Post on 25-Dec-2015
Crisis and Constitution
How close a union? —“not the United States, these United States”; 13 nation states workable? Separate treaties? Borders?
Belief in need for small republics—state constitutions aimed at direct participation amongst compact like-minded citizens
Curbing executive power—ghost of George III and ministers
Strengthening legislative powers—more republican
Written constitutions—British constitution difficult to pin down;
need a governmental contract in writing
Articles of Confederation—1777 (at start of war, but 4 yrs. to ratify): Created vague central government, so Congress couldn’t tax/regulate trade—power to states
Spanish designs on the Southwest—Mississippi closed; Indian alliances
Landed versus landless states—lower taxes: compete for citizens; ratification held hostage by Maryland until lands ceded (map)
Changing composition of state legislatures—western homespun local representation lessens influence of elite
Jefferson’s plans for the Northwest—10 states when populated to least of original, democracy in townships (6x6 miles=36 sections of 640 acres) of free adult males, but this unworkable for speculators who feared too much self-government
Northwest Ordinance—more orderly, restrained growth rules w/ 3-5 states—one section per township for education; No slavery, but Native Americans ignored (2nd map)
Northwest Ordinance for
territories northwest of
Ohio River
Republicanism and Slavery
—the two don’t jive, but property
sacred and propertyless blacks dangerous; southerners: “peculiar institution”
Growth of the free black community—North but not in the South
Public and Private Debt—paper is a promise to pay; don’t have it, print it
Postwar inflation—paper money, scarce goods cause spiraling inflation: Congress fiddled, unable to do anything under Confederation: no tax / trade powers
Political divisions over economic policy—some love inflation, some hate it
Republican Society—“aristocracy of merit”
Urban artisans—organizing works: boycotts taught them that
Exclusion of women from politics—revolution not fought for women’s rights, but…
Improved schooling and literacy rates—true academics for all; literacy aims at equal numbers between men/women, reaches goal by 1850
Women’s legal status—other than easier divorce, what legal status? None—all based in their men
Republican view of equality—control of property gives equality; blacks and women ARE property and inferior; royalty real enemy of equality
Disestablishment—no state support—support your OWN church: crucial Society of Cincinnati—(hereditary warrior nobility) hand-me-downs not
Republican
Mary Woolstone-
craft, writer of Vindication of
the Rights of Women. Her
daughter would write
Frankenstein.
From Confederation to Constitutions
William Paterson, originator of the New
Jersey Plan
Response to agrarian unrest—states didn’t have means to avoid Shays-type rebellions—most agreed: strong central government needed
Paterson’s New Jersey Plan—countered Madison’s “Virginia (population) Plan”: small states wanted equal representation
Compromise over reps—small getequal senators; big get more in house (where money bills originate)—slaves count 3/5’s—trading to 1808
Electoral College—vote for wise electors who know candidates instead of direct election
Separation of Powers—checks and balances in three branches Amending the Constitution—purposely not easy: 2/3’s to initiate;
3/4’s to pass
Modern-day Electoral College meets to select the President.
The anti-Federalists—feared loss of
up-close republicanism, power of the states The Federalist Papers—85 effective essays
Bill of Rights—explicit statement of rights promised after ratification: 1st ten amendments (many still controversial—handout)
Rejected Republican beliefs—nice in theory, but
centralization works in practice
Behavior shaped by interest rather than virtue—less than idealistic, practical approach to government
The three writers for the Federalist Papers, John Jay
and Alexander Hamilton, and the father of the Constitution,
James Madison.