Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
description
Transcript of Articles of Confederation and the Constitution
Articles of Confederation and
the ConstitutionChapter 9
Fear of centralized authority
Reserved states’ sovereignty Citizens of State first, United States second
Structure Unicameral Congress, chosen by state legislatures each state one vote. Limitations
no Congressional power to tax (request funds from states) no power to regulate foreign or interstate commerce no judiciary no true executive (military, financial, diplomatic affairs handled by
Congressional committees) ratification had to be unanimous
MD delayed due to western land claim conflicts VA and NY both claimed large areas N. of the Ohio River 1781 all land claims ceded, Ratification final
Articles of Confederation (US Governing document 1781-
1789)
The Confederation
John Dickinson and the “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union” State sovereignty and equality Congress must requisition
money from states Ratification process
All 13 had to agree Stalled over western land
claims Approved 3-1-1781 (Note war
was fought for 5 years with no document of government, under the direction of the Continental Congress!)
Financing the War
Borrowed abroad, printed paper money ( “Continentals” - generally accepted as worthless “not worth a Continental”)
Newburgh conspiracy - threatened revolt by Army if taxation authority not granted by states, nipped in bud by Washington
Brits banned imports from America to Caribbean islands unless in British hulls, America in depression by 1784
The West
Millions of acres north of the Ohio River (the “Old Northwest”)
coveted by speculators, settlers (Indians had other ideas)
Ordinance of 1785 provided procedures for survey
and sale of new lands in Old Northwest
established township as basic unit, subdivided into sections (640 acres per section)
one section reserved for schools
provided for statehood procedures for new territories initial settlement - Congress appoints territorial Governor
and Judges when 5000 adult males, draft temp. constitution, elect
legislature when 60,000 total pop. Draft state constitution, approved
by Congress, admitted as state forbade slavery in these regions (while territories) Collectively, these two laws are the only lasting beneficial
acts of the Articles of Confederation, but little immediate effect because Indians were determined to keep settlers out
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Shays’ Rebellion
Mass government decides to pay off all war debts in 3 years (totally unreasonable) Demands all taxes (increased to pay
debt) be paid in specie (gold or silver ) instead of paper
Impossible for many , especially small farmers, many of whom paid debt by barter, exchange of services
Desperate recession in western counties, already
1786 - Daniel Shays leads rebellion against Massachusetts government Attempts to shut down courts in three
counties Wanted to stop foreclosures, sheriff’s
sales of farms Stopped by Mayor of Boston’s private
army, but supporters won him a pardon, and took control of legislature in1787, lowered taxes
Importance of Shays’
Rebellion Showed weaknesses of government under
Articles Gave weight to arguments for a stronger
Federal system Fear of “mobocracy”, since Shays had
threatened to seize weapons at government arsenal at Springfield
Nationalists used Shays to argue the need for stronger Central Government
Fueled growing dissatisfaction with trade arguments between states and currency issues
Came just after meeting called by Washington and others at Annapolis MD to discuss interstate commerce and other issues
These delegates called for a convention at Philadelphia in 1787
Constitutional Convention –
Philadelphia 1787 All but Rhode Island sent
delegates Immediately realized Articles of
Confederation could not be fixed, and due to requirement for unanimity could probably not even be amended Closed meetings to public Kept no official record Most delegates “Nationalists”
many had sat in Congress, understood weaknesses of “Articles”
believed without stronger central Gov’t, nation would disintegrate
Two basic issues They were sent to fix the articles,
could it happen? No! How to balance large state/strong
state interests?
Virginia Plan
James Madison called for establishment of National Govt. instead of confederation of sovereign states Federal Gov’t to have sovereign
powers over states unrestricted rights to legislate,
tax, use force against states if necessary
Bicameral legislature, representation in both houses fixed by population of each state
Lower house elected, upper house members chosen by state legislatures nominees, selected by voters
New Jersey Plan
Single chamber Congress
Each state had equal vote (like the Articles)
Also made federal Gov’t supreme law of the land, states not sovereign
Divisive Issues Representation in Congress
Small states favored equal number of reps Large states favored having more clout due to more people Compromise (The “Great Compromise” )
bicameral legislature equal votes in upper house for each state proportional votes by population in lower house this was the sticking point, resolved July 17, 1787
Slaves Slave states wanted slaves counted as persons for deciding representation
(Some Southern states were already almost 40% slave) Northern states didn’t want South to be able to count for representation
persons who had no political or legal rights (but did understand southerners claims that slaves were property)
Compromise: “The Three-Fifths Compromise” slaves would be counted as 3/5 of a person for representation slave trade (importation of slaves) would end 20 years after ratification
Commerce Congress would have authority “to regulate commerce between the several
states” Congress would never be able to place tariffs (taxes) on exports (in other words,
tax American agricultural or industrial products sold over seas) but would be able to place tariffs on imports