Unit 3: A New Nation

1. Unit 3: A New Nation

2. Goals of this Unit: • To understand that the American Revolution was not a radical transformation like the French or Russian revolutions, but did produce political innovations and some social change in the direction of greater equality and democracy over time. • To be able to explain why the Articles of Confederation failed, and the compromises made between the states to create the new federal Constitution. • To understand how the Constitution designed a stronger central government than the Articles of Confederation did, but still promised to add amendments to protect individual liberty and states' rights.

3. Goals of this Unit: • To recognize how the first administration under the Constitution overcame various difficulties and firmly established the political and economic foundations of the new federal government.  • To be able to explain how the differing views of government, economy, foreign policy and the overall vision for America's future led to the formation of political parties and ultimately, the two-party election system that still exists today.

4. Building a Government GOAL OF TODAY: To understand how and why the 13 colonies designed their first attempt at government (the Articles of Confederation) the way they did, and what unexpected results came from this.

6. In your groups… • What challenges will America have to face after becoming an independent nation? • Come up with at least 3 and explain.

7. Declare Independence: Now What? • Revolution more of a progression: • Separation of Church and State • Anglican Church becomes “Episcopal Church” • Life went on as usual • Push for Equality: • Loyalists keep quiet and/or flee • Less conservatives • Slavery still present • Anti-slavery movement gains strength • First Continental Congress called for abolition • 1775 – Quakers create abolition society • Some slave owners began freeing slaves • Women’s rights issues start • NJ – permitted women to vote for short time • “Republican motherhood” – idea that women raised the children and therefore had great power and responsibility

8. Early State Constitutions • 1776 – Continental Congress has each colony write own constitution • (Colony → State) • Mass. holds “Constitutional Convention” • meeting → written → ratified → permanent • paves way for other states

9. Characteristics of State Constitutions: • Written: only changed through formal process • Fundamental law: more general, than specific • Bill of rights: guaranteed liberties • Annual elections of legislators: accountability • Establishes executive and judicial branches • Legislative branch often held all the power • State capitals develop

10. New Country, New Problems GOAL OF TODAY: To identify the problems the United States will have to face during it’s infancy stage and the solutions to these issues.

11. Articles of Confederation • States choose a “confederation” as new federal government • Loose union of states • A federal gov’t and state governments both exist • State governments retain most aspects of sovereign rule • Minted individual money, set up own taxes • 1777 - Articles of Confederation would be proposed as first American government • But needed to be ratified…

12. Articles of Confederation • Created a weak government on purpose • Designed to avoid strong, central, gov’t • No executive branch • Congress weak: • Members annually elected • 2/3 votes to resolve issues • Unanimous vote for amendments • Couldn’t assemble a military, enforce taxes, regulate commerce  states print own money, form own tax laws • Significance? • Was so weak, it eventually showed states the need for a new form of government

13. New Country, New Problems • Post-war unity was shaky • Some colonies desired self-rule • British smuggle in good, undercut American products • Young American industries couldn’t compete with low prices • Advantages: • The 13 colonies similar politically • Good leadership (GW, Jefferson, Adams, etc)

14. Economy at a Crossroads • Trade with England stops: • Helps and Hurts… • Hurts short term: loss of top trading partner • Helps long term: forces American industry • Industry starts, but Americans still 90% farmer • Trading freedom: • Open to trade with whomever • Baltic region and China • Economic troubles: • War profiteers hurt “economic morale” • Large war debt causes inflation

15. Making Compromises GOAL OF TODAY: To understand how the 13 states were able to put aside their differences and make a series of compromises that would result in a new strong, central government (The Constitution).

16. Initial problem: Western lands: who owned them? • Compromise: No states own the land – the federal gov’t does • All 13 states ratify in 1781 • Significance? • Uniting colonies diplomatically

17. Land Issues • How will the Ohio Valley be divided up? • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Divided land into square mile sections • Townships 36 square miles (6x6) • Each section numbered • Could sub-divide and sell • Section #16 in township designated for a school • Significance? • Blueprint for new towns • Encourages western settlement • Crucial for the future of public education

18. Land Issues • How will new states be made once people move out there? • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Territories could be made states in this process: • Stage 1. land just a territory owned by the U.S. • Stage 2. Population reaches 60,000 – could write state constitution and send to Congress in hopes of approval • Stage 3. If Congress approves  STATEHOOD! • Significance? • Encourages westward expansion

