Shaping a New Nation

Shaping a New Nation Chapter 5 Coach Bowling

Section 1 Experimenting with Confederation

5.1 Objectives • Explain the differing ideas of Republicanism • Identify three basic issues debated in drafting the Articles of Confederation • Describe the political and economic problems faced by the Confederation

5.1 Main Idea • Americans adopted the Articles of Confederation but found the new government too weak to solve the nation’s problems.

Republic • Government which allows citizens to rule through their elected representatives • Citizens elect people to voice their opinion • Sound familiar?

Republicanism • The idea that governments should be based on the consent of the people • In other words, People make up the rules by electing people to represent their views

The New Nation’s Challenge • What should the relationship be between states? • What should the relationship be between state governments and the federal government? • The debates on this matter proved to be trying to the new nation.

The Colonies Become States • Each colony had its own government: Governor, Courts, and Assemblies • Colonists thought each colony was a primary political unit (an individual nation separate from others)

Cont. • Most people felt more allegiance toward their colony • They were reluctant to unite under a strong, central government • The challenge: Develop a government that balanced the interests of the 13 states and those of the nation

Unity through a Republic • Democracy – rule by the people • Problems – too many uneducated people would have power • Favored a Republic

Cont. • Arguments arose • John Dickinson – “Virtuous people are needed. Good of the nation above self-interests.” • Adam Smith – “Self-interest. People should pursue their own goals and interests.”

State Constitutions • Many similarities between each one: • Limited powers of government officials • Guaranteed personal rights & liberties • Emphasized liberty • Reflected a fear of a centralized authority

Cont • Differences in state constitutions • Voting rights • Power of the Government • Women’s rights

Political Precedents • Where should the new nation look to as a guide for their ideal government? • Most nations at this time were Monarchies • 17th Century England, Middle Ages, Rome, Greece • None were sufficient enough to use as an exact replica

The Continental Congress • DISAGREEMENT from the beginning: 3 questions had to be answered • Should states be represented by population or size? • Can Supreme Power be divided? • Who gets the West?

Population or State? • States had different wealth, population, and size • Same number of representatives regardless of population and Size or equal representation? • Decision – each state would have one vote

Supreme Power? • Can power be shared between states and a federal government? • Proposal – Articles of Confederation • Government would be known as a confederation – an alliance of states

Articles of Confederation • National government’s powers: declare war, make peace, sign treaties, borrow money, set standards for coins, establish a postal service, and deal with Natives • It did not establish an executive department (president) or a national court system (no interpretation of laws)

Western Lands? • Caused a 2 year delay in approval of A.o.C. • 12 states had previously approved, Maryland did not • Some states had claims to land in the West, Maryland did not

Cont. • They feared that Larger states would overpower smaller ones by gaining land • Forced States to turn land over to the national government

Result • The Articles of Confederation went into effect March 1781 • It was the first set of laws for the U.S. • NOT the Constitution

Land Ordinance Act of 1785 • Established a plan for surveying land • Government needed to use land to make money • Township = 36 Square Miles • Divided into 36 Sections and sold • Minimum Price = 1 Dollar

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Congress divided Western lands into territories • Set requirements for admission of new states • These overlooked Native Claims

Cont. • Congress appointed Governors and Judges for territories • When territory had 5,000 voting settlers it could elect its own government officials • When total population reached 60k, territories would write their own constitution and ask Congress for approval

Result • These 2 Congressional Acts would prove essential in the growth of the United States

The Confederation Encounters Problems!!! • Economic Problems: National Debt & Taxation • Political Problems: Congressional Representation & International Problems

Political Problems • No National Unity • Equal Representation “disabled” Large States • A.o.C. could not be amended w/o approval of all states

Economic Problems • Revolutionary War Debt = $190 Million • Currency was worthless due to inflation • Money was borrowed from foreign sources • Taxes could not be imposed • Tariffs were voted down by one state, RI, which prevented it for all states

Cont. • Creditors (Lenders) vs. Debtors (Borrowers) • Wealthy people supported high taxes so they could be paid back • This caused farmers to go bankrupt

Cont. • Also argued over the usefulness of Paper Money • Borrowers wanted to increase the supply of paper money – this would lessen its value and debts could be paid more easily • Lenders wanted to halt production of money so its full value could be attained

Foreign-Relations Problems • U.S. could not repay debts to other nations • Could not repay British Merchants • Loyalists were not paid for property losses

Cont. • Britain refused to evacuate its military from the Great Lakes region • Spain posed a threat; closed the MS river to American navigation

Weaknesses Cause Alarm • Due to the previously mentioned problems, Congress decided something had to be done • The country was doomed for failure if nothing changed

Section 2 Drafting the Constitution

5.2 Objectives • Identify events that led nationalist leaders to call for a convention to strengthen the government • Summarize the key conflicts at the Constitutional Convention and explain how they were resolved • Describe the form of government established by the Constitutional Convention

5.2 Main Idea • At the Philadelphia convention in 1787, delegates rejected the Articles of Confederation and created a new constitution

Daniel Shays • Farmer & Veteran from Western Massachusetts • Was in debt and faced prison • Led an army of 1,200 farmers to Springfield, MA to demand court closings • Rebellion was put down and 4 farmers were killed

Shays’ Rebellion • Caused alarm throughout nation • Nation’s reputation was in danger • States placed limits on government which led to it being too weak

Call for Convention • Trade between states was an enormous problem • States were placing high taxes on other states goods • Caused farmers to lose money b/c no one wanted to purchase taxed goods

Cont. • James Madison of VA and Alexander Hamilton of NY called for a states’ convention • Only 5 of 13 states were present at the convention in Annapolis, MD • The following year another convention was held in Philadelphia

Cont. • This time, due to Shays’ Rebellion, 12 of the 13 states sent delegates • Rhode Island did not send delegates • Meeting was held in the same room the Dec. of Ind. was signed in

Cont. • Windows and doors were kept shut so outsiders would not know what was occurring inside • Total = 55 delegates • George Washington was elected presiding officer of the convention

Constitutional Convention • Delegates decided quickly to give up on the Articles of Confederation • They approached each problem individually in order to create a government that would work

Big States vs. Small States • James Madison (VA) proposed a bicameral (2 house) legislature w/ membership based on population • Ex.) Citizens would elect lower house; lower house would appoint members to upper house • Known as Virginia Plan

Cont. • William Patterson (NJ) proposed a unicameral (1 house) legislature with representation distributed equally • Ex.) Every state would have the same amount of votes • Known as New Jersey Plan

The Great Compromise • Also known as the Connecticut Compromise • Proposed by Roger Sherman • Offered a bicameral (2 house) legislature that brought both plans together

Cont. • The upper-house would be known as the Senate and would have equal representation among states • The lower-house would be known as the House of Representatives and would be based on states’ population

Cont. • Voters of each state would vote for House of Representatives; they, in turn, would appoint members to the Senate • The plan was supported by both sides • *** The Senate is now elected

Slavery Issues • Should slaves count as part of population • Southern states wanted slaves counted, Northern states did not • Came to the agreement that each slave would count as 3/5 of a person • Known as Three-Fifths Compromise

Cont. • Southerners were afraid that Northerners would remove slavery from the nation • Convention allowed Congress to regulate foreign trade, BUT it could not interfere w/ slave trade for at least 20 years

Shaping a New Nation