Mr. MarstonMr. Marston

U.S. HistoryU.S. History

From the Articles to the ConstitutionFrom the Articles to the Constitution

Fall 2009Fall 2009

Dominion Christian High SchoolDominion Christian High School

Washington held army and Washington held army and country togethercountry together

• Near army mutiny on March 10, 1783 Near army mutiny on March 10, 1783 led by led by Major John Armstrong Major John Armstrong for back for back paypay

• Armstrong wrote the Armstrong wrote the Newburgh Newburgh Address Address protesting Congress’s protesting Congress’s treatment of the army and officers treatment of the army and officers for back payfor back pay

• Washington managed to calm them Washington managed to calm them downdown

Washington returns power Washington returns power back to Congressback to Congress

• Offered up commission, volunteered Offered up commission, volunteered to turn over power and returned to to turn over power and returned to Mt. VernonMt. Vernon

• He would not become kingHe would not become king• Gave up power in the same vein as Gave up power in the same vein as

Cincinnatus (roman who served as Cincinnatus (roman who served as dictator during war in the 5dictator during war in the 5thth century century B.C.)B.C.)

Washington resigns Washington resigns commissioncommission

Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris

• 1. 1. All lands east of the Mississippi to All lands east of the Mississippi to colonies (review)colonies (review)

• 2. America was to restore seized 2. America was to restore seized Loyalist propertyLoyalist property

• Result: Britain kept forts in the Great Result: Britain kept forts in the Great Lakes areasLakes areas

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783

Winners in War for Winners in War for IndependenceIndependence

• BritainBritain: people unemotionally : people unemotionally involved. War boosted British involved. War boosted British economy (start of Industrial economy (start of Industrial Revolution): First great industrial Revolution): First great industrial power. Lost America, but gained power. Lost America, but gained CanadaCanada

• American farmers and American farmers and manufacturersmanufacturers: were to participate in : were to participate in free market capitalismfree market capitalism

LosersLosers

• FranceFrance: cost of war$$$ and credit with : cost of war$$$ and credit with bankers of Europe was ruined: led to French bankers of Europe was ruined: led to French RevolutionRevolution

• Indians:Indians: lost land lost land• LoyalistsLoyalists: lost everything: lost everything• SlavesSlaves: issue not addressed in Declaration : issue not addressed in Declaration

of Independenceof Independence• Colonial SouthColonial South: wanted to keep slavery in : wanted to keep slavery in

place with strict laws and expand it to the place with strict laws and expand it to the westwest

Indian Land Cessions:Indian Land Cessions:1768-17991768-1799

SlaverySlavery

• All non-southern states except NY All non-southern states except NY and NJ took steps to outlaw slaveryand NJ took steps to outlaw slavery

• International slave trade ended in International slave trade ended in 1807 led by William Wilberforce1807 led by William Wilberforce

American Economy during warAmerican Economy during war

• American shipping became a target American shipping became a target for British navy and privateersfor British navy and privateers

• American merchants lost privileges American merchants lost privileges they had enjoyed as British subjects they had enjoyed as British subjects

• Slaves and indentured servants fled Slaves and indentured servants fled to the Britishto the British

• Collapsing American currency Collapsing American currency • Prices went up 190 to 500%.Prices went up 190 to 500%.

American PoliticsAmerican Politics

• Thousands of loyalists imprisoned Thousands of loyalists imprisoned and forced to fleeand forced to flee

• Old colonial elite wiped outOld colonial elite wiped out• State constitutions experimented in State constitutions experimented in

popular governmentpopular government

WholesaleWholesalePricePriceIndex:Index:1770-1770-17891789

Federalist vs. Anti-FederalistFederalist vs. Anti-FederalistStrongholds at the End of the Strongholds at the End of the

WarWar

Need for a national Need for a national governmentgovernment

• 1777: army humiliated at NYC1777: army humiliated at NYC

Situation looked dire and desperateSituation looked dire and desperate

1781: government put into effect1781: government put into effect

Effectively established the United Effectively established the United States of AmericaStates of America

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

• 1771-1778: government of the 1771-1778: government of the United States of AmericaUnited States of America

• very good sense of half measuresvery good sense of half measures

Problems solved:Problems solved:

Delegates had to speak freelyDelegates had to speak freely

citizenship as a national mattercitizenship as a national matter

New territoriesNew territories

Weaknesses of theWeaknesses of theArticles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederationA unicameral (one legislature) Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law].

