Advanced Placement United States Government and Politics
2019 Summer Assignment

Part I:  A Brilliant Solution  (Due:  First Day of School)
A student of American government must begin his/her study with the Constitution.  Throughout the year, we will examine many parts of the nation’s principle document in depth.  To begin, however, I would like you to understand the environment in which the Constitution was written.  Having a solid foundation in the history of late eighteenth-century America will help you understand why the Constitution was written and why it includes so many checks and limitations on government.

First, you will need to purchase or otherwise acquire a copy of the following book:  A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution by Carol Berkin (Harcourt, 2002).  The book is available in paperback at bookstores and can also be purchased on Amazon for as little as a few dollars used.  Also, most libraries have copies, both print and eBook.  Regardless of how you plan to acquire the book, you should do so as soon as possible.  Have it in your possession before the end of July.  Then, carefully read the entire assignment below before you begin reading the book.  Be aware, this is not an assignment you can start the day before it is due; however, you probably do not need to start reading the book until early August.

As you read, you should take notes from the book in response to the following questions.  Use those notes, then, to develop your responses to the questions.  On the first day of school, you will submit thorough responses to each question.  None of these questions have simple or short answers.  Many require thought, argumentation, and/or several different responses; therefore, your replies should reflect this.  You must handwrite your responses on college-ruled paper.  (Typed responses will not be accepted.)  Do not skip spaces between each line of writing, but do skip one space between each question.  Number appropriately.

Questions for A Brilliant Solution
1.	How was America different in 1787 from the America we know in the 20th and 21st centuries?  What problems did the young nation face in the 1780s?
2.	What aspects of today’s (modern) American government would most shock or surprise the Founders?
3.	Why did 18th century Americans oppose (or fear) a strong central government?
4.	What was the effect of Shays’ Rebellion (and similar rebellions) of the mid-1780s?
5.	How did 18th century Americans view the state (Virginia, Connecticut, Massachusetts, etc.)?  How is this different from the way we view states today?  How did their understanding of the state (and state sovereignty) impede the creation of a stronger central government?
6.	How did the Founders envision the role and powers of the national executive (the president)?  How is this different from the way we view the presidency in the 20th and 21st centuries?  Why did they envision the president’s role/powers the way they did?
7.	Identify and describe several ways in which the Founders (and the Constitution they created) protected against potential abuses of power.  In other words, what checks and balances did they create to limit the power of each of the following entities:  Congress, the president, the states, the people?
8.	Explain the essentials of the Virginia (“Big States”) Plan.  Explain the essentials of the New Jersey (“Small States”) Plan.
9.	Explain the arguments of both the populous (big) states and the less populous (small) states over representation in the national legislature (Congress).  Which side would you have taken?  Why?
10.	What issues regarding slavery were discussed?  How were they resolved?  Why?
11.	The Founders debated two different methods for choosing the national executive (the president) – selection by the national legislature or a popular election.  Explain the arguments for and against each method.
12.	The Founders settled on a presidential-election method we now call the electoral college system.  Explain this method.  How was it a compromise between the two methods discussed above?
13.	What groups, collectively known as Federalists, tended to support ratification of the new Constitution?  Why?  What groups, collectively known as Anti-Federalists, tended to oppose ratification?  Why?
14.	What was George Washington’s role in all of this?  More importantly, why was he so significant to the Constitutional Convention?  Why was it so imperative he serve as the first president?
15.	Identify and explain the THREE (3) most important things you learned from this book.

It is not necessary to read any of the appendices (beginning on page 211); however, you may want to reference them as you read.

During the first or second week of classes in August, you will be given a short quiz on the book.  The questions will be based on the same questions as above.  You will not be able to use any notes or the book to complete the quiz.

Part II:  Learning the Amendments
Having a good knowledge of the amendments to the Constitution can be very helpful for students taking the AP Government exam.  The second part of the summer assignment will require you to memorize the general contents of the following amendments:  1st, 2nd, 4th, 5th, 6th, 8th, 9th, 10th, 12th, 13th, 14th, 15th, 16th, 17th, 19th, 22nd, 23rd, 24th, 25th, 26th, and 27th.  (In other words, all but the 3rd, 7th, 11th, 18th, 20th, and 21st.)  In the first or second week of school – and occasionally after that – you will be quizzed on these amendments.  It is not necessary to memorize them word-for-word, but instead to understand the main idea(s) contained in each.  To assist you, you should join the class Quizlet*, where I have summarized the amendments for you.

*To join the class Quizlet, visit this link:  https://quizlet.com/join/htfrZSdNV.  Your username MUST include your first and last names.  After that, you may have to wait to access the page until you are approved.

Email if you have any questions.