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.