13 out of 13 to amend.

Representatives were frequently absent.

Could not tax or raise armies.

No executive or judicial branches (fear of central authority)

Weaknesses IIWeaknesses II• Relied on donations from statesRelied on donations from states• Could fight and make war, but not taxCould fight and make war, but not tax• Proportion of money was in relation to acreage of Proportion of money was in relation to acreage of

each stateeach state• Who makes the determination? State Who makes the determination? State

legislatures. Held Congress hostage to the states. legislatures. Held Congress hostage to the states. Made federal government powerless. Made federal government powerless.

• Sources of moneySources of money• A. loans from foreign countriesA. loans from foreign countries• B. sale of public lands on frontierB. sale of public lands on frontier• C. profits from government run post officeC. profits from government run post office

State Constitutions were more State Constitutions were more powerful than central powerful than central

governmentgovernmentRepublicanism.

Most had strong governors with veto power.

Most had bicameral legislatures.

Property required for voting.

Some had universal white male suffrage.

Most had bills of rights.

Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Occupational Composition of Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesSeveral State Assemblies

in the 1780sin the 1780s

Major Question: Territorial Major Question: Territorial ExpansionExpansion

• Agrarian society: who will benefit? Agrarian society: who will benefit?

Great concern how frontier will be Great concern how frontier will be disposed.disposed.

RestlessnessRestlessness

• Most common characteristic of the Most common characteristic of the country was mobilitycountry was mobility

• Constant moving broke up settled Constant moving broke up settled society, worked against hierarchy, society, worked against hierarchy, and promoted assumptions of and promoted assumptions of equality.equality.

• People became citizensPeople became citizens

Disputed Territorial ClaimsDisputed Territorial ClaimsBetween Spain & the U. S.:Between Spain & the U. S.:

1783-17961783-1796

State Claims to Western State Claims to Western LandsLands

Northwest TerritoryNorthwest Territory

Land Ordinance of 1784Land Ordinance of 1784

• Territories should have temporary Territories should have temporary governments until each had a free governments until each had a free population equal to that of the least population equal to that of the least populated existing statespopulated existing states

• Apply for admissionApply for admission• Each state had to cede western claimsEach state had to cede western claims• Defined how land would be surveyed Defined how land would be surveyed

and soldand sold

Ordinance of 1785Ordinance of 1785

• How federal land would be surveyed How federal land would be surveyed and soldand sold

• Divided lands into orderly townships Divided lands into orderly townships for sale and developmentfor sale and development

• 36 sections of one square mile (640 36 sections of one square mile (640 acres)acres)

For $1 dollar per acreFor $1 dollar per acre

Public education would be funded by the Public education would be funded by the sale of lot 16sale of lot 16

Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of Northwest Ordinance of 17871787

One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress!

Statehood achieved in three stages:

1. Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory.

2. When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners elect territorial legislature.

3. When population reached 60,000 elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.

The United States in The United States in 17871787

American Exports, To & American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789From Britain: 1783-1789

Annapolis Convention Annapolis Convention (1786)(1786)

12 representatives from 5 states[NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA]

GOAL address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states.

Not enough states were represented to make any real progress.

Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77Daniel Shays

Took arms against government

Insurrection of farmers against the courts in Western MA.

Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77

Financial challenges of Financial challenges of CongressCongress

• People who had lent Congress money has People who had lent Congress money has received Continental IOU’s (value was received Continental IOU’s (value was depreciating)depreciating)

• Continental army veterans were still Continental army veterans were still unpaid or forced to accept IOU’s unpaid or forced to accept IOU’s (quartermaster certificates)(quartermaster certificates)

• States tried to prevent people from using States tried to prevent people from using Continental money to protect themselvesContinental money to protect themselves

Alexander HamiltonAlexander Hamilton

• Quintessential AmericanQuintessential American

• Born in the British West IndiesBorn in the British West Indies

• Illegitimate son of a Scottish merchantIllegitimate son of a Scottish merchant

• Attended King’s College in NYC Attended King’s College in NYC (Columbia)(Columbia)

• Joined Washington’s staff as his most Joined Washington’s staff as his most important aideimportant aide

• Rags to riches storyRags to riches story

James MadisonJames Madison

• Virginian Virginian • Born in 1751Born in 1751• Attended Princeton in 1751Attended Princeton in 1751• ““Father of the Constitution”Father of the Constitution”• Madison coined the phrase, “We the Madison coined the phrase, “We the

People.” (Limited power of the states People.” (Limited power of the states imposed by the federal Constitution) The imposed by the federal Constitution) The states did not confer power on the federal states did not confer power on the federal government: people conferred power too)government: people conferred power too)

Alexander Hamilton pushed for Alexander Hamilton pushed for constitutional reformconstitutional reform

James Madison provided the Convention’s James Madison provided the Convention’s agendaagenda

Constitutional Convention 1787Constitutional Convention 1787

Met for four months Met for four months

Started off as a discussion to discuss issue of Started off as a discussion to discuss issue of interstate trade and commerceinterstate trade and commerce

Moved into discussions about new national Moved into discussions about new national governmentgovernment

12 states represented (excluding Rhode Island)12 states represented (excluding Rhode Island)

74 delegates74 delegates

55 came from top 5% of wealthy Americans55 came from top 5% of wealthy Americans

What powers should a national What powers should a national government have?government have?

• Should have the power to levy taxes on Should have the power to levy taxes on statesstates

• Have the power to regulate commerce Have the power to regulate commerce between states and foreign countriesbetween states and foreign countries

• Have the power to issue moneyHave the power to issue money

• Have the power to maintain an army and Have the power to maintain an army and navynavy

Fair spectrum of opinion at Fair spectrum of opinion at Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

• Extreme federalists Extreme federalists

• Extreme anti-federalistsExtreme anti-federalists

• Madison and Hamilton appeared as Madison and Hamilton appeared as moderatesmoderates

• Most men were serious, sensible, Most men were serious, sensible, undoctrinaire men, gathered together in a undoctrinaire men, gathered together in a pragmatic spirit to do something practical.pragmatic spirit to do something practical.

Who should control these Who should control these powers?powers?

• Proposal #1. (Virginia Plan) proposed by Edmund Proposal #1. (Virginia Plan) proposed by Edmund Randolph and James Madison. It would eliminate Randolph and James Madison. It would eliminate Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

3 part government3 part government

Executive, legislative, and judicialExecutive, legislative, and judicial

Legislative: 2 part house and would elect the executive Legislative: 2 part house and would elect the executive and judiciary and have the authority to settle all and judiciary and have the authority to settle all questions that arose between the statesquestions that arose between the states

Problem: Strengthened Virginia. Both houses were to Problem: Strengthened Virginia. Both houses were to be elected by population. Virginia had a large be elected by population. Virginia had a large populationpopulation

• Proposal # 2: New Jersey Plan: Proposed Proposal # 2: New Jersey Plan: Proposed by William Patterson of NJby William Patterson of NJ

• Unicameral legislatureUnicameral legislature

• Each state sent an equal number of Each state sent an equal number of delegatesdelegates

• Same as Articles of Confederation, which Same as Articles of Confederation, which did not workdid not work

Struggle over Representation and who would control the Struggle over Representation and who would control the governmentgovernment

• ““Great Compromise”Great Compromise”• Connecticut Compromise proposed by Roger Connecticut Compromise proposed by Roger

