Ch. 9 - The Confederation and Constitution 1776-1790
Pursuit of Equality
• Democratic ideals began to seep into Amer. Society following the Revolution
• Anti-slavery ideas develop as early as 1775 – Quaker society in Phila.
• Slavery was still too divisive an issue to try to end – Northern states began to abolish slavery – Southern states did not
Economic Consequences
• British land was taken and split into small farms
• Amer. was cut off from selling in British ports but could now trade with any country
• Huge debt after the war – the colonists borrowed more than they could hope to pay back
• Tax issues anyone!!!
The Articles of Confederation
• Amer. 1st Constitution• 13 independent states and one
Congress• Each state had a single vote in the
Congress – problems anyone?!?• Any change to the articles required
all 13 states to vote together• Congress was made weak – asked
for taxes but did not require them to be paid
Landmarks in Land Laws• Old Northwest – territory
between NY and Miss. River, south of the Great Lakes
• Land Ordinance of 1785 – Old NW should be sold and proceeds used to pay off the national debt
• NW Ordinance of 1787 – territories w/ more than 60,000 residents could apply to become states in the U.S.
The World’s Ugly Duckling
• Amer. Got no love on the world stage
• Britain was no friend to Amer.
• Spain shut Amer. out from the Miss. River
• France called in their loans from the Revolutionary War
Horrid Specter of Anarchy• Shay’s Rebellion – 1786 – Mass.• Poor backcountry farmers were
losing farms b/c of high debt and inability to pay taxes
• Hundreds of angry farmers led by D.Shays rose up and demanded lower taxes and stop property takeovers
• Shaysites and Mass. Authorities fought and 3 were killed
• Shays was condemned to death but later pardoned
A Convention of “Demigods”
• 1786 – trouble is brewing – commerce meeting is held and only 5 states show up
• 1787 – meeting in Phila. Proposed and all states agree – except R.I.
• Only landowning men were elected and sent by each state as delegates (reps.)
• 55 delegates met in Phila. To fix Amer.
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• VA Plan – bicameral congress (2 houses) based on population – the more you got the more reps. You get
• NJ Plan – unicameral congress – based on equal representation for ALL states
• Great Compromise – bicameral congress – House of Reps. - # of reps based on state’s pop. Senate – each state gets 2 senators no matter how big or small
• Three Fifths Compromise – slaves counted as 3/5 a person. Why would southern states want slaves counted as people.
• Set the date to end the slave trade at 1807• Constitution is written by the summer of 1787
Clash of Federalists and Antifederalists
• Antifederalists – against federal govt. and strong, central govt.– Sam Adams, Patrick
Henry– Poorest citizens and for
state’s rights– Though upper class was
going to abuse power
cont.
• Federalists– Ben Franklin, G.
Washington, Alexander Hamilton
– More educated and better organized citizens
– Tended to be more well to do and thought the govt. needed to be strong
The Great Debate in the States
• During the summer of 1787• Each state had to ratify
(approve) the Constitution• It did not just pass – much
debate in the states• Only land owning residents
could vote in the states• 11 out of 13 states ratified the
Constitution – R.I and N.C. lagged behind
Constitution
• The Constitution would ultimately embrace freedom and rights to American citizens in all STATES and at the same time provide structure, order and a strong NATIONAL government for all citizens.