By: Mr. Michael R. Kahoe Del Valle High School The Confederation and the Constitution 1776-1790.
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Transcript of By: Mr. Michael R. Kahoe Del Valle High School The Confederation and the Constitution 1776-1790.
By: Mr. Michael R. KahoeDel Valle High School
The Confederation and The Confederation and the Constitutionthe Constitution
1776-17901776-1790
Impact of American RevolutionImpact of American Revolution
• Many people in Europe saw the American Revolution as a turning point in history– Americans had enforced the Social
Contract– Ended foreign rule and oppression– Established the first democracy since
ancient times
• America served as a model for a better world
The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality
• Equality was all the rage after the Declaration of Independence– Voting restrictions reduced– Indentured servitude ends– Primogeniture dropped
The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality
• Separation of church & state– Anglican church fell in prominence– Congregational church still legally established in
New England– Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom
The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality
• Slavery was challenged– Vote to end slave trade– Abolitionist societies emerge in Philadelphia &
some N.E. states abolish slavery outright– Blacks were still
discriminated against• (property, jobs,
education, marriage)
• But, why was slaveryallowed to continue?
The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality
• Women were still unequal– Yet women, as the
caregivers, were seen as purveyors of the “civic virtue”
– Expected to teach children republican ideals
– Led to expanded educational opportunities
Constitution MakingConstitution Making
• In 1776, colonies drafted individual state constitutions– Defined powers of government– Authority from the people– Represented the fundamental law
• Most included:– Bill of Rights– Require an annual election of legislatures
• Had the most power
– Created weak executive & judicial branches
Economic CrosscurrentsEconomic Crosscurrents
• States gained control of former crown & loyalist landholdings
• Commerce with Britain drastically reduced– Americans forced to manufacture products on
their own– New trade sought out (ex. China)
American Exports, To & From American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789Britain: 1783-1789
Economic CrosscurrentsEconomic Crosscurrents
• U.S. economy was in the gutter– Profiteers had gotten rich– Rich had become poor– Runaway inflation–Many unpaid war debts– Distaste for taxes
• British navigation laws now working against America
A Shaky Start Toward UnionA Shaky Start Toward Union
• U.S. was a union only in name– Suspicion of authority of
government• British manufacturers began
selling goods at cut-rate prices– Hurt burgeoning American
industries• People encouraged to buy products
made in the USA
A Shaky Start Toward UnionA Shaky Start Toward Union
• There was still hope for the Union– All 13 states had similar governments– Each had a shared history• Political inheritance from Britain• History of self-rule
– Great political leaders• Washington• Jefferson• John Adams• James Madison• Alexander Hamilton
Creating a ConfederationCreating a Confederation
• Second Continental Congress had no real authority during war– All 13 states were essentially sovereign
• Articles of Confederation written in 1777 (ratified in 1781)– Chief argument was over western lands
• Some had claims out West & some didn’t• Argued that states with land could pay war debts
– Maryland held out until 1781• NY & Virginia to surrender land claims• Congress promises to create new states from these areas
State Claims to Western LandsState Claims to Western Lands
Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation
• Provided for a “firm league of friendship”– Linked together to deal with common problems– Run by congress (no executive)
• Congress:– Each state had 1 vote– Laws need 9 states– 13 votes to change the Articles
Weaknesses of the Articles of Weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation
• No central taxing authority• Each state issued its own currency• Could not command or control states• No central army – only state militias• No national control of commerce (trade,
tariffs)• No sense of national identity
Strengths of the Articles of Strengths of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation
• Held states together until the new constitution
• Could make treaties• Created a postal service
Occupational Composition of Several Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesState Assemblies
in the 1780sin the 1780s
Landmarks in LandlawsLandmarks in Landlaws
• Congress passed farsighted pieces of legislation regarding Old Northwest– Land Ordinance of 1785 – land in Old
Northwest to be sold to pay off war debts• Surveyed, divvyed up & sold to townships (public
schools)• Very orderly
Land Ordinance of 1785
Landmarks in Land LawsLandmarks in Land Laws
–Northwest Ordinance of 1787• Land would be a territory subordinate to U.S.
government• With 60,000 inhabitants, statehood could be sought• Solved problem of having colonies
The World’s Ugly DucklingThe World’s Ugly Duckling
• America had troubled foreign relations after the War
• England:– Refused to send a minister to “backwoods”
capital of Philadelphia– Refused to make a commercial treaty or repeal
Navigation Laws• Lord Sheffield said England would eventually win
back all American trade
– Closed profitable West Indies• Colonists resort to smuggling
The World’s Ugly DucklingThe World’s Ugly Duckling
• Spain:– Controlled the Mississippi River & New Orleans– Schemed with neighboring Indians
• France:– Demanded repayment of money loaned– Restricted trade with West Indies
• Pirates in Mediterranean were attacking American ships
Disputed Territories Between Disputed Territories Between Spain & the U.S.Spain & the U.S.
The United States in 1787
The Horrid Specter of Anarchy
• Raising money difficult for congress– States refused to pay– Public debt increasing– Foreign credit drying up– “Rag Money” – depreciating paper money
• Quarrels over state boundaries• States taxed each other’s goods
Shays’ Rebellion
• 1786 – Mass. Farmers upset over losing farms
• Captain Daniel Shays – revolutionary vet leads rebellion– Felt he was fighting tyranny– Demanded: • State issued paper money• Lower taxes• Stop property seizures
Shays’ Rebellion
• Small army is raised to squash rebellion– 3 Shaysites killed & 1 wounded– Shays sentenced to death (later pardoned)– Rebellion crushed
Shays’ Rebellion
• Result of Shays’ Rebellion:– Debtor relief laws passed– Fear of too much liberty– Talk of stronger central government• A King maybe?• “Cement to the Union”• “A hoop to the barrel”
“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” – Thomas Jefferson
A Convention of “Demigods”
• Squabbling over interstate commerce led to changes to the Articles
• 1786 – Annapolis Convention– Only 5 delegates show
• Alexander Hamilton (NY) calls for a future meeting in Philadelphia
• 1787 – Constitutional Convention– 55 delegates meet
• Washington was chair• Franklin elder statesman at 81• James Madison
– “Father of the Constitution”• Alexander Hamilton
– Advocate for strong central government
Patriots in Philadelphia
• Goals of Convention:– Preserve the Union– Curb unrestrained democracy
• Shays Rebellion– Wanted a strong central government
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• Delegates decide to scrap the Articles all together
• Legislative Branch (makes laws)– Virginia’s “large state plan”• Representation in two houses based on state’s
population
– New Jersey’s “small state plan”• One house congress• Each state with one vote
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
– “The Great Compromise”• Legislative Branch
– House of Representatives – based on state population– All tax bills originate in the house– Senate – 2 senate seats per state
• Executive Branch (carries out laws)– Makes appointments
• Ex. Supreme Court justices
– Commander in Chief– Veto power– Can’t declare war
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• Slaves– Are they counted as citizens?– 3/5 compromise– African slave trade shut down by 1807• Georgia last to stop
Safeguards for Conservatism
• Created sound money• Protection of private property• Checks & balances• Limited government• Republic – “we the people”• Indirect Election:– President – electoral college– Senators – by state legislatures– Supreme Court – appointed– House – by voters
Federalists vs. Antifederalists
• Federalists supported the Constitution & strong government
• Antifederalists – opposed a strong central government– No bill of rights– No annual election for House– Federal Stronghold (D.C.)– Standing Army– No mention of God– Ratified by only 2/3 vote
• Constitution adopted by 9 states in 1788– All but Virginia, NY, NC, & RI
Patrick Henry
The Four Laggard StatesThe Four Laggard States
• Virginia - ratified it 89 to 79• New York– Federalist Papers, written by John Jay, James
Madison, and Alexander Hamilton• North Carolina & Rhode Island later ratified
A Conservative Triumph
• The minority had triumphed – 1/4 of the adult white males in the country had voted
for the delegates– Conservationism was victorious
• Federalists believed every branch of government represented the people