19. England: No trade… Leads to smuggling Plans to reclaim Vermont Kept many trade posts along frontier Keeps good relations with Indians Spain: Block mouth of Mississippi River Western residents needed river for trade Claimed uninhabited parts of Florida Riled up Indians against Americans International Issues • France: • “Pay up” – France wants debts paid • North African Pirates: • –Dey of Algiers – robbed weak American ships • –Couldn’t afford “bully money”

20. Weakness of the Articles • States had too much independence: • Fought over boundaries, taxed other states, printed own money • Shays’Rebellion (1786) • Daniel Shay mad about farmland mortgages • Shay and his followers attempt take-over in Massachusetts • Wealthy citizens fund makeshift army • Rebellion quelled after a couple skirmishes • Significance? • Made people fear uprisings – urge for stronger federal government • Articles of Confederation: Problems very apparent • Strengthen them or scrap them? • Can republicanism work?

21. Making Compromises GOAL OF TODAY: To understand how the 13 states were able to put aside their differences and make a series of compromises that would result in a new strong, central government (The Constitution).

22. Constitutional Convention • Philadelphia (May 1787) • 55 delegates from 12 states • “Demigods”: GW, Franklin, Hamilton, Madison • Absent Revolutionaries: Jefferson, Adams, Paine • Absent Patriots: Hancock, Henry, Sam Adams • Still very against strong government • Goal: revise the Articles

23. Constitutional Convention • Issues: • Threats of other nations • U.S. can’t maintain order • States’“runaway democracy” • Solution: • Strengthen federal government • Articles of Confederation “secretly” thrown out

24. The Preamble “We the People of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.” • How does the language of the Preamble to the U.S. Constitution reflect historical events and the goals the Founders had for the future? • What does the Preamble mean?

25. Compromises • Representation? • Virginia Plan (Large States Plan) • Representation based on population • New Jersey Plan (Small States Plan) • States should have an equal vote in Congress • Great Compromise: • Bicameral house (2 houses) • House of Representatives based on population • Taxation bills begin in H.O.R. • Elected by the common people • Senate has 2 senators from each state • Votes on treaties, presidential appointees • Elected by state legislators

26. Compromises • Significance of Great Compromise? • Compromise of biggest issues paved way for the rest… • Slaves counted in state population? • Southern states want slaves counted • Northern states disagree with counting slaves • Bigger population = more power in congress • Compromise? • The Three-Fifths Compromise: • 3/5 of slave population counted towards population • Slave importation to be outlawed by 1807 • Insignificant: Slavery already self-sufficient

27. Compromises • Executive Branch? • Agree on elected president • Commander-in-chief of military • Power to veto legislation • President elected by Electoral College • Group of official presidential voters • Common people deemed “too ignorant” • Judicial Branch: • Federal chief justices appointed for life • Allows stability

28. Checks and Balances • System set up to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful

29. Constitutional Convention • September 1787 • 42 of 55 delegates signed it • Still needs to be ratified by all states • State conventions created to vote on Constitution • Unlike state legislations, state conventions would be less biased • The debate would split the country into two groups…

30. A Country Split… Federalists Anti-Federalists Did not want ratification of Constitution Believed it gives too much power to to national government Usually less-educated, farmers, from frontier, wanted states’ rights Felt Constitution was written by and for the aristocracy Lacked bill of rights Federal government could form army No more annual elections • Wanted ratification of Constitution • Stronger central government • Usually richer, some former Loyalists, from more coastal areas, property owners Hamilton vs. Jefferson

31. The Great Debate • Convention delegates elected by people • 75% of states need to ratify to activate Constitution • 5 states ratify right away: • Delaware, Penn, NJ, Georgia, Conn. • Massachusetts split • Ratify only after promise of Bill of Rights • Mass a “tipping point” • Maryland, SC, NH ratify • 9 of 13 ratify: Constitution now active (June 1788)

32. Warm Up • Why did Massachusetts and other states demand a Bill of Rights to be added to the Constitution in order to ratify it?

