After the War

1. After the War

2. What you need to know • Difference between democracy & republic • Structure of government under Articles of Confederation • Powers Congress had / didn’t have • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Economic problems US faced • Political problems between states • Remaining issues between US & Britain • Issue between US & Spain

3. So, the US won…now what? • Arguments begin about how new nation will be governed • The 13 colonies were run separately • They thought of themselves as citizens of their state, not of the USA

4. So, the US won…now what? • Easy to find common ground if there’s a common enemy • States didn’t want to unite as one big national government • Wanted to keep all the power local

5. So, the US won…now what? • Democracy • Government run by public directly • Absolutely not – general public uneducated and dirty • Republic • Government run by elected reps • More like it – limits input by public

6. Views on Republicanism • Govtsrule by consent of people • How can government succeed? • Some argued only way is selflessness • Others argued people should pursue their own interests – total freedom

7. States write constitutions • New states wrote own constitutions • All of them: • Limited powers of state leaders • Gave people rights (speech, press, etc.) • How they were different: • Different rules for voting • NJ even allowed women to vote

8. US was very different • Most countries in late 19thCentury still ruled by kings • There was nowhere USA could look to for ideas on how to run new country • There were countries that had elected leaders but they didn’t have 2 layers of government

9. Debates of Continental Congress • Congress argued about several things: • Representation by state or by person? • If states have equal vote – citizens within small states get more influence • If by population – big states stronger, small states maybe taken advantage of • Decided each state got 1 vote

10. Articles of Confederation • New form of gov – confederation • Alliance of self-ruling states • AoC was alliance between states • Also alliance bet. all states & Congress

11. What Congress controlled • Foreign policy (included natives) • Declaring war • Coinage of money • Postal service • Set standards of weight & measure

12. What states controlled • Everything else • (almost everything) • Congress had no way to force states to follow its rulings • No national courts • No executive (president)

13. Lands west of Appalachians • States argued with each other over who had rights to lands to the west • Lots of overlap

14. Lands west of Appalachians • Land claims = big money and power • States w/o western claims were scared big states would take advantage of them • States agreed to give western lands to Congress • For fairness • So all states would agree to join the confederation

15. Land Ordinance of 1785 • Plan to survey land • Congress owed money to soldiers (in bonds) • Could raise money by selling land • Sell parcels of land – allowed for working men to build new life • New cities – protection from natives

16. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Set up how new states could form • Congress set up territory, name governor • When have 5000 voters – can write territory constitution • When have 60,000 voters –can apply for statehood from Congress • No thought about land claims of natives

17. Trouble in paradise • Economic problems • HUGE DEBT • Wars are expensive • Wars cost a lot of money • Wars leave countries in debt • Also, wars are expensive

18. Trouble in paradise • Economic problems • Owed large sums to foreign countries • France, Spain, and Netherlands helped finance war with loans – need to pay debt • If you don’t pay your debt, no one will ever lend you money again

19. So why not just pay the debt? • Paper money was worthless • Until they had gold to back it up • Congress couldn’t tax • Approval of all states needed to set up a tax – couldn’t get approval • Then, tried to set up a tariff – needed all 13 states – Rhode Island refused

20. Creditors vs. debtors • Creditors who had lent $ to states wanted states to have high taxes • States would then have $ to repay them • High taxes bad for regular people • If they could pay, gov makes $ • If they couldn’t, they’d go bankrupt / gov would take property & auction it

21. Creditors vs. debtors • Debtors wanted national government to print more paper money • More printed $ makes value drop • Easier to come by, easier to pay debts • Creditors get $ they’re owed, but not worth the same as when they lent it

22. Political problems • No national unity • States function independently – didn’t care what’s best for US as a whole • States were equal in power • But MA was more than 10x as big as GA

23. Political problems • Changes to Articles of Confederation had to be unanimous • Nearly impossible for all 13 to agree • One state could be obnoxious

24. Foreign relations problems • British soldiers were still in US • Demanded US repaid debts • Demanded US to repay loyalists who lost property during the war • Spain controlled New Orleans • Refused to let US ships travel from Mississippi River to the sea

