Early National

What do you know?

The“VirtuousRepublic”

Classical view of

a model republic

“City on a hill”

[John W

inthrop]Ideal citizen

[Cincinnatus]

1. Govt. gets its authority from the citizens.

2. A selfless, educated citizenry.

3. Elections should be frequent.

4. Govt. should guarantee individual rights & freedoms.

5. Govt.’s power should be limited [checks & balances].

6. The need for a written Constitution.

7. “E Pluribus Unum.” [“Out of many, one”]

8. An important role for women raise good, virtuous citizens.[“Republican Womanhood”].

Enlightenment

Thinking

Slide credit: Susan Pojer Horace Greeley HS

What should the power of government be?

Articles of ConfederationNational Government

War and Defense• Power to declare

war• Make peace• Sign treaties

Finance• Borrow $$$• Set $$$ standards• Est. postal service

Nat. Am.• Negotiate with • Defend

against

Articles of Confederation

Strong points• First Constitution-

set in motion a nat’l gov’t

• Pwr to the states (debatable)

• Gov’t closer to the ppl

Weak points• Could not tax• No regulation of

interstate trade • Unanimous

consent required in order to make changes

Adam Smith

• Wealth of Nations• Argued that social order and progress were

the natural result of individualism and self-interest

John Dickinson

• Known for his stance prior to the War of Independence and writing Letters From a Farmer in Pennsylvania

• Believed that a republic required virtuous people

Differences on the meaning of republicanism

John Dickinson• The new gov’t

could only succeed if people placed the good of the nation above their personal interests

Adam Smith• If a gov’t allowed

independent citizens to pursue their own economic and political interests the whole nation would benefit

Something must be done.

• Shays’ Rebellion• Pressure from Hamilton and Madison• Debt of the nation

Constitutional ConventionFair representation

slavery

Auth. Of Nat’l gov’t

Rel. b/w St. & Nat’l

Issues Debated

Great Compromise HUSp.142AP186

3/5ths Compromise HUSp142AP188

3 branch gov’t & checks and balances

Two plans proposed

James Madison: VA Plan

• More pwr to st w/ lg pops• Bicameral (2 house)• Membership based on

pop.• Voters elect to lower

house and who would elect members to the upper

William Patterson: NJ Plan

• Better for smaller states

• Single house congress (unicameral)

• Ea state having an equal vote

The Great Compromise

• Proposed by Roger Sherman–2 house Congress–Equal representation in the Senate

(each state getting 2 reps)–Lower house (H. of Reps)

representation based population

Federalists

PPL • George Washington• James Madison

Grps • Merchants, skilled wrkrs, and laborers

Goals/ideas• Gov’t w/ strong central authority• Protection of division of pwr• Checks and balances

Anti-Federalists

PPL• Patrick Henry• Samuel Adams• Richard Henry Lee

Grps • Rural citizens, large states, states w/ a strong ec

Goals/ideas

• Centralized authority could lead to abuses of pwr

• Country is too large to be under single gov’t authority

• Req. a Bill of Rights in order to support Const.