card D, a message to Congress (President James K. Polk, May 11, 1846; spelling modernized; a cut is marked): "… Mexico has passed the boundary of the United States, has invaded our territory and shed American blood upon the American soil." Card E, an article (John L. O'Sullivan, 'Annexation,' United States Magazine and Democratic Review, July-August 1845, about Texas; modernized): "… the fulfillment of our manifest destiny to overspread the continent allotted by Providence for the free development of our yearly multiplying millions." Card F, a summary in our words from the National Archives and the Library of Congress: the United States annexed Texas in 1845. Texas said its southern border was the Rio Grande, while Mexico said the border was the Nueces River, farther north. In 1846 American troops entered the land between the two rivers. On April 25, 1846, 11 American soldiers were killed in a clash there. Congress declared war on May 13, 1846. In 1847 Representative Abraham Lincoln asked Polk to name the exact spot where American blood had been shed.

7. 5.

   Polk's message says the clash was 'upon the American soil.' Which part of that claim depended on a disputed fact, Milo asks?

   • Whether any American soldiers had lost their lives
   • Whether the spot lay inside American territory
   • Whether Congress had the power to declare war on any nation
   • Whether the United States had annexed Texas in the year 1845
8. 6.

   Which wording in card E works as persuasion rather than evidence, Noah asks?

   • 'About Texas,' which names a region that can be mapped
   • 'The continent,' which names a place that can be located
   • 'Allotted by Providence,' which frames expansion as destiny
   • 'July-August 1845,' which gives a date that can be checked
9. 7.

   Does card F support Polk's phrase 'American soil,' Pia asks?

   • No: it says that Texas was a Mexican state in the year 1846
   • Fully: it confirms the border as American in each respect
   • Partly: it confirms the deaths but shows a disputed area
   • No: it says that no American soldiers lost their lives there
10. 8.

    Lincoln asked Polk to name the exact spot. What does that show about how critics tested a claim, Ren asks?

    • They proved that Polk had made the whole claim up himself
    • They asked whether the soldiers were truly American soldiers
    • They accepted the claim, and then argued about its cost in lives
    • They asked for proof of where the event happened
11. 9.

    Who would more likely call the American army's move into the land between the rivers an 'invasion,' and why, Tala asks?

    • American leaders, who held that the land was theirs
    • Texan farmers, who held that the Nueces was the border
    • British leaders, who held that Texas was theirs
    • Mexican leaders, who held that the land was theirs
12. 10.

    Which statement about the war's start is best supported by cards D to F, Zee asks?

    • Polk's account gives the neutral truth about the border question
    • Congress declared war before any soldiers had lost their lives
    • Leaders used different words and borders for the same events
    • The sides agreed on the border but not on who fired first