Unit 3: A New Nation

Goals of this Unit:• To understand that the American Revolution was not a radical

transformation like the French or Russian revolutions, but did produce political innovations and some social change in the direction of greater equality and democracy over time.

• To be able to explain why the Articles of Confederation failed, and the compromises made between the states to create the new federal Constitution.

• To understand how the Constitution designed a stronger central government than the Articles of Confederation did, but still promised to add amendments to protect individual liberty and states' rights.

Goals of this Unit:

• To recognize how the first administration under the Constitution overcame various difficulties and firmly established the political and economic foundations of the new federal government.

• To be able to explain how the differing views of government, economy, foreign policy and the overall vision for America's future led to the formation of political parties and ultimately, the two-party election system that still exists today.

Building a Government

GOAL OF TODAY:

To understand how and why the 13 colonies designed their first attempt at government

(the Articles of Confederation) the way they did, and what unexpected results came from

this.

In your groups…

• What challenges will America have to face after becoming an independent nation?

• Come up with at least 3 and explain.

Declare Independence: Now What?

• Revolution more of a progression:– Separation of Church and State

• Anglican Church becomes “Episcopal Church”• Life went on as usual

• Push for Equality:– Loyalists keep quiet and/or flee

• Less conservatives– Slavery still present

• Anti-slavery movement gains strength• First Continental Congress called for abolition• 1775 – Quakers create abolition society• Some slave owners began freeing slaves

– Women’s rights issues start• NJ – permitted women to vote for short time• “Republican motherhood” – idea that women raised the

children and therefore had great power and responsibility

Early State Constitutions• 1776 – Continental Congress has each

colony write own constitution– (Colony → State)– Mass. holds “Constitutional Convention”

• meeting → written → ratified → permanent• paves way for other states

Characteristics of State Constitutions:– Written: only changed through

formal process– Fundamental law: more general,

than specific– Bill of rights: guaranteed liberties– Annual elections of legislators:

accountability– Establishes executive and judicial

branches• Legislative branch often held all the

power– State capitals develop

New Country, New ProblemsGOAL OF TODAY:

To identify the problems the United States will have to face during it’s

infancy stage and the solutions to these issues.

Articles of Confederation• States choose a

“confederation” as new federal government– Loose union of states– A federal gov’t and state

governments both exist• State governments retain most

aspects of sovereign rule• Minted individual money, set up own

taxes• 1777 - Articles of Confederation

would be proposed as first American government– But needed to be ratified…

Articles of Confederation• Created a weak government on purpose

– Designed to avoid strong, central, gov’t• No executive branch• Congress weak:

– Members annually elected– 2/3 votes to resolve issues– Unanimous vote for amendments– Couldn’t assemble a military, enforce taxes, regulate

commerce states print own money, form own tax laws

– Significance?• Was so weak, it eventually showed states the need

for a new form of government

New Country, New Problems• Post-war unity was shaky

– Some colonies desired self-rule• British smuggle in good, undercut

American products– Young American industries couldn’t compete

with low prices• Advantages:

– The 13 colonies similar politically– Good leadership (GW, Jefferson, Adams, etc)

Economy at a Crossroads• Trade with England stops:

– Helps and Hurts…• Hurts short term: loss of top trading partner• Helps long term: forces American industry

– Industry starts, but Americans still 90% farmer– Trading freedom:

• Open to trade with whomever– Baltic region and China

• Economic troubles:– War profiteers hurt “economic morale”– Large war debt causes inflation

Making CompromisesGOAL OF TODAY:

To understand how the 13 states were able to put aside their

differences and make a series of compromises that would result in a

new strong, central government (The Constitution).

• Initial problem: Western lands: who owned them?

• Compromise: No states own the land – the federal gov’t does• All 13 states ratify in 1781

– Significance?• Uniting colonies diplomatically

Land Issues• How will the Ohio Valley be

divided up?– Land Ordinance of 1785

• Divided land into square mile sections

• Townships 36 square miles (6x6)• Each section numbered

– Could sub-divide and sell– Section #16 in township designated for

a school• Significance?

