Shaping A New Nation

Albany Plan of Union•1754- British government summoned an

intercolonial congress and 7 of the 13 colonies sent delegates.

•Purpose was to keep the Native Americans loyal to the British and not the French.

•Would have unified the colonies under a central government for the purpose of defense and other important purposes.

•Became a template for the Articles of Confederation

Balancing Power

•System of distinct, self governing colonies encouraged people to think of the colony as the primary political unit not a central government.

•Democracy- To much power in hands of the uneducated masses.

•Republic- A government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives.

•Republicanism- Idea that government should be based on the consent of the people.

Political Precedents•Few models to draw from•The Continental Congress tried to make a

constitution for all of the states but had to answer three

major questions

Representation by population or by State?•Unequal in size, wealth, and population.

▫Same number of representatives regardless of population or not?

•Continental Congress makes the decision that each state would have one representative regardless.

Supreme Power: Can it be Divided• Congress proposes a set of laws called

the Articles of Confederation- two levels of government shared fundamental powers. State governments were supreme in some matters, while national government was supreme in other matters, called an alliance or confederation.

• States and Federal government share powers

Who Gets the Western Lands?•1779, 12 of the 13 states signed the

Articles of Confederation.•Some states had land claims and some did not, feared powerful states with to much land.•Maryland signs the Articles of Confederation

Governing the Western Lands•Land Ordinance of 1785- established a

plan for surveying and selling the federally owned lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.

•Northwest Ordinance of 1787- established procedures for the

admission of new states to the union.

Problems Arise•Confederation lacked national unity•Unequal representation•Articles could not be amended without

full approval of states.•Huge debt- over $190 million•Borrowers vs. Lenders•Foreign Relations – British refused to

remove troops, Spain’s troops on borders.•Trade between states

Shays Rebellion•Daniel Shay, Revolutionary war vet•Heavy in debt, to much taxation•Turned farmers into a 1200 strong mob

and marched towards the Springfield arsenal.

•Militia stopped the rebellion after 4 rioters die.

•Showed the nation that something was obviously wrong.

Constitutional Convention•Trade over states creates quarrels over

taxes and disagreements of navigation rights.

•The first convention only involved five states representatives including James Madison from Virginia and Alexander Hamilton.

•After Shays Rebellion the Constitutional Convention included 12

states, Rhode Island didnot participate.

•May 1787, Tossed out the Articles of Confederation

•Virginia Plan- Two house legislature with membership based on state population. Favored larger states

•New Jersey Plan- Single house legislature where states get equal vote.

•The Great Compromise- Two house Congress to satisfy both large/small states.▫Equal representation in the Senate, upper

house▫House of Representatives decided by

population, lower house

•Three-Fifths Compromise- Slaves worth 3/5th of a white male.

•Federalism- Divided power between the national government and state governments.

•The national government had powers over:▫National defense▫Foreign affairs▫Regulating trade▫Coining money

•States had powers over:▫Education▫Marriage laws▫Regulating trade within state

Separation of Powers•Legislative Branch- Makes the laws•Executive Branch- Administers and enforces

the laws•Judicial Branch- Interprets the laws and the

constitution•Check and Balances- Prevents any branch

from dominating the other two branches.•Electoral College- Equal to the number of

senators and representatives, the electors would cast ballots for the candidates

Ratification•Ratification- Required 9 of the 13 states to

agree.•Federalists- Supported the constitution, wanted

balance between state and central governments•Antifederalists- Disapproved of the constitution,

wanted more state rights.•The Federalist- Series of 85 essays defending the

Constitution, appeared in New York magazines from 1787 and 1788.

•Letters from the Federal Farmer- Antifederalist publication, Sought to protect civilian rights

Bill of Rights•Constitution provided no guarantee of rights.•People wanted a written bill of rights to

protect their rights.•Bill of rights included the following:1. Religious/political freedom2. Right to bear arms3. Freedom from quartering troops

4. Freedom from unreasonable search and seizure

5. Rights of accused persons6. Right to a fast and speedy trial7. Right to a trial by jury8. Limits on fines and punishments9. Rights of the people10. Powers of the states and the people