Drafting the Constitution

1. Drafting the Constitution

2. Main Questions Do we tweak the Articles or write something new? Should we have a strong or weak central government? What should we do about slaves? How do we get out of debt? How do we regulate money? How do we elect the President?

3. Main Ideas The Central Government needs more power Ex: Power to tax The Constitution works because of compromise. Washington sets the standard of what it means to be President.

4. Issues with Articles Financial: Unpaid war debts Foreign: No respect from European nations. Domestic: Issues with laws on citizen behavior and state trade. -Issues between states

5. Shays Rebellion Farmers wanted state governments to issue more $. Felt they were treating northern states better. Daniel Shays & his men riot in Massachusetts in 1786. Demand: Paper money, tax relief, moratorium on debts, relocate the capital, and no more jail for debt Rebellion is put down.

6. Consequences to Shays Rebellion Reveals the limited power of the Articles of Confederation. More urgency for a national constitution.

7. Battle of Fallen Timbers Natives saw westward movement of Americans as a direct threat. Natives in Ohio Valley had been attacking them. 1794 General Anthony Wayne defeated the Shawnee, Wyandot, and others in the Battle of Fallen Timbers.

8. Consequences of The Battle of Fallen Timbers Reminder of issues with Natives Treaty of Greenville gave Americans Ohio territory and the ability to settle there.

9. Annapolis Convention George Washington hosted a conference in Mt. Vernon, Virginia in 1785. Reps from (Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, and Pennsylvania) discuss the problems with Articles and set up another meeting at Annapolis Maryland 1786 Another meeting set at Philadelphia to draft the constitution.

10. Drafting the Constitution Philadelphia Convention 12/13 states sent delegates (55) George Washington- Presiding officer *White, wealthy, land-owning, educated males in attendance*

11. Issues to be Addressed How do we distribute power in the government? James Madison- creates a system called *Checks and Balances*- Each group watches over the other group in order to prevent any single group from having too much power. 3 Groups: Executive- Enforces Laws Judicial- Interpret Laws Legislative- Make Laws

12. Main Issues Representation Slavery Trade Powers and election of the president Ratification

13. Issues to be Addressed… Representation How do we make it fair for all states? James Madison- Virginia Plan (favored big states) Roger Sherman proposed *Great Compromise* - Two- house Congress. Senate: Every state gets 2 House of Representatives: Based on population

14. Issues to be Addressed… Slavery How do we count slaves and should slavery be allowed in the constitution? What they decide: -Three-fifths Compromise- Slaves were considered 3/5 of a person in regard to taxation and representation. -Slaves could be imported for at least 20 years longer.

15. Issues to be Addressed… Trade issues Northern states want central government to regulate interstate trade. South afraid of taxes on agriculture exports. Commercial Compromise: *Congress regulates interstate and foreign commerce, including tariffs on foreign imports, but no taxes on exports.*

16. Issues to be Addressed President issues Presidential terms? How to elect him? How much power? *Limit terms to 4 years with no limit on reelection* *States given a number of electors equal to representatives and senators.* *President given considerable power (ex: veto)*

17. Issues to be Addressed… Ratification *September 17, 1787* *Philadelphia convention approved the Draft of the Constitution.* Fear it will not be approved by all 13 states *Declare only 9/13 need to approve*

18. Issues attaining Ratification Differing Opinions Federalists- Support the Constitution and a strong federal government. Ex: Large cities, wealthy, north Anti-Federalists- Opponents of the Constitution Ex: Small Farmers

19. Federalists v. Anti-Federalists Federalists Anti-Federalists Leaders: George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton Arguments: Strong central gov. Strategy: Show weakness in Articles of Confederation. Advantages: Strong leaders, well organized Disadvantages: Ideas were new and untried, no Bill of Rights George Mason, Patrick Henry, James Winthrop, John Hancock Weak central government Constitution provided no protection of individual rights. Too much power for central government Popular to distrust government Unorganized, slow response to Federalists

20. Bill of Rights Anti-Federalists argue there must be a Bill of Rights in the Constitution. Bill of Rights- Rights given to individuals to keep the government from having too much power.