33. Bill of Rights • Written by James Madison • Needed 2/3 of Congress and 3/4 of the states to approve • Bill of Rights: • First ten amendments to the Constitution • Amendment 1: Freedom of religion, speech, press, right to peaceful assemble and petition • Amendment 2: Right to bear arms ………… • Amendment 9: Protection of rights not listed (“People’s Rights Amendment”) • Amendment 10: Any power not established in the Constitution is left to the states (“State’s Rights Amendment”)

34. The Great Debate • Virginia, NY, NC, RI still holding out • Once NH ratified (9/13) the constitution was in effect • Dilemma: Join or break off? • Virginia: Joins shortly after NH • NY: pushed by TheFederalist Papers written by • Alexander Hamilton • James Madison • John Jay • NC then RI pressured into ratification (May 1790)

35. U.S. 1789… • Biggest problem? • The economy • Minimal revenue, debt growing fast • Population growth… • Blessing in disguise? • New states: Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee • President Washington

37. U.S. 1789… • Biggest problem? • The economy • Minimal revenue, debt growing fast • Population growth… • Blessing in disguise? • New states: Vermont, Kentucky, Tennessee • President Washington • GW’s Cabinet: • Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson • Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton • Secretary of War: Henry Knox • Signs “Judiciary Act of 1789” • Establishes Supreme Court and Federal Court System • John Jay first Chief Justice

38. New Government in Place • Patriots of the American Revolution vs. “Demigods” of the Constitutional Convention • What had changed through this constitution process? • Who held most the power before? Who now? • Did the delegates do a good job of setting up structure and limitation of their power?

39. Two Party System Develops GOAL OF TODAY: To examine the new strength of the understand how and why a two-party system developed early on in the United States political scene, and what the results and effects of this were.

40. Hamilton’s Plan • Hamilton faced biggest issue: • Economy • 4 part plan to financial stability: • Paying all debts in full 2. An import tariff 3. A whiskey tax 4. A National Bank

41. 1. Paying Debts • “Funding at Par” • Needed to pay of all debts to both the American people and international debts in full… • Respect and credit • “Assumption” • Federal government assumes all state debt… • Creates unity through a common goal • Compromise leads to creation of Washington D.C.

42. 2. Import Tax & 3. Whiskey Tax • How to pay off debt: • Tax imports • Hamilton predicted American industry soon booming (more trade = more revenue from import tariffs) • Whiskey tax • Excise tax on whiskey • Growing and widespread product, not a necessity

43. 4. National Bank • Hamilton says National Bank would stabilize economy • Would store government money • Lend money to businesses • Print money

44. Effects of and the backlash against Hamilton’s plan…

45. Jefferson Strict interpreter of the Constitution If it is not written in Const. it is illegal “unconstitutional” 10th Amendment Bank system should be left to states Hamilton Loose interpreter of Constitution If it is not prohibited by Const. then it is acceptable “Elastic Clause” Congress has power to do whatever is “necessary and proper” to carry out its duties Commerce and taxes are a duty of Congress National Bank Debate: Hamilton wins: Bank of U.S. established in 1791

46. Political Parties Form • Unintentionally creates 2 party system • Hamiltonians vs. Jeffersonians AKA • Federalists vs. Anti-federalists (Democratic-Republicans) AKA • Conservatives vs. Liberals • Pros and cons of 2 party system? • Cons: • disrupts unity, slows down gov’t process • Pros: • gives people choice

47. Whiskey Tax Resistance • Whiskey-makers of frontier upset • “Taxation without representation” • Tenn. and Kentucky not states yet • 1794 – Whiskey Rebellion • Few hundred whiskey-makers rise up in western Pennsylvania • Washington crushes rebellion with 15,000 soldiers • Significance? • Comparison with Shay’s Rebellion… • New gov’t was strong.

48. Young Nation Tested GOAL OF TODAY: To understand how political divisions and foreign affairs would challenge America as a nation, and to identify how political leaders responded to these issues.

49. French Revolution (1789-1799) • American Revolution helps inspire French Revolution • But F.R. was anarchy and less diplomatic • Mobs, massacres, beheadings • American view: • Conservatives disgusted • Liberals think worth the violence if this leads to democracy • 1792 – Becomes international issue and war ensues • England vs. France • Who does America support?

50. Jeffersonian Dem-Reps: SIDE WITH FRANCE Franco-American alliance of 1778 Repay the favor Hamiltonian Federalists: SIDE WITH ENGLAND Alliance with Britain would help American economy more Who Does America Support? Up to Washington…