1 The New Nation Dr. Kathryn H. Braund Auburn University Summer Academy 2006.
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Transcript of 1 The New Nation Dr. Kathryn H. Braund Auburn University Summer Academy 2006.
1
The New Nation
Dr. Kathryn H. Braund
Auburn University
Summer Academy 2006
2
3 Areas of Discussion Debate over the adoption of the
Constitution
The establishment of the government
Efforts to foster a new “national” identity
3
Focus Areas Web Resources
Content based web sites Primary sources on-line
Use of Primary Sources Dissecting a document
Making History Relevant The more things change….
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Why Primary Documents? Prompt students to ask questions Encourage students to acknowledge
various points of view Allow students to discover evidence Allow students to see cause-and-effect
relationships Encourage students to compare and
contrast
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Primary Documents. . . Help students understand continuity and
change over time. Force students to consider and recognize
bias Drive students to determine the validity and
reliability of sources Enable students to realize the impt. of
referencing multiple sources of information
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The War of the Revolution Overthrew monarchy Created a republic
Republic: gov’t by elected representatives Fear democracy = “tyranny of the mob”
Actually: 14 new governments!
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New Governments Guiding Principles
Ideas of the Enlightenment (Montesquieu) Separation of Powers “Balanced Government”
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New Governments Guiding Principles
British legacy British common law civil liberties trial by jury subordination of military to civilian power restrictions on search warrants freedom of speech & press
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New Governments Guiding Principles
Colonial experience Written charters
as opposed to unwritten British constitution defined structure and powers of government
Legislation Establishment of precedent via practice
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1775-1776 Royal governors flee rebels New states called conventions to
establish new “constitutions” or fundamental law
Authority of Government: from the “people”
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New State Governments Great variety
one vs. two house legislatures various requirements for voters
One common principle Separation of powers
Governor can’t dissolve an assembly Independent judiciary Lower house more powerful than upper house
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New State Governments Common Trend
increased participation by “lower orders” loosening of property qualifications for
voting idea that the elected representatives
represent the voters
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Continental Congres Central government
no formal authority but acted as the “central gov’t”
declared independence encouraged states to write constitutions est. foreign relations committees created continental army, navy printed money
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Articles of Confederation Drawn up in fall 1777; adopted 1781 Weak central government
no power to tax internally each state has one vote (regardless of size
or population)
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Why so long? Troubles over western land
“landless” states fear potential power of “landed” states with no western boundaries
Solution “Landed” states cede western lands
(Ohio Valle) to the central government
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Confederation Successes Laid foundation for a unified, federal
government Established a federal bureaucracy Managed to finance the war Est. a national land policy
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
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The Northwest Territory
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Northwest Ordinance Create 3-5 states (Ohio R. to Great
Lakes) New states equal (not colonies)
specific process for est. of gov’t as population grew
No slavery Freedom of religion
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Northwest Ordinance Blueprint for the Expansion of the
United States Best ideas of the Revolutionary era
republican government rights of citizens religious toleration no slavery
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Northwest Ordinance Blueprint for the Expansion of the
United States Worst aspects of the Revolutionary Era
Dispossession of Indian tribes who own the land
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Despite some success. . . Confederation Gov’t “weak”
No power to raise money to pay debts Can’t deal with post-war economic crisis
Shay’s Rebellion in Mass. Fear of “mob rule” Fear of European powers
British hold posts; Spain closes Miss. R.; European markets closed
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Plan emerges…. Strengthen central government
create balance of power btn. state and central government
provide central government with adequate powers
idea: revise Articles
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Constitutional Convention Called to order in late May Conducted in secret (why?) Voting
each state gets one vote majority required for adoption of a measure
(compare with unanimous vote under Articles)
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Important Issues Relationship between states and federal
government Mixed system
John Dickinson: “the one, the few, the many” (federal, states, the people)
The people: actually represented at federal level (not just the states)
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Important Issues Separation of Powers
3 branches of government (not merely one) further division of powers in legislative
branch checks and balances protection of rights (large vs. small states)
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Theoretical Framework “the one, the few and the many” Connecticut (Great )Compromise
Two house legislature House (People)
Money bills Senate (States)
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Two Other Significant Compromises How to Elect the Executive
Electoral College satisfied people, state legislatures, federal House
How to Ascertain Population for Purposes of Representation/Taxation Slavery swept under the rug: 3/5
Compromise
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Style Matters! Committee of Style
Gouverneur Morris Change in Preamble Signal change in
views of power “We the People” Little noticed
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Problem No Specific “Bill of Rights” Americans fear:
powerful executive concentration of power in federal gov’t weakening of states
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Constitution: Resources National Archives
“A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution” (essay)
“The Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention” (essay)
The Constitution (document) Bill of Rights (document) FAQs (Q & A)
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Constitution: Resources Library of Congress: American Memory
Timeline Brief Overview Lesson Plans
National Archives NARA Digital Classroom Constitution Day Ideas
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Writing is one thing. . . Once “signed” at the
convention, it went to the states for ratification
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The Ratification Debate Pro: Strong government would. . .
