United States History 1783-1848

Founding a New NationEra of Expansion

The New Nation

• American Gov’t during Revolution:– Loose union of 13 states (nations)– Weak central government– No power to tax

Participation Points

Get into groups and discuss the following questions.1. What are the Articles of Confederation?2. What are their weaknesses?

Articles of Confederation

• The first Constitution• The 2nd Continental Congress met to write it

in 1777, a year after they wrote the Declaration of Independence.

• It’s goal was to provide some organization, but to make sure the states would keep their independence.

• In 1788, a new Constitution was approved to replace it.

Problems during “Articles of Confederation” Period

• Unpaid Revolutionary War debts• No central money system• Pirate attacks on American shipping• Indian attacks on frontier• Daniel Shays’s Rebellion, 1786

Constitutional Convention 1787• 1st decision: get rid of Articles• James Madison, “father of the Constitution”• Madison’s plans:

– Strong central government with 3 branches: executive, legislative, judicial

– System of checks & balances– System of federalism with each state guaranteed

republican form of government– New states admitted to union as equals

Washington Presiding at Constitutional Convention

The Great Compromise

• Greatest challenge: representation– Large state plan:

based on population– Small state plan:

equal representation

• Connecticut (Great) Compromise:– Representatives based on

population– Equal number of Senators

(2) per state

Slavery• Northern states wanted all slaves taxed• Southern states did not• Southern states wanted all slaves counted

for purposes of representation• Northern states did not

• Result: 3/5 Compromise (each slave counted as 3/5 of a person for both taxes and representation)

Slavery• States were required to return runaway

slaves to their masters

Ratifying (approving) the Constitution

• Federalists: supported Constitution• Anti-federalists: feared loss of state power

& individual rights• Promise of Bill of Rights (first 10

Amendments to Constitution) wins over many Anti-federalists

• Constitution takes effect 1789

Bill of Rights

• 1st Amendment: The “five freedoms” – Freedom of religion– Freedom of speech– Freedom of the press– Freedom to peacefully assemble– Freedom to petition the government to deal

with complaints

Bill of Rights

• 2nd Amendment: The right to keep and bear arms

• 3rd Amendment: Soldiers cannot be housed in a person’s home without that person’s permission

Bill of Rights

• 4th Amendment: Government cannot search people’s homes without a warrant

• 5th Amendment: – Guarantees people a trial.– Ensures that people do not have to be a

witness against themselves. – The government cannot take private property

without paying a fair price for the property.

Bill of Rights

• 6th Amendment: The right to a speedy trial with an attorney

• 7th Amendment: Right to trial by jury• 8th Amendment: Protection from cruel and

unusual punishments

Bill of Rights

• 9th Amendment: Just because a right is not mentioned in the Constitution does not mean that people are not entitled to it.

• 10th Amendment: Powers not held by the Federal Government are the people’s Rights and Liberties

Get into groups of 6• Pick a leader for you group.• Send them up to get a Bill of Rights

handout• Talk with your group and decide if the

following statements are constitutionally correct.

• If the statement is constitutionally correct, write correct.

• If it is not constitutionally correct, write the amendment that it contradicts.

Is it constitutionally Correct?1. The government does not like a man's ideas, so it does

not allow him to make a speech in public.2. A town does not like the religious beliefs of a certain

group, so it forbids it from building a house of worship.3. A man accused of a serious crime refuses to give

evidence against himself.4. The government orders a newspaper to stop printing

editorials that criticize the government too much.5. A group of people are arrested because they wrote to

Congress saying that they did not like a certain law.

Constitution

• Written 1787• Ratified 1788• In effect 1789• Big reason for ratification was widespread

trust in George Washington & belief he would be first President

• http://www.schooltube.com/video/c658860b99907f7ac667/The%20Preamble

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President George Washington

• Elected unanimously• Served 1789-1797• Declined kingship• Declined royal titles;

simply “Mr. President”

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Washington and his Cabinet

• Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson

• Secretary of Treasury Alexander Hamilton

• (also Secretary of War John Knox & Attorney General Edmund Randolph)

The different documents through history…

• Mayflower Compact: early constitution written by the Pilgrims, 1620.

• Declaration of Independence: announcement of intention to become a free nation, 1776.

• Articles of Confederation: first attempt at a constitution, 1777.

• Constitution: official description of American Government and Law, 1787.

• Bill of Rights: first 10 amendments (changes) to Constitution. Describes the people’s rights. 1789.

