Shay's Rebellion and the Birth of a New Nation

1. AP Chapter 8 The New Nation

2. Shay’s Rebellion 1786 • Hard economic times and large debt from the war angered many people in Massachusetts and other states • Led by Daniel Shay farmers marched on the courthouse in Northampton, MA and shutdown the courts • State militia put down the rebellion and Shay fled the state

4. Similar events like Shay’s Rebellion had occurred throughout the country • Hard economic times were dividing the people and many wondered why they even fought for independence • Nationalists were upset with the balance of power between the states and fed. govt. • Shay’s Rebellion eventually led to the Constitutional Convention and the creation of a new govt.

5. Economic Crisis • After the war high inflation led to depression • Banks refused to give out loans until old ones were repaid • Creditors were owed over $50 million by state and national governments • Some states increased tariffs which created more problems

6. Movement Towards A New Government • Annapolis Convention called on every state to send delegates to revise the Articles of Confederation • May 1787 fifty five men from 12 states (RI refused) met in Philadelphia • All of the delegates were patriots and believed that govt. must rest in the hands of the governed • Delegates favored a republic over a democracy

7. Weaknesses of the Articles

9. Constitutional Convention • The delegates voted by states and the convention was chaired by Washington • James Madison kept notes of the convention • The issue of the power of the federal government and representation in Congress were the two major items • Constitution is called a bundle of compromises

10. Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan • Scrape the A of C • Consolidated govt. with the power to tax • Representation in the legislature would be based on pop. • H of R- popular vote • Senate- elected by state legislatures • Increase the powers of the fed. govt. • Single house legislature • Representation would be equal amongst all states

12. The Great Compromise • Bicameral legislature • House of Rep.- based on population • Senate- equal representation for all states • Created a strong national government but also provided an important role for the states

13. 3/5ths Compromise- slaves will be counted as 3/5ths a person for the purpose of taxation and representation • Importation of slaves would exist for 20 yrs. • Slave is never mentioned in the Constitution but “persons held to labor” is • Electoral College was created to ensure a candidate is elected and protects against the judgment of the common man

16. 2012 Presidential Results by County

17. Ratifying the Constitution • Sept. 17, 1787 delegates approved the Constitution and sent it to the states to ratify • Many were outraged b/c the convention was just supposed to modify the A of C • Soon two political views emerged • Federalist were for the new govt. while Anti-Federalist opposed it.

18. Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist • Supported the new stronger nat. govt. • Favored urban industrial areas (North) • Loose interpretation of the Constitution (Elastic Clause) • Strong state governments • Favored an agricultural nation (South) • Strict interpretation of the Constitution • No Bill of Rights

20. The Federalist Papers • Series of essays written by John Jay, James Madison and Alexander Hamilton • Supported the Const. as a positive alternative to the A of C • Constitution also represented both the large and small states

22. Delaware, PA, NJ, Georgia and Conn. were the first to ratify • NY voted for the new govt. fearing a threat that NYC would secede • Rhode Island first rejected the Const. • Promise of a Bill of Rights persuaded the rest of the states to ratify

23. Federalism

24. Bill of Rights • Goal was to prevent the Fed. Government from abusing peoples basic rights • Bill of Rights- are amendments to the Constitution. • Congress originally sent 12 amendments but only 10 survived ratification • Amendments are ratified by Congress then 3/4th of the states

25. 1st – Freedom of Speech, Religion, Press & Peaceful Assembly • 2nd- Right to keep & bear arms • 3rd- No quartering of troops • 4th- Protects from unreasonable search & seizure (Search Warrant) • 5th- Prevents Double Jeopardy, Grand Jury & Due Process • 6th- Speedy & Public Trial, Right to an attorney & Habeas Corpus • Habeas Corpus- statement of charges against you.

27. 8th- No excessive fines or bail • 9th- B/c a right is not listed doesn’t mean it doesn’t exist. • 10th- All powers not delegated to the Fed. Govt. are reserved for the states (Federalism).