preserve U.S. from foreign threats & internal conflict
protect rights of citizens Con: Strong government would. . .
trample the rights of citizens destroy the states
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Bernstein essay Launched shared political discourse Created a national political community Created political component to national
identity Resource: The Federalist Papers
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Ratification What were the issues? The Ratification Project
Slavery Model Edition
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Analyzing a Written Document How do you use primary source
documents in the classroom? Ideas from the NARA
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Analyzing a Written Document 1. Describe the document. Is this a letter, a
will, a bill of sale or some other kind of document?
2. What does the document describe/relate/report? (give a brief summary)
3. What is the date of the document? Is there more than one date? Why?
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Analyzing a Written Document 4. Who is the author of the document? Do you
believe that the author of this document is credible? Is this document written as a requirement of the author's occupation or is this a personal document?
5. For what audience was this document written? Why was it written?
6. List three (3) points that the author made that you believe are important.
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Analyzing a Written Document 7. Can you discern the writer's point of view? How
does the author interpret the facts presented? Does the writer's POV effect the way in which the facts are presented?
8. What can you learn about the _________ from the document.
9. Write one (1) question to the author that is unanswered by the document.
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Using Primary Sources Analysis Worksheets from the NARA
Artifacts Cartoons Documents Maps Photographs Posters Sound
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The New Government The First Federal Congress Project
Mini-Edition Web Site
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A New People
Establishing an American Identity
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Identity: A Shared Past Heroes: Symbols of
New Nation Commemoration
Art Public celebrations Books, etc.
Emmanuel Leutze, Crossing the Delaware
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Identity: A Shared Past Commemoration of
Heroes Celebration of
Public “Virtue”
John Trumbull,
George Washington Resigns his Commission
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Identity: A Shared Past Commemoration of
Heroes Ideal of Sacrifice for
Public “Good”
John Trumbull,
The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill
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Identity: A Shared Past Commemoration of
Heroes Military success
John Trumbull, Surrender of General Burgoyne
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American National Identity Naming the country: transform the land
to “American” land (from Indian land) Lexington, Kentucky Washington, D. C. Montgomery, Alabama
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American National Identity
New Literature Noah Webster, American Spelling Book Jedediah Morse, American Gazetteer William Bartram, Travels
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American National Identity Art
John Trumbull Charles Wilson
Peale Gilbert Stuart Ezra Ames (portrait of
Gouverneur Morris)
50
American National Identity
Architecture Classical (as
opposed to Georgian)
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American National Identity
Symbols Great Seal (1782)
Eagle Latin mottos Symbolic 13
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The Lansdowne Portrait Gilbert Stuart, 1796
http://www.georgewashington.si.edu/portrait/index.html
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The Republic of Science
William Bartram note flower
(botanical discovery)
David Rittenhouse telescope banyan
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“A” is for American Language holds
people together Common identity National unity
55
Additional Reading
Carol Berkin
A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution