Ch 9 PPTConfederation & the Constitution

1776- 1790

New Nation Many states in debt. American Rev.- “accelerated evolution” Responsibility of creating a new central govt More egalitarian ideas brought forth in the new

nation Exodus: 80,000 loyalists removed conservative

leanings:a. Weakened upper classb. Many large Loyalist land holdings

confiscated and divided into small farms.c. Patriot elites emerge

Movement toward Equality “All men are created equal” - Decl. of Independence. Most states reduced property requirements for

voting. Move toward separation of church and state. 1774: Congress called for complete abolition of slave

trade. 1st antislavery society founded by Quakers in 1775.

Several Northern States abolished slavery. Republican ideology: concept of “civic virtue” –

democracy depended on unselfish commitment to each citizen to the public good.

No Women’s Rights, but civic virtue led to “republican motherhood”- educational opportunities for women expanded.

Constitution Making in the States 1776 Continental Congress: Drafts new document -

Articles of Confederation adopted by Congress 1777, but ratified by all states in 1781

13 independent states linked together for joint action when dealing with a common problem.

No executive branch, no judicial branch - left to the states to make decisions

Process of drafting/ratifying a Constitution:1. Convention drafts Constitution2. Congress adopts it3. Colonies ratify constitution (each state had one

vote)4. Modification by Constitutional Convention

Articles of Confederation & Weaknesses Outlined powers of the central govt: ability to make

treaties, established a postal serviceWeaknesses: Only had unicameral legislature = no separation of

powers. Central govt too weak since majority of power rested

with states. Congress didn’t have power to tax; couldn’t enforce

tax-collection because tax quota of each state was voluntary.

Weaknesses Cont Amendment required unanimousunanimous state approval –so

changes to the Articles were very difficult. Major laws to pass - need approval by 9 of 13 states -

difficult to do, so running a government was difficult. Congress didn’t have power to regulate commerce

which will cause competition between states; left states free to establish different laws for tariffs and navigation.

Economic Crosscurrents Economic Democracy expressed political democracy

with confiscating and dividing land. During war colonies were cut off from British imports

and forced into manufacturing; after war, British goods flooded U.S. at low prices.

British Navigation laws caused more damage to the economy after independence - American ships kept from Britain and British West Indies.

States borrowed money = in great debt.

Exports & Imports: Exports & Imports: 1768-17831768-1783

Creating a Confederation 13 states were sovereign: coined money, raised

armies/navies, and made tariff barriers. 6 states had no land holdings beyond the Allegheny

Mts; 7 states had a lot more land Public lands transferred to the central government:

helped bond the states because land was to be sold to frontier pioneers and money distributed among states

Ch 9 Teamwork

1. Pg 174 What states were part of the Northwest Territory (today known as “Old Northwest”?

2. Pg 175 What other countries had influence surrounding the new nation of the U.S.?

3. Chart Pg 180 Prior to 1775, list all the ways the colonies attempted to unify.

Old Northwest

Early Land Laws Old Northwest: area Northwest of the Ohio River, east

of the Mississippi River, and south of the Great Lakes Land Ordinance of 1785: Old Northwest land should

be sold - money used to help pay national debtLand 1st surveyed - divided into townships, 6 square

miles each. Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Governing of Old

NorthwestAreas under control of federal govt If area had 60 thousand inhabitants - could be

admitted by Congress as a state.Forbid slavery in Old Northwest area

U.S. Post-War Relations Britain: refused to send a minister; no commercial

treaty; didn’t repeal navigation Laws; British trading posts for fur trading continued in U.S.; closed West Indies trade to U.S.

Spain: controlled mouth of Miss. River French: Demanded repayment of war loans;

restricted trade with West Indies. U.S. couldn’t provide protection from pirates in the

Mediterranean.