Alexander Hamilton• Economist in charge of the US Treasury,

under George Washington.• He thought the central gov’t should have

more power and should collect taxes.• Many people (including Thomas Jefferson)

disagreed with him.• He helped create the first US

National Bank and tax system.• Now his face is on our $10 bill.

Whiskey Rebellion• First challenge to new government• Whiskey tax was resisted in the west• Washington leads troops, then turns over

command to Hamilton• Rebellion ends quickly• Demonstrates power of new government

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First Party System

• Formed around ideas of Jefferson & Hamilton

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Thomas Jefferson

• Democratic-Republican Party

• Limited government• Strict construction

(narrow interpretation of Constitution)

• Favored farmers• Opposed national

bank

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Alexander Hamilton

• Federalist Party• Strong central

government• Loose construction

(broad interpretation of Constitution)

• Favored manufacturers

• Promoted national bank

Paying state debts from Revolutionary War

• Southern states paid most of their debts• Northern states owed much money• Hamilton wanted Federal government to

pay all states’ debts• Southern states opposed

Compromise

• South agreed to pay off all state debts (benefited mostly North)

• North agreed to locate national capital in South

• Washington, D.C., chosen as new capital (Virginia-Maryland border)

Neutrality

• France & England were at war in the 1790s• Washington was urged to aid France• Washington refused to take sides• He advised a policy of neutrality in foreign

affairs• “No entangling alliances” with European

powers

Washington steps down• Americans urge Washington to run for 3rd term• Washington retires after 8 years – sets

precedent (only Franklin Roosevelt violates precedent)

• Washington possibly greatest President – remained uncorrupted by power

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Thomas Jefferson, 1801-1809

• 1800 election: first peaceful change of power from one party to another

• Promoted equality & democracy

• 1803 Louisiana Purchase: doubled size of United States

Louisiana Purchase

War of 1812: CausesWar between Britain and America.• Indian troubles & British weapons sales.• Britain was at war with France (Napoleon)

so they tried to restrict US trade with France. (Neutrality – US had the right to trade.)

• British wanted to search American ships for British deserters.

• Desire for expansion.

War of 1812: American Failure• President Madison declared war on Britain• Failed invasion of Canada.• Washington D.C. burned, 1814.

Ft. McHenry, Francis Scott Key, & The Star Spangled Banner

The Star Spangled Banner(first verse)O! say can you see by the

dawn's early light,What so proudly we hailed at

the twilight's last gleaming,Whose broad stripes and

bright stars through the perilous fight,

Over the ramparts we watched, were so gallantly streaming?

And the rockets' red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there;

O! say does that star-spangled banner yet wave,

Over the land of the free and the home of the brave?

The Star Spangled Banner• http://

v.youku.com/v_show/id_XMTM0NDc3NjE2.html

• We often sing the national anthem at sports games.

• People are supposed to stand up and take off their hats.

End of War of 1812

• Compromise peace treaty, December, 1814

• Britain and America were at peace after this and later became allies.

• America didn’t try to invade Canada again.

U.S. in 1819

Monroe Doctrine 1823• President James Monroe, 1817-1825• Basis of American foreign policy• “America for Americans”• European interference with Latin

American nations would not be tolerated

• New World closed to further colonization

• US would stay out of European wars

Jacksonian Democracy• President Andrew Jackson, 1829-1837• Popular war hero• Champion(hero) of the common man• All white men could vote (not just

property owners)• 1828 election a “Second American

Revolution” (democracy)• “Spoils system”: officials chosen for

loyalty to the party rather than ability• Idea of “Manifest Destiny” – expansion

to the Pacific.

Texas Revolt, 1836

• US settlers in northern Mexico (Texas)• Revolted against Mexico• Battle of Alamo: buys time• General Sam Houston: defeats Mexicans

at San Jacinto• Republic of Texas - an

independent nation

Mexican War, 1846-48

• Spirit of “Manifest Destiny” – American expansion divinely ordained

• 1845 Texas joins the United States• Shots fired in disputed territory• Great American victories• 1848 treaty: US gets 1/3 of Mexico,

including Arizona, New Mexico, & California

Mexican War

New Inventions

• 1793 cotton gin: agricultural revolution in South – makes slavery more profitable

• Steamboats: help unify America & make it easier to sell crops

• Railroads: connect towns which have no river transportation

Robert Fulton’s Claremont: First successful steamboat

Westward Expansion

• California Gold Rush: “49-ers”• Chinese in California

• Divisive political issue: expansion of slavery into territory taken from Mexico

U.S. in 1850

Required Reading

• Sections 5 and 6