By: Mr. Michael R. KahoeDel Valle High School

The Confederation and The Confederation and the Constitutionthe Constitution

1776-17901776-1790

Impact of American RevolutionImpact of American Revolution

• Many people in Europe saw the American Revolution as a turning point in history– Americans had enforced the Social

Contract– Ended foreign rule and oppression– Established the first democracy since

ancient times

• America served as a model for a better world

The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality

• Equality was all the rage after the Declaration of Independence– Voting restrictions reduced– Indentured servitude ends– Primogeniture dropped

The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality

• Separation of church & state– Anglican church fell in prominence– Congregational church still legally established in

New England– Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom

The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality

• Slavery was challenged– Vote to end slave trade– Abolitionist societies emerge in Philadelphia &

some N.E. states abolish slavery outright– Blacks were still

discriminated against• (property, jobs,

education, marriage)

• But, why was slaveryallowed to continue?

The Pursuit of EqualityThe Pursuit of Equality

• Women were still unequal– Yet women, as the

caregivers, were seen as purveyors of the “civic virtue”

– Expected to teach children republican ideals

– Led to expanded educational opportunities

Constitution MakingConstitution Making

• In 1776, colonies drafted individual state constitutions– Defined powers of government– Authority from the people– Represented the fundamental law

• Most included:– Bill of Rights– Require an annual election of legislatures

• Had the most power

– Created weak executive & judicial branches

Economic CrosscurrentsEconomic Crosscurrents

• States gained control of former crown & loyalist landholdings

• Commerce with Britain drastically reduced– Americans forced to manufacture products on

their own– New trade sought out (ex. China)

American Exports, To & From American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789Britain: 1783-1789

Economic CrosscurrentsEconomic Crosscurrents

• U.S. economy was in the gutter– Profiteers had gotten rich– Rich had become poor– Runaway inflation–Many unpaid war debts– Distaste for taxes

• British navigation laws now working against America

A Shaky Start Toward UnionA Shaky Start Toward Union

• U.S. was a union only in name– Suspicion of authority of

government• British manufacturers began

selling goods at cut-rate prices– Hurt burgeoning American

industries• People encouraged to buy products

made in the USA

A Shaky Start Toward UnionA Shaky Start Toward Union

• There was still hope for the Union– All 13 states had similar governments– Each had a shared history• Political inheritance from Britain• History of self-rule

– Great political leaders• Washington• Jefferson• John Adams• James Madison• Alexander Hamilton

Creating a ConfederationCreating a Confederation

• Second Continental Congress had no real authority during war– All 13 states were essentially sovereign

• Articles of Confederation written in 1777 (ratified in 1781)– Chief argument was over western lands

• Some had claims out West & some didn’t• Argued that states with land could pay war debts

– Maryland held out until 1781• NY & Virginia to surrender land claims• Congress promises to create new states from these areas

State Claims to Western LandsState Claims to Western Lands

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

• Provided for a “firm league of friendship”– Linked together to deal with common problems– Run by congress (no executive)

• Congress:– Each state had 1 vote– Laws need 9 states– 13 votes to change the Articles

Weaknesses of the Articles of Weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

• No central taxing authority• Each state issued its own currency• Could not command or control states• No central army – only state militias• No national control of commerce (trade,

tariffs)• No sense of national identity

Strengths of the Articles of Strengths of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

• Held states together until the new constitution

• Could make treaties• Created a postal service

Occupational Composition of Several Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesState Assemblies

in the 1780sin the 1780s

Landmarks in LandlawsLandmarks in Landlaws

• Congress passed farsighted pieces of legislation regarding Old Northwest– Land Ordinance of 1785 – land in Old

Northwest to be sold to pay off war debts• Surveyed, divvyed up & sold to townships (public

schools)• Very orderly

Land Ordinance of 1785

Landmarks in Land LawsLandmarks in Land Laws

–Northwest Ordinance of 1787• Land would be a territory subordinate to U.S.

