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

Constitution Making in the State

• YOU DO LATER ON!

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!!!

A Shaky Start Toward Union

• YOU DO LATER!!

Creating a Confederation

• YOU DO LATER!!!!

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.