Sherman of Connecticut in July 1787Sherman of Connecticut in July 1787• 2 house legislature2 house legislature• House of Representatives: elected by the House of Representatives: elected by the

people and apportioned by populationpeople and apportioned by population• Senate: 2 senators from each state and Senate: 2 senators from each state and

elected by state legislatures (to preserve the elected by state legislatures (to preserve the voice of the states)voice of the states)

ExecutiveExecutive

• No monarchNo monarch• Overseeing congressional legislationOverseeing congressional legislation• Commander in Chief of the Army and NavyCommander in Chief of the Army and Navy• Supervise foreign relationsSupervise foreign relations• Elected by the people of the United States through an Elected by the people of the United States through an

Electoral College: state electors would vote for the Electoral College: state electors would vote for the candidates for president. The presidential candidate candidates for president. The presidential candidate who won the most votes in the electoral college became who won the most votes in the electoral college became president and the candidate receiving the 2president and the candidate receiving the 2ndnd most most became vice presidentbecame vice president

• Given veto over Congressional legislationGiven veto over Congressional legislation

George WashingtonGeorge Washington

• Assumption that he would become Assumption that he would become presidentpresident

• This helped disarm objections to the This helped disarm objections to the notion of the presidencynotion of the presidency

Federal RepublicFederal Republic

• Federal governmentFederal government

• States would continue and retain powers States would continue and retain powers not granted to the federal governmentnot granted to the federal government

ConstitutionConstitution

• An outlineAn outline• SlaverySlavery

a.a. Did not condemn itDid not condemn it

b.b. 3/53/5thth rule for representation in the House rule for representation in the House

c.c. ““slave” and “slavery” were deliberately avoidedslave” and “slavery” were deliberately avoided• most innovative political document of its timemost innovative political document of its time• Logical, even handed, manner about power and politicsLogical, even handed, manner about power and politics• Simple. One can read and understand it.Simple. One can read and understand it.

• Federalists: supported ratification (Hamilton, Madison, John Jay, Federalists: supported ratification (Hamilton, Madison, John Jay, John Marshall, Roger Sherman)John Marshall, Roger Sherman)

The Federalist PapersThe Federalist Papers: 1788 (Madison, Hamilton, and Jay) produced a : 1788 (Madison, Hamilton, and Jay) produced a series of 85 essays.series of 85 essays.

First major work of political theory produced in AmericaFirst major work of political theory produced in America• Anti-Federalists: rejected ratification (Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Anti-Federalists: rejected ratification (Patrick Henry, Richard Henry

Lee, John Hancock) Lee, John Hancock)

Appeared unable to agree on an alternative to what they rejectedAppeared unable to agree on an alternative to what they rejected• War of words: thousands of printed comments: biggest exercise in War of words: thousands of printed comments: biggest exercise in

public education ever conductedpublic education ever conducted

Constitution Finished Sept 1787Constitution Finished Sept 1787

• Needed 9 states for ratificationNeeded 9 states for ratification• Specially elected state conventions, NOT state Specially elected state conventions, NOT state

legislatures (Power of the People)legislatures (Power of the People)• Delaware and Pennsylvania ratified immediatelyDelaware and Pennsylvania ratified immediately• Massachusetts (February 6, 1788)Massachusetts (February 6, 1788)• 1788 (summer) 9 states had been lined up1788 (summer) 9 states had been lined up• Virginia and New York, North Carolina and RI Virginia and New York, North Carolina and RI

remained on the outside.remained on the outside.• Virginia joined after a Bill of Rights was added.Virginia joined after a Bill of Rights was added.

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

• 1 through 5: freedom of religion, assembly, 1 through 5: freedom of religion, assembly, speech, press and the right to petitionspeech, press and the right to petition

• 7-12: rights of property, guarantees the 7-12: rights of property, guarantees the rights of defendants accused of a crimerights of defendants accused of a crime

• 9: protects rights not enumerated9: protects rights not enumerated

• 10: rights not given to federal government 10: rights not given to federal government in Constitution are reserved to the statesin Constitution are reserved to the states

Other provisionsOther provisions

• Each stateEach state