– Blueprint for new towns– Encourages western settlement– Crucial for the future of public education

Land Issues

• How will new states be made once people move out there?– Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• Territories could be made states in this process:– Stage 1. land just a territory owned by the U.S.– Stage 2. Population reaches 60,000 – could

write state constitution and send to Congress in hopes of approval

– Stage 3. If Congress approves STATEHOOD!

• Significance?– Encourages westward expansion

International Issues• England:

– No trade…– Leads to smuggling– Plans to reclaim Vermont– Kept many trade posts

along frontier• Keeps good relations with

Indians

• Spain:– Block mouth of Mississippi

River• Western residents needed

river for trade– Claimed uninhabited parts

of Florida– Riled up Indians against

Americans

• France:• “Pay up” – France

wants debts paid

• North African Pirates: – Dey of Algiers – robbed weak

American ships – Couldn’t afford “bully money”

Weakness of the Articles• States had too much

independence:– Fought over boundaries, taxed other

states, printed own money• Shays’ Rebellion (1786)

– Daniel Shay mad about farmland mortgages

– Shay and his followers attempt take-over in Massachusetts

– Wealthy citizens fund makeshift army– Rebellion quelled after a couple

skirmishes– Significance?

• Made people fear uprisings – urge for stronger federal government

• Articles of Confederation: Problems very apparent

• Strengthen them or scrap them?• Can republicanism work?

Making CompromisesGOAL OF TODAY:

To understand how the 13 states were able to put aside their

differences and make a series of compromises that would result in a

new strong, central government (The Constitution).

Constitutional Convention• Philadelphia (May 1787)

– 55 delegates from 12 states• “Demigods”: GW, Franklin,

Hamilton, Madison• Absent Revolutionaries:

Jefferson, Adams, Paine• Absent Patriots: Hancock,

Henry, Sam Adams– Still very against strong

government

– Goal: revise the Articles

Constitutional Convention• Issues:

– Threats of other nations– U.S. can’t maintain order– States’ “runaway democracy”

• Solution: – Strengthen federal government– Articles of Confederation “secretly” thrown out

The Preamble“We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, 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.”

•How does the language of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution reflect historical events and the goals the Founders had for the future?•What does the Preamble mean?

Compromises• Representation?

– Virginia Plan (Large States Plan)• Representation based on population

– New Jersey Plan (Small States Plan)• States should have an equal vote in Congress

– Great Compromise:• Bicameral house (2 houses)

– House of Representatives based on population» Taxation bills begin in H.O.R.» Elected by the common people

– Senate has 2 senators from each state» Votes on treaties, presidential appointees» Elected by state legislators

Compromises

• Significance of Great Compromise?– Compromise of biggest issues paved way for the

rest…• Slaves counted in state population?

– Southern states want slaves counted– Northern states disagree with counting slaves

• Bigger population = more power in congress• Compromise?

– The Three-Fifths Compromise:• 3/5 of slave population counted towards population

• Slave importation to be outlawed by 1807– Insignificant: Slavery already self-sufficient

Compromises• Executive Branch?

– Agree on elected president• Commander-in-chief of military• Power to veto legislation

– President elected by Electoral College • Group of official presidential voters• Common people deemed “too ignorant”

• Judicial Branch:– Federal chief justices appointed for life

• Allows stability

Checks and Balances

• System set up to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

Constitutional Convention

• September 1787– 42 of 55 delegates signed it

• Still needs to be ratified by all states

• State conventions created to vote on Constitution– Unlike state legislations, state

conventions would be less biased– The debate would split the

country into two groups…

A Country Split…Federalists

• Wanted ratification of Constitution– Stronger central

government– Usually richer, some former

Loyalists, from more coastal areas, property owners

Anti-Federalists• Did not want ratification of

Constitution– Believed it gives too much

power to to national government– Usually less-educated, farmers,

from frontier, wanted states’ rights

– Felt Constitution was written by and for the aristocracy

• Lacked bill of rights• Federal government could form

army• No more annual electionsHamilton

vs.Jefferson

The Great Debate• Convention delegates

elected by people• 75% of states need to

ratify to activate Constitution

• 5 states ratify right away:– Delaware, Penn, NJ,

Georgia, Conn.• Massachusetts split

– Ratify only after promise of Bill of Rights

• Mass a “tipping point”• Maryland, SC, NH ratify• 9 of 13 ratify: Constitution

now active (June 1788)

Warm Up

• Why did Massachusetts and other states demand a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution in order to ratify it?

