A Union of Thirteen States

1781-1787Page 133Chapter 5

Forging a RepublicSection 1

• “You and I did not imagine when the first war with Britain was over that the revolution was just begun” Harrison Gray Otis

• What does this quote mean to you??

The American Republic

• Wanted a republic- people chose representatives to make laws

• Debate in what type of state gov’ts– Unicameral- one house of reps chosen by the

people• Governor was weaker

– Bicameral- two houses, both chosen by the people• Governor was stronger• Senate and House

• Democracy grows• Thomas Jefferson- feared the common man

given the right to vote– Would lead to no classes

• However- most men owned land, so most could vote

• Slaves and women could not

• Most states granted Freedom of religion as well

• Started tradition of separation of church and state- exceptions- Mass. And Conn.

Articles of Confederation

• Loose union of the states• 1777 ratified• Led by John Dickinson of Penn.

• Made the federal government very weak– What powers did the Federal Gov’t have?– Weaknesses??– How many votes did each state get?– How many had to approve legislation

The Western Frontier

• Daniel Boone, a famous woodsmen, helped create the Wilderness road.

• Would connect thirteen States with the Northwest territory

• Now that revolution over, settlers no longer bound by Proclamation of 1763

• No began streaming into area• Must be organized

• Northwest TerritoryWest of Appalachian Mt, to Mississippi, above Ohio River• Sold land to generate money for gov’t• But must be organized.

• Land Ordinance of 1785• Divided land into townships- six square miles• Divided those into 36- 640 acre plots• Sold at a dollar and acre• Land sold to speculators who made millions

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787– Stated that congress would choose a governor,

secretary, and three judges to rule territory– 5,000 men- establish elected assembly– 60,000- apply for statehood– Had to have a republican gov’t– Citizens also had freedom of religion and speech

• Slavery was banned• Created 5 new states– ??

• Natives kicked out

Conflict• Spain and Britain• Spain dislikes new Republic- shuts Americans

out of New Orleans• British• Continue the navigation acts– Only let American ships trade with Great Britain– Shut American ships out of their ports in west

indies. – Kept their forts on American soil– U.S. could do nothing- army shrank to 350 men

Weaknesses of AOC

• Congress could not tax– Had to ask for money from states– No way to make them ante up

• Couldn’t pay debts• Couldn’t amend the constitution• Couldn’t regulate money supply• Couldn’t regulate interstate commerce– States taxed each other, had own currency, and

almost went to war with each other.

Shays rebellion• GB does its best to cripple American economy– Calls in debts

• Shay’s Rebellion– 1787 Farmers debts grows to, many lose their

farms– Farmers could not pay debts and lost land– Daniel Shay and 1,000 men marched on

Springfield and planned to seize arsenal– State militia dispersed the farmers

• Many left in doubt if this country could work

Section 2 Drafting the Constitution

• Gov’t was too weak to solve nations problems

• A convention was called to discuss trade problems among states and other problems

• To be held in Annapolis, Maryland in 1786• Only five delegates show up

Constitutional Convention

• Twelve states arrive in Independence Hall, Philadelphia in 1787

• Rhode Island refused to participate• Delegates from the top tiers and most educated

and wealthy of society• Many had fought in revolution • Lawyers, merchants, doctors, planters• Average age was 43 and most under 40• Suppose to revise- but they throw it out

The Convention Assembles• George Washington elected President of the

Hall• Leaders- Alexander Hamilton- wanted strong

national gov’t- like the British• James Madison- strong gov’t but republic, not

monarchy • Rules were set up– Votes were kept secret– Could change sides in additional votes– James Madison took notes on the meetings

The Virginia Plan

• Madison came up with Virginia plan– 1. Gov’t could tax and regulate trade– 2. 3 branches of gov’t- what were they– 3. Both houses membership would be determined

by population• President would be powerful- 1-7 year term• Gov’t had veto power of states

Large States Vs. Small States

• Small states were outraged• They would have no power

• New Jersey Plan offered up by William Patterson of New Jersey – Each state would send same amount of

representatives – Not much would change

Great Compromise

• Needed to compromise to agree• Roger Sherman of Connecticut– One house based on population– Senate equal representation– Got rid of national veto, but gave national gov’t

more power- ex. money

• Country became a gov’t know as federalism.

Debate on Slavery

• Southern states wanted slavery left out of constitution but wanted slaves counted in representation

• Compromise- 3 parts – Slave trade would not be ended for 20 years– Slaves count as 3/5 in population– Northern states had to return fugitive slaves

Final Touches

• Worked all summer but on September 1787, 39 members signed the constitution

• 3 refused to sign

• Now needed to get the states to ratify it before it could become the law of the land

• Passed, but would states accept it• At the time- no bill of rights• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q5P4pTrF_yI

Ratifying the ConstitutionSection 3

• Constitution now debating in State legislatures all over the country

• 9 of 13 states must vote to approve

• Constitution was a federalism-

• Political groups emerged out of debate– Federalist– Anti-federalists

Arguments Against

• Gave too much power to the national gov’t• National gov’t would end the states ability to

govern themselves• No guarantee of individual rights

Arguments for

• Believed individual rights could not be taken away by democratic gov’t

• The “Federalist papers” – 85 essays written by James Madison, John Jay, and Alexander Hamilton supporting the constitution

• Directed at swing states

States decide• First to ratify– Delaware, New Jersey, Georgia, Maryland, and

Connecticut – New Hampshire approved in 1778 as the ninth

state– Had the nine they needed, but without New York

and Virginia, constitution would not survive– Added Bill of Rights and New York and Virginia

approved– North Carolina and Rhode Island did not approve

till 1790

• Bill of Rights- Written by James Madison• Bill of Rights: First ten Amendments to the

constitution. Guarantee basic rights• 1st Amendment- guards our basic liberties• 2-8 – guarantee other freedoms• 9-10- states there are many more rights not

written down in the constitution

Principles

• Popular Sovereignty • Limited Gov’t• Separation of Powers• Federalism• Checks and Balances• Representative gov’t

Checks and Balances

• Founders set up ways for the three branches to monitor each other from becoming too powerful

• Veto• Impeach• Declare laws unconstitutional

Federal System• Divide gov’t at different levels• National Gov’t– Make treaties, coin money, tax imports, declare

war• State State Gov’t– Make laws about education, trade within boarders

• Shared Powers– Borrow money, control banking, build roads,

maintain courts, • Local Gov’t- powers dictated by states

Electoral College

• ??• Groups of persons chosen from each state to

vote on the prez• Still use today??

Flexibility

• Founders knew things would come up and the constitution had to adapt

• Amendments-possible but difficult- 2/3 of both and ratified by 3/4ths of states

• Elastic Clause-

• Meant to be adaptable