Unit 4: Building a New Nation

Chapter 7: Competing Visions of the Virtuous

Republic

State Constitutions

1776, the 2nd C.C. asked all of the colonies to draft new constitutions & become new states

Represented a variety of opinions on a democracy, but most still shared common featuresSeparation of powers – executive,

legislative, & judicial branchesDrew their authority from the people -

republicanismHad a bill of rights

State Constitutions

MA constitution became a model to manyCreated a system of checks & balancesProcess for ratifying the constitution

Called a special convention to draft their constitution

Submitted the final draft to the people for ratification

Articles of Confederation

Adopted by Congress in 1777, but not ratified by all 13 states until 1781Disagreement over whether the

NW Territory should be designated as a national domain

Maryland’s ultimatum – no national domain = no ratification

States gave in and agreed to carve new states from the new public domain

Articles of Confederation

Created a WEAK central govt. Congress didn’t have the power to taxCongress couldn’t regulate foreign &

interstate commerceNo court system; no executive to enforce

acts of CongressAlthough they could make war & peace,

they didn’t have power to raise troops

Northwest Ordinances

Most important accomplishment of the A of C

Sold land to raise money for the govt.

Set the precedent on how a territory could become a state

Northwest Ordinances

Each region subdivided into townships covering 36 square miles, each of which in turn was to be split into 36 sections of 1 square mile each

Northwest Ordinances

One section of each township was for public schools

Some townships reserved land for veterans

The remaining townships were available for sale to land speculators & the general public for $1 an acre

Northwest Ordinances

Led to the creation of 5 new states

Need 60,000 white males for a territory to apply for admission as a state

Slavery was banned north of the Ohio River

Shays’ Rebellion 1786-1787

Impoverished backcountry farmers in MA looked to their state govt. for temporary relief from high taxes

Farmer’s rebelled, led by Daniel Shays – veteran & farmer

Federal govt. had no power to intervene

ResultsMA ended the burden of debtorsConvinced leaders that the Articles

were too weakU.S. needed a stronger central

government!!!

Constitutional Convention

55 delegates from 12 states met in Philly 1787

Most were lawyers, merchants, or planters

Hoped to create a stable, enduring political structure

Sessions were held in complete secrecy

Compromises

Virginia Plan (favored large states)Submitted by James Madison, the

“Father of the Constitution”3 branches – legislative, executive,

judicialGave Congress the power to veto

laws passed by state legislaturesBicameral legislature with

membership based on proportional representation

Compromises…

New Jersey Plan (favored small states)3 branches of govt.Created a unicameral legislature with each

state equally represented in Congress

Great Compromise

Decided on a bicameral legislatureSenate – equal representationHouse of Representatives – representation

based on population

State legislatures would elect senators but voters would directly elect their state reps to the House

Three-Fifths Compromise

Should slaves be counted in the populations of the southern states?

Decided that “free persons” should be counted, along with 3/5 of the slave population

Slave trade would continue for 20 more years (until 1808)

Article I, Section. 2 [Slaves count as 3/5 persons] Representatives and direct Taxes shall be apportioned among the several States which may be included within this Union, according to their respective Numbers, which shall be determined by adding to the whole Number of free Persons, including those bound to Service for a Term of Years, and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all other Persons [i.e., slaves].

Article I, Section. 9, clause 1.  [No power to ban slavery until 1808]The Migration or Importation of such Persons as any of the States now existing shall think proper to admit, shall not be prohibited by the Congress prior to the Year one thousand eight hundred and eight, but a Tax or duty may be imposed on such Importation, not exceeding ten dollars for each Person.

Article IV, Section. 2. [Free states cannot protect slaves] No Person held to Service or Labour in one State, under the Laws thereof, escaping into another, shall, in Consequence of any Law or Regulation therein, be discharged from such Service or Labour, but shall be delivered up on Claim of the Party to whom such Service or Labour may be due.

Article V [No Constitutional Amendment to Ban Slavery Until 1808]...No Amendment which may be made prior to the Year One thousand eight hundred and eight shall in any Manner affect the first and fourth Clauses in the Ninth Section of the first Article.

Electoral College

Group of special electors are chosen by the state to vote for presidential candidates

Number of electors is equal to the number of state’s senators & representatives in Congress

If two candidates receive the same number of electoral votes, the House would choose the PresidentHappened in 1800 & 1824