The Constitution and The New Republic1787-1800

Objective Question

Can the states unite and prosper under one constitution, regardless of separating political viewpoints and philosophies?

Early Issues: Articles of Confederation

• 1 house Congress• No separated branches of government

Who came up with the checks and balance system?

Cont…

• Poor European relations – Britain inhibit trade– Treaty of Paris: Give land back to Loyalists, repay

foreign debt• Economic Depression• Annapolis Convention – Discuss rethinking

things

"Article III. The said states hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defence, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretence whatever."

Creating the Constitution

• 1787 Philadelphia Convention (which state refused to send delegates?)

• Main issues1. Representation Virginia Plan + New Jersey Plan = Great

Compromise2. Slavery 3/5 Compromise3. Trade Commercial Compromise4. Powers and Election of president 4 yr term; Electoral

College5. Ratification September 17, 1787

“We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America”

What’s this called?

Different Parties

Federalists• Atlantic Coast, city folks• Greater Federal power –

preserve Union• Federalist Papers – support

Constitution• Hamilton

Democratic Republicans(Anti-Federalists)

• South and West, small farmers, frontier settlers

• States’ Rights – avoid domineering Government (like Britain)

• Bill Of Rights• Jefferson

"The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge natural to party dissention, which in different ages & countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism.” – G. Washington, 1796

Was he right?

John Adams Thomas Jefferson

Post Washington (Washington Post. Ha.)

• John Adam’s win election (Federalist)• Naturalization Act: lengthened time to obtain US

citizenship• Alien Acts: Pres can detain/deport dangerous

aliens/immigrants • Sedition Act: censor newspapers from criticizing

Pres/Congress

Tools used to weaken Democratic-Republican party

Nullification

• Republicans oppose these acts (violate first amendment)

• States united under a “compact” forming Federal Government

• If Gov break compact, states have right to nullify law

• Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions 1799

Fall of The Feds

• Alien & Sedition Acts• No war against France, but high taxes for

defense anyways• 1801 Jefferson (Republican) President• Revolution of 1800 (big deal that no fighting

occurred)

THUS

• The constitution, regardless of disagreements and a rough start, proved effective for the new US government.