Bill of Rights• Written by James Madison

– Needed 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of the states to approve

• Bill of Rights:– First ten amendments to the

Constitution• Amendment 1: Freedom of

religion, speech, press, right to peaceful assemble and petition

• Amendment 2: Right to bear arms …………

• Amendment 9: Protection of rights not listed (“People’s Rights Amendment”)

• Amendment 10: Any power not established in the Constitution is left to the states (“State’s Rights Amendment”)

The Great Debate• Virginia, NY, NC, RI still

holding out• Once NH ratified (9/13) the

constitution was in effect– Dilemma: Join or break off?

• Virginia: Joins shortly after NH

• NY: pushed by The Federalist Papers written by – Alexander Hamilton– James Madison– John Jay

• NC then RI pressured into ratification (May 1790)

U.S. 1789…• Biggest problem?

– The economy• Minimal revenue, debt growing fast

– Population growth…• Blessing in disguise?• New states: Vermont, Kentucky,

Tennessee• President Washington

U.S. 1789…• Biggest problem?

– The economy• Minimal revenue, debt growing fast

– Population growth…• Blessing in disguise?• New states: Vermont, Kentucky,

Tennessee• President Washington

– GW’s Cabinet:• Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson• Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander

Hamilton• Secretary of War: Henry Knox

– Signs “Judiciary Act of 1789”• Establishes Supreme Court and

Federal Court System• John Jay first Chief Justice

New Government in Place• Patriots of the American Revolution vs.

“Demigods” of the Constitutional Convention– What had changed through this constitution

process?– Who held most the power before? Who now?– Did the delegates do a good job of setting up

structure and limitation of their power?

Two Party System DevelopsGOAL OF TODAY:

To examine the new strength of the understand how and why a two-party

system developed early on in the United States political scene, and what

the results and effects of this were.

Hamilton’s Plan• Hamilton faced biggest

issue:• Economy

– 4 part plan to financial stability:1. Paying all debts in full2. An import tariff3. A whiskey tax4. A National Bank

1. Paying Debts• “Funding at Par”

– Needed to pay of all debts to both the American people and international debts in full…

• Respect and credit

• “Assumption”– Federal government assumes all state debt…

• Creates unity through a common goal• Compromise leads to creation of Washington D.C.

2. Import Tax & 3. Whiskey Tax

• How to pay off debt:• Tax imports

– Hamilton predicted American industry soon booming (more trade = more revenue from import tariffs)

• Whiskey tax– Excise tax on whiskey– Growing and widespread product, not a

necessity

4. National Bank• Hamilton says National Bank would

stabilize economy– Would store government money– Lend money to businesses – Print money

Effects of and the backlash against Hamilton’s plan…

National Bank Debate:

• Jefferson– Strict interpreter of the Constitution– If it is not written in Const. it is illegal– “unconstitutional”– 10th Amendment

• Bank system should be left to states

• Hamilton– Loose interpreter of Constitution– If it is not prohibited by Const. then it is

acceptable– “Elastic Clause”

• Congress has power to do whatever is “necessary and proper” to carry out its duties

• Commerce and taxes are a duty of Congress

Hamilton wins: Bank of U.S. established in 1791

Political Parties Form

• Unintentionally creates 2 party system• Hamiltonians vs. Jeffersonians

AKA• Federalists vs. Anti-federalists (Democratic-Republicans)

AKA• Conservatives vs. Liberals

• Pros and cons of 2 party system?– Cons:

• disrupts unity, slows down gov’t process– Pros:

• gives people choice

Whiskey Tax Resistance• Whiskey-makers of frontier

upset• “Taxation without

representation”– Tenn. and Kentucky not states

yet• 1794 – Whiskey Rebellion

– Few hundred whiskey-makers rise up in western Pennsylvania

– Washington crushes rebellion with 15,000 soldiers

• Significance?– Comparison with Shay’s

Rebellion…• New gov’t was strong.

Young Nation TestedGOAL OF TODAY:

To understand how political divisions and foreign affairs would challenge America as

a nation, and to identify how political leaders responded to these issues.