21. Washington Presidency Issues -Organizing the Federal Government -Foreign Affairs -Domestic Concerns -Political Parties

22. Organizing the Federal Government Executive Department- Washington elects four heads of departments. Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton Secretary of War: Henry Knox Attorney General: Edmund Rudolph Federal Court System: Congress’s first laws was the Judiciary Act of 1789 *Supreme Court would rule over state courts.*

23. Organizing the Federal Government Hamilton’s Financial Program Pay off national debt at face value and federal government take the states debt. Protect nations industries and put high tariffs on imported goods. Create a national bank

24. Hamilton’s Plan is modified Debt paid off by the federal government as long as they move the capital to Washington D.C. Lower tariff rates than Hamilton had hoped. Created the Bank of the United States (privately owned) Federal excise on whiskey

25. Foreign Affairs French Revolution Should we ally with France in their revolution? Washington decides to establish the Proclamation of neutrality (1793) -Believed we were too young and weak to help France. -Thomas Jefferson resigned because he disagreed with Washington.

26. Foreign Affairs “Citizen” Genet -French minister to the US -Objected to Washington’s policy -Outrageous behavior in trying to get French support. -Forced to stop working for the French.

27. Foreign Affairs The Jay Treaty(1794) Chief Justice John Jay • Went to convince Britain to stop searching and seizing American ships. • Brought back a treaty that had the British leave American posts, but did not address the searching and seizing of American ships. • -Angered American supporters of France but kept neutrality.

28. Domestic Affairs Political Parties Two parties start to form under Alexander Hamilton and Thomas Jefferson. Federalists support Hamilton Anti-Federalists which become known as Democratic-Republicans support Jefferson.

29. Foreign Affairs The Pinckney Treaty (1795) Jay’s Treaty scared Spain into thinking Britain and American were forming an alliance. Thomas Pinckney sent to Spain as a special negotiator. Consequences: -Spain gave Americans access to all of the Mississippi and into New Orleans. -Spain changed the boundaries of Florida in favor of America.

30. Domestic Affairs The Whiskey Rebellion (1794) -Western Pennsylvania -Farmers refused to pay a federal excise tax on whiskey -Began attacking revenue collectors -Washington used the federal gov. to raise 15,000 state militiamen under Alexander Hamilton -Easily put done the rebellion. -Consequence: Illustrated the federal governments strength and ability to put citizen rebellion down. -

31. Washington’s Farewell Address Washington Warned Americans: Not to get involved in European affairs Against the United States making “permanent alliances” in foreign affairs Not to form political parties To avoid sectionalism

32. John Adam’s Presidency Between John Adam’s and Thomas Jefferson Adams wins by 3 electoral votes Presidency tested by France as relations with Britain and Spain improved. France was still dealing with the French Revolution.

33. XYZ Affair Reports that U.S merchant ships seized by French warships. Adams sent delegation to Paris for peaceful resolution. Anonymous French delegates (X, Y, & Z) tried to bribe the American delegates. Newspapers ran wild with this story and the call for war increased.

34. XYZ Affair Consequences US in an undeclared war with France Federalists favored war. US builds up its navy US cuts off all trade with France Finally France signs a treaty in 1800.

35. The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) Federalists won popularity during XYZ affair Federalist Congress wanted to restrict the Democratic-Republicans. Adopted 3 Laws: 1)Naturalization Act- From 5 to 14 years required for immigrants to become US citizens 2)Alien Acts- President could deport any aliens considered dangerous and detain enemy aliens during war. 3)Sedition Act-Made it illegal for newspaper editors to criticize the President or Congress.

36. The Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions“null and void” Republicans argued the Alien and Sedition Acts violated the First Amendment of the Constitution. Supreme Court did not have judicial review yet. Kentucky and Virginia created resolutions (laws of their own) that the Federal government must follow. Compact