29. Unwritten Constitution • Two-term limit for the president • Political Parties • Presidential Cabinet • Judicial Review • These issues dominate our government and have come about b/c of custom and precedent

31. Washington Presidency • Elected the first president in 1789 and John Adams was the VP (Capital NYC) • Congress created new departments to help run the executive affairs • Jefferson (Sec. of State), Hamilton (Treasury), Henry Knox (War), Edmund Randolph (Justice Dept.) • These positions later became known as the cabinet and are part of the unwritten const.

33. Judiciary Act of 1789 • Gave Cong. the power to create the federal court system and number of judges in the Supreme Court • Supreme Court would consist of 6 judges (9 in 1869), 3 circuit courts, 13 district courts • Federal courts had limited jurisdiction mainly over appeals from state courts

35. Justices hold office for life to prevent any political influence • John Jay was the 1st Chief Justice • Chisholm vs. Georgia (1793)- ruled in favor of two S.C. residents who sued Georgia over an issue of property rights • 11th Amend- said a state can not be sued by people from another state

36. Hamilton’s Fiscal Program • Tariff of 1789- goal was to raise revenue but did not protect from foreign competition • Urged the federal govt. to assume the states debts from the war • Debate raged over debt repayment b/c many states had already repaid their debts • To get his policy passed Federalist agreed to move the temporary capital to Philadelphia until D.C. was completed

38. National Bank • Hamilton wanted to create a national bank to be the fiscal agent of the treasury • Led to a battle between Strict and Loose Constructionist • Hamilton argued for Congress to use their implied powers • Hamilton also encouraged a high protective tariff to protect American businesses (Protective Nationalism)

39. Foreign Policy • American opinions were divided when it came to the war between GB and France • Some supported GB b/c of our economic interest while others supported France • 1793 GW- issued his “Proclamation of Neutrality” • Washington felt the U.S. was to militarily weak and would be best to remain neutral

40. U.S. and The Indian Peoples • Intercourse Act- law passed by Cong. which said the U.S. would regulate all interactions with the Indian tribes • Act said that only public treaties between the U.S. and Indian nations were the only legal means for acquiring Indian land • Americans would eventually break many treaties for westward expansion

41. Domestic and International Crisis • Americans were facing issues with the British and Native Americans on the western borders • British had confiscated the cargo of over 250 U.S. ships • Spanish controlled portions of the Mississippi River which made trade difficult

42. Whiskey Rebellion- 1794 • Cong. placed an excise tax on whiskey • Pennsylvania farmers began revolting • GW- led troops and put down the rebellion. • Washington’s actions demonstrated that the Federal government was strong.

44. Jay and Pinckney’s Treaty • Jay Treaty (1794)- treaty with GB to avert war and the U.S. made major concessions to the British for seizing U.S. ships • Pinckney Treaty (1795)- agreed to a boundary with Spain at the 31st parallel which opened trade along the Mississippi • Both treaties created U.S. sovereignty

45. Washington’s Legacy • “two-term limit” for a President • Created the 1st cabinet • Farewell address- “Steer clear of permanent alliances with any portion of the foreign world.”

46. Rise of Political Parties • 1796 two political groups emerged in the U.S. • Federalism- those who favored sharing power between the Fed. and States • Republicans- favored limited govt. and favored interest of farmers • John Adams (F) became the 2nd president while Jefferson (R) became VP

48. XYZ Affair • French were seizing U.S. ships and Adams sent delegates to France • French delegates demanded bribes and Adams called them X, Y and Z • Americans were furious and Jefferson’s reputation was damaged • “Millions for defense not one cent for tribute” • Adams popularity was soaring

49. Quasi War • Adams and the Federalist were preparing for war • U.S. tripled the size of the navy • Tensions eased after a report of naval victory over the French in Egypt • Thomas Jefferson had always been a supporter of the French

50. Alien and Sedition Acts- 1798 • Alien Act- President can deport those thought to be dangerous to public safety. • Sedition Act- imprisoned newspaper editors falsely/scandalous/maliciously attacking the U.S. government. • Led to political divisions