French Revolution (1789-1799)• American Revolution helps

inspire French Revolution– But F.R. was anarchy and less

diplomatic• Mobs, massacres, beheadings• American view:

– Conservatives disgusted– Liberals think worth the violence if

this leads to democracy

• 1792 – Becomes international issue and war ensues– England vs. France– Who does America support?

Who Does America Support?• Jeffersonian Dem-Reps:• SIDE WITH

FRANCE• Franco-American

alliance of 1778– Repay the favor

• Hamiltonian Federalists:

• SIDE WITH ENGLAND

• Alliance with Britain would help American economy more

Up to Washington…

Neutrality Proclamation of 1793• Washington declares

neutrality– America too young and

unstable to involve itself in massive war

– American policy: act only in self-interest

– France felt betrayed, Dem-Reps upset

• Edmond Genet – French ambassador tries and fails to incite American protest of decision

• Significance?

Two Party System Strengthens

• Federalists– Led by Hamilton– Wealthy classes,

coastal regions– Envision “industrial

America of big cities”

– Pro-British• Good for economy

– Supported strong central government

– Educated elite should run gov’t

• Democratic-Republicans– Led by Jefferson– Mostly farmers, rural

areas– Envision “agricultural

America of small towns”

– Pro-French• Repay the favor

– Supported state/people’s rights

– Uneducated men can run gov’t

Problems with Britain & Indians• Rising tension with Indians &

British trading posts• Battle of Fallen Timbers

(1794)– English supplying Indians with

guns– Indians forced to sign treaty

surrendering Ohio Valley• British Navy stealing from

U.S. ships in Caribbean– “impressment”

International Treaties• Jay’s Treaty (1794)

– Washington sends Jay to negotiate problems with English

– Jay’s treaty:• U.S. pays off all pre-war debts to England• British would leave American frontier trading

posts• England pays for damages of past

impressments• War avoided

• Pinckney Treaty (1795)– Spain scared of American-British relations– Spain gives Americans use of Mississippi

River– Gives Florida to the U.S.

• France furious over neutrality and Jay’s treaty

New President

• 1796 – Washington steps down after 2 terms – Farewell Address: “avoid

political parties” and “permanent alliances”

Election of 1796

John Adams(Federalist Party)

Thomas Jefferson(Democratic-Republican Party)

Adams Results: Jefferson71 Electoral College 68

36,000 Popular Vote 31,000

Young Nation TestedGOAL OF TODAY:

To understand how political divisions and foreign affairs would challenge America as

a nation, and to identify how political leaders responded to these issues.

New President

• 1796 – Washington steps down after 2 terms – Farewell Address: “avoid

political parties” and “permanent alliances”

• John Adams (Federalist) beats Jefferson (Dem-Reps) in close election– Hamilton too controversial

• Adams now 2nd President

War with France?• French impressment leads

to unofficial war • Adams sends delegates to

France to smooth tensions• 1798 – XYZ Affair

– Three French spies secretly approach delegates

– Secret offer made to American delegates:

• Demanded Adams apologize, a loan, and a bribe

– American delegates refuse, leave talks

– Fighting in Caribbean continues – “Quasi War”

Adams’ Legacy• American public & Federalist

party demanding war• Adams refuses

– Splits federalist party• Adam’s Federalists vs. Hamilton’s “High Federalists”

– Sends new delegates to negotiate with Napoleon

– Convention of 1800: • Franco-American Alliance over• Impressement damages must be

paid to French shippers– Adams scorned for decision

• Right move?

Alien and Sedition Acts

• Federalists pass two acts while in office to strengthen party’s power:

• Alien act:– Restricts immigration and citizenship

• Residency 5 years → 14 years• Power to deport• Why?

– Immigrants likely to support Dem-Reps

• Sedition Act:– Any public criticism against government is

punishable• Why?

– Silences criticisms against the Federalist party

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions• James Madison and Jefferson

react:• Felt gov’t had abused power• Resolutions cited the “compact

theory”– AKA “state’s rights theory” or

“nullification theory”– 13 states entered a contract

(“compact”) to form federal gov’t → federal laws must be approved by states

– Resolutions give states power to deem a federal law unconstitutional and void