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Explore the transition from the failed Articles of Confederation to the establishment of the U.S. Constitution, through Shays' Rebellion, the Northwest Ordinance, and key compromises like the Great Compromise. Learn about the ratification process and key constitutional principles.
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The U.S. Constitution Issues Facing the New Government
Failure of the Articles of Confederation • Did not provide federal government enough power to keep the country together. • Required the cooperation of the states in order to function. • State interests often conflicted with national interests, so it was difficult to get agreement. • Shays’ Rebellion illustrated the dangers under the Articles of Confederation.
Structural Weaknesses of the Articles • No executive branch • Could declare war, but could not demand troops from the states • No say in interstate commerce • Could not levy taxes • Each state had one vote, regardless of size • Laws required agreement from 2/3 of the states (9) • Amendments required all 13 states to agree
Accomplishments of the Articles • Established a government following the American Revolution that was based on consent of the governed. • Land Ordinance of 1785- created a system of surveying the land in the Northwest Territory and selling the land to settlers. • Northwest Ordinance of 1787- described how territories should be governed; determined how territories could become states; banned slavery in the territories; provided for public education.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 The Land Ordinance of 1787 established a way to govern the Northwest Territory. This was the land from the Ohio River to the Great Lakes and Western Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River. It set the guidelines for settling new states.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787 1) federally appointed governor, secretary, and 3 judges2) locally elected assembly, non-voting representative to Congress, and at least 5,000 male residents3) 60,000 residents and a state constitutionOhio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin were created from these lands.The Northwest Territory banned slavery and guaranteed the rights of the individuals.
Shays’ Rebellion • Led by Daniel Shays • Farmers who could not pay their debts were losing their property. • The group in Massachusetts stormed the courts in protest and rebellion against the government, effectively forcing the closing of the courts and blocking foreclosures. • The rebellion was ultimately put down, but it underlined the dangers the new country faced with a central government that was too weak to enforce its laws. • A call was issued to “reform” the Articles.
Constitutional Convention • James Madison kept detailed notes of the secret proceedings. He is known as the “father of the Constitution”. • New Jersey Plan called for a unicameral legislature with each state having one vote; favored small states. • Virginia Plan called for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population.
Great Compromise • Also called the Connecticut Compromise, provided for a bicameral legislature with representation in the upper house (Senate) equal for each state and representation in the lower house (House of Representatives) based on population.
Three-fifths Compromise • Another compromise was reached over slavery. • Every 5 slaves would count as 3 people for purposes of representation and taxation. • This satisfied the North and the South. • There was a reluctance to go ahead and abolish slavery due to the economic dependence on slavery by the south.
Ratification • Federalists vs. Antifederalists • Leading Federalists: James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay became the writers of the Federalist Papers explaining that the Constitution was vital to the success of the new nation. • Antifederalists were concerned about too much power being given to the central government. They wanted a bill of rights guaranteeing individual freedoms. • In 1789, Congress approved the ten constitutional amendments that became the federal Bill of Rights. States ratified the amendments in 1791.
Key Ideas Behind the Constitution • Popular sovereignty-people are the main source of the government’s authority. • Limited government-the government has only the powers that the Constitution gives it. • Federalism- the federal government and the state governments share power. • Separation of power – power is divided among three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. • Checks and balances – each branch has the power to limit the actions of the other two. • Representative government – citizens elect representatives to government to make laws. • Individual rights- the Constitution protects citizens’ individual rights.
The Judiciary Act of 1789 • Established both the U.S. federal court system and the authority of the U.S. Supreme Court. • John Jay became the first chief justice of the Supreme Court.
Hamilton’s Economic Plan • Wanted an excise tax (tax on whiskey) to raise money for the government. • Tariff – tax on imports- to protect domestic manufacturing and American business interests. • National Bank with the power to print bank notes and take care of the nation’s financial resources. • Assume states debts. • Pay off national debt.
Opposition to Hamilton’s Plan • Southerners felt that it was unfair because they had already paid off their state debts, and they also believed the tariff would hurt international trade. • To win the south over, it was decided that the nation’s capitol would be placed in the south, Washington, D.C. • The whiskey tax made farmers in western Pennsylvania angry because they were dependent on their whiskey for trade and bartering.
Whiskey Rebellion • Western Pennsylvania farmers refused to pay the tax on whiskey. • They protested and resorted to violence. • President Washington, under the advice of Alexander Hamilton, formed a military force and marched into Pennsylvania to halt the resistance. • Washington asked the farmers to vote to determine whether or not they would comply with the law. He offered them amnesty if they would stop the rebellion and pay the tax. • The conflict established the idea that the national government could support itself, and national law was supreme. • This, however, did not end the debate between states’ rights and the national government.
First Political Parties • Political parties began to form even though they were seen as factions. • Federalists were led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams. • Democratic Republicans were led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. • Northerners favored the Federalist Party, especially merchants. The southerners, especially farmers, supported the Democratic Republicans. • Still, you could find supporters for both parties in every social class, every region, and every state.
Washington’s Farewell Address • Warned against political parties (factions) • Warned against entangling alliances with other countries (neutrality) • Promoted the idea that good government is based on religion and morality.
Washington’s Accomplishments • Becomes the first president, reluctantly • “Mr. President” • Cabinet • Two-term tradition • Judiciary Act, 1789
Federalist Party • Led by Hamilton • Favored strong centralized government • Wanted an economy based on industry and trade • Pro-British • Loose constructionists • Wanted wealthy, educated elite to run the government
Democratic Republicans • Led by Jefferson • States’ rights • Wanted to base the economy on farming • Pro-French • Strict constructionists • Had a belief in the value of the common man
Foreign Policy • Native Americans • British • French • Spain
Native Americans • Americans continued to settle in the Ohio Valley area displacing many Native Americans. • Chief Little Turtle, the leader of the Miami Confederacy, fought an d defeated a group of soldiers sent by President Washington to secure the Ohio Valley area. • In 1794, American troops under the leadership of General Anthony Wayne fought and defeated the Native Americans at the Battle of Fallen Timbers. • The Treaty of Greenville was signed promising an annual payment to the Native Americans in the amount of $10,000. The agreement was not kept, but the loss effectively secured the defeat of the Native Americans and opened the Northwest Territory to settlement.
France • France wanted American support in the French Revolution and in the war with Britain. • Felt owed that since they had helped America. • Americans were divided over the issue. • America issued a proclamation of neutrality because they feared they were too weak to get involved in the conflict. They feared that they would lose the ability to trade with Britain. • 1793, Washington issued the Proclamation of Neutrality.
Britain • John Jay was sent to London to negotiate a treaty to stop British impressment of American ships. • Instead of agreeing to stop impressment, the treaty secured the evacuation of the forts in the Great Lakes area of the United States. • America also agreed to repay war debts to Britain. • The treaty was not seen favorably in the United States. • It was called Jay’s Treaty.
Spain • Thomas Pinckney was sent to Spain to negotiate a treaty that would allow right of navigation of the Mississippi River and right of deposit at New Orleans. • This was secured. The treaty was called Pinckney’s Treaty. • The United States viewed the treat favorably.