25. Foreign relations problems • Congress wasn’t really given right to handle foreign policy problems • Everything they needed to do required all 13 states to agree • Made US weak – need stronger government to fix big problems

26. Drafting the Constitution

27. What you need to know • Story of Shays’ Rebellion • Why is it important? • Economic problems that led to Constitution • Philadelphia Convention • Great Compromise • Slavery compromises (3/5 & slave trade) • Federalism • Separation of powers • Checks & balances • Electoral College

28. Story of Daniel Shays • Farmhand from MA • Fought for US for 5 yrs – became captain • Discharged wounded • Never actually paid • Went home, was sued for farm debts • Farm was foreclosed

29. Shays’ Rebellion • Many others in same situation • Mistreated when they got home • This was nationwide problem • Farmers in MA rebel against rich businessmen squeezing them

30. Shays’ Rebellion • Riots all over • But most police on Shays’ side • MA can’t stop riot themselves • Asked other states for help • No help came • Natlgov was too weak to help

31. Reaction to Shays’ Rebellion • Convinced many that stronger natl gov was needed • Should be able to solve problems that are this big

32. Other problems • States put restrictions on companies from other states • High taxes, trade limits, etc. • Hurt economic future of US • Hard for businesses to grow

33. Annapolis Convention • Meeting of states to discuss & solve trade issues • Called by Madison & Hamilton • Met in Annapolis, MD • Only 5 states went – not enough • Then Shays’ Rebellion happened • Scared many people

34. Philadelphia Convention • After Shays’ Rebellion • 12 states attended (not RI) • Revise Articles of Confederation • Don’t throw AoC out & start over • Just make natl gov stronger

35. Arguments & compromises • VA Plan (for big states) • VA was biggest state • Create bicameral Congress w/both houses by population • Angered small states – would be easily taken advantage of

36. Arguments & compromises • NJ Plan (for small states) • NJ was one of the small states • Remain a unicameral Congress • All states equal vote • Angered big states – big state voters would have less power

37. Arguments & compromises • Great Compromise • aka CT Compromise • Roger Sherman’s suggestion • Create a bicameral Congress • House by population • Senate each state 2 members

38. Arguments & compromises • If population sets representation, should slaves count? • South: YES – get more power • North: NO – keep south from getting too much power

39. Arguments & compromises • 3/5 Compromise • 60% of slaves count toward state’s population

40. Arguments & compromises • Slave trade compromise • North wanted slave trade (importation) ended immediately • South wanted it to continue • Agreed it couldn’t be banned for first 20 yrs, then fair game

41. The New System • Scrapped confederation • Set up federalism • Split up power b/w natl & states • Natl has some political powers • States have some • Some powers they share

42. Federalism • Examples of national powers • Foreign affairs – war & peace • Regulating interstate commerce • Business done across state lines • Coining money

43. Federalism • Examples of state powers • Education • Marriages • Regulating intrastate commerce • Business inside a state’s boundary

44. Federalism • Shared between natl & state • Taxes • Courts • Law enforcement

45. Separation of Powers • Original idea of Montesquieu • Split gov power into 3 branches in Constitution: • Legislative power Congress • Executive power President • Judicial power Courts

46. Checks & balances • Each branch has powers over the other two branches • Congress writes laws, but president can veto them • President can appoint people to positions, but Senate must approve • Congress can pass laws, but courts can rule them unconstitutional

47. Electing the President • No parties, bad communications & travel = maybe too many candidates • Founders didn’t trust middle class • Scared they’d vote out the rich • Poor couldn’t vote anyway

48. Electing the President • Agreed Congress would elect • But which house of Congress? • Same big / small state argument • Created independent group to elect – Electoral College • Each state’s votes = House + Senate

49. What you need to know • Story of Shays’ Rebellion • Why is it important? • Economic problems that led to Constitution • Philadelphia Convention • Great Compromise • Slavery compromises (3/5 & slave trade) • Federalism • Separation of powers • Checks & balances • Electoral College

50. Ratifying the Constitution