government• With 60,000 inhabitants, statehood could be sought• Solved problem of having colonies

The World’s Ugly DucklingThe World’s Ugly Duckling

• America had troubled foreign relations after the War

• England:– Refused to send a minister to “backwoods”

capital of Philadelphia– Refused to make a commercial treaty or repeal

Navigation Laws• Lord Sheffield said England would eventually win

back all American trade

– Closed profitable West Indies• Colonists resort to smuggling

The World’s Ugly DucklingThe World’s Ugly Duckling

• Spain:– Controlled the Mississippi River & New Orleans– Schemed with neighboring Indians

• France:– Demanded repayment of money loaned– Restricted trade with West Indies

• Pirates in Mediterranean were attacking American ships

Disputed Territories Between Disputed Territories Between Spain & the U.S.Spain & the U.S.

The United States in 1787

The Horrid Specter of Anarchy

• Raising money difficult for congress– States refused to pay– Public debt increasing– Foreign credit drying up– “Rag Money” – depreciating paper money

• Quarrels over state boundaries• States taxed each other’s goods

Shays’ Rebellion

• 1786 – Mass. Farmers upset over losing farms

• Captain Daniel Shays – revolutionary vet leads rebellion– Felt he was fighting tyranny– Demanded: • State issued paper money• Lower taxes• Stop property seizures

Shays’ Rebellion

• Small army is raised to squash rebellion– 3 Shaysites killed & 1 wounded– Shays sentenced to death (later pardoned)– Rebellion crushed

Shays’ Rebellion

• Result of Shays’ Rebellion:– Debtor relief laws passed– Fear of too much liberty– Talk of stronger central government• A King maybe?• “Cement to the Union”• “A hoop to the barrel”

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.” – Thomas Jefferson

A Convention of “Demigods”

• Squabbling over interstate commerce led to changes to the Articles

• 1786 – Annapolis Convention– Only 5 delegates show

• Alexander Hamilton (NY) calls for a future meeting in Philadelphia

• 1787 – Constitutional Convention– 55 delegates meet

• Washington was chair• Franklin elder statesman at 81• James Madison

– “Father of the Constitution”• Alexander Hamilton

– Advocate for strong central government

Patriots in Philadelphia

• Goals of Convention:– Preserve the Union– Curb unrestrained democracy

• Shays Rebellion– Wanted a strong central government

Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

• Delegates decide to scrap the Articles all together

• Legislative Branch (makes laws)– Virginia’s “large state plan”• Representation in two houses based on state’s

population

– New Jersey’s “small state plan”• One house congress• Each state with one vote

Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

– “The Great Compromise”• Legislative Branch

– House of Representatives – based on state population– All tax bills originate in the house– Senate – 2 senate seats per state

• Executive Branch (carries out laws)– Makes appointments

• Ex. Supreme Court justices

– Commander in Chief– Veto power– Can’t declare war

Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises

• Slaves– Are they counted as citizens?– 3/5 compromise– African slave trade shut down by 1807• Georgia last to stop

Safeguards for Conservatism

• Created sound money• Protection of private property• Checks & balances• Limited government• Republic – “we the people”• Indirect Election:– President – electoral college– Senators – by state legislatures– Supreme Court – appointed– House – by voters

Federalists vs. Antifederalists

• Federalists supported the Constitution & strong government

• Antifederalists – opposed a strong central government– No bill of rights– No annual election for House– Federal Stronghold (D.C.)– Standing Army– No mention of God– Ratified by only 2/3 vote

• Constitution adopted by 9 states in 1788– All but Virginia, NY, NC, & RI

Patrick Henry

The Four Laggard StatesThe Four Laggard States

• Virginia - ratified it 89 to 79• New York– Federalist Papers, written by John Jay, James

Madison, and Alexander Hamilton• North Carolina & Rhode Island later ratified

A Conservative Triumph

• The minority had triumphed – 1/4 of the adult white males in the country had voted

for the delegates– Conservationism was victorious

• Federalists believed every branch of government represented the people