Monetary Issues 1780’s: system for raising money breaking apart,

states refuse to pay, complaints, public debt rise, and nation’s credit vanishing

Individual states: battles over land boundaries 1786 Shay’s Rebellion by Daniel Shay: many

losing farms from mortgage foreclosures. They demanded paper money, lighter taxes, suspension of property takeovers

Mass. suppressed rebellion with a small army

Monetary Issues Cont. Conservatives wanted stronger central govt to be

established as some feared “mobocracy” – people would rebel for self-interests.

States produced paper currency and economy increased

Some feared that a powerful federal govt would force them to pay their debts.

Anapolis Convention Called 1786: Congress called for a “secret”

constitutional convention at Annapolis: Major issue was control of commerce.

Only 5 states were represented Results: Alexander Hamilton (NY) suggested

having a convention to change Articles of Confederation. “for the sole and express purpose of

revising” the Articles of Confederation.

Constitutional Convention Cont May 1787: Select group of propertied men

represented each state, except Rhode island 55 emissaries from 12 states met at Philadelphia

statehouse in secrecy. According to Jefferson the participants were

“demigods” Representatives: George Washington, Benjamin

Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton… Delegates: conservative, young, wealthy,

nationalists

Great Debate Delegates proposed: overthrow the existing govt in

a peaceful manner Virginia’s “ large-state plan”- House of Congress

based on population New Jersey’s “ small-state plan” - equal

representatives from each state

Great Compromise Great Compromise: larger states represented by population

in the House of Representatives and smaller states have equal representation in the Senate.

Each state: 2 senators Pres: executive power - appointments of domestic offices,

veto, wage war, commander-in-chief of military (but congress declares war)

President elected by electoral college: Constitution specifies how many electors each state has based on population. (Today-total of 538)

Safeguards for Conservatism Economically: demand for money and protection of

private property 3 branches w/checks and balances- critics called it

“triple-headed monster” Charter - democratic elements and republican ideals in

govt: based on the consent of the governed and powers limited

No members of the convention were completely satisfied, but finally compromised and adopted the Constitution

Promised Bill of Rights: after it was adopted.

Clash of Federalists and Anti-federalists

Approval of the constitution would happen during specially elected conventions

Anti-federalist opposed the Constitution Lower class saw the Constitution as a plot by

the upper class to steal power back from the common folk

Federalists: had power, influence, press, wealth on their side

Anti-federalists: argued the Constitution was created by aristocrats - therefore the Constitution was anti-democratic

Constitutional Convention May-Sept 1787 Debated about: 1. Senate - by state or population2. Election of senators3. to include slaves or other property, to divide executive power

between 3 persons or into a single president 4. Election of Pres: length of term and reelection, 5. What offenses should be impeachable? 6. Nature of a fugitive slave clause: to allow abolition of the slave

trade7. If judges should be chosen by legislature or executive?

Ratified by delegates of the Constitutional Convention in Sept 1787. (39 of 55 delegates ended up signing.)

States Debate Voting now goes to the states State Ratifying conventions held - candidates

elected on the basis of their pledges for or against the Constitution

How many states need to ratify the constitution in order for it to be established?_______________

Ratified on June 21, 1788 – but voting will continue in the other states.

Great Debate Cont. Laggard states: Virginia,

NY, N. Carolina, Rhode Island

June 21, 1788- Constitution officially adopted with New Hampshire

Four Laggard States Union of all states was going to be formed with the

constitution To get people to support the Constitution John Jay,

James Madison & Hamilton wrote propaganda essays series of 85 articles/essays promoting ratification of the Constitution published in NY, Oct 1787 -Aug 1788 called The Federalist )

NY finally gave in realizing the need for union N. Carolina and Rhode Island – both eventually

took up the Constitution later when it was up and running

Conservative Triumph Conservative minority had triumphed Militant minority of conservatives: peaceful

revolution that replaced Articles of the Confederacy with the Constitution

Federalists were convinced that by setting the govtt in a steady course the economy and political stability would be established

Constitution: self-rule in a self-limiting system of checks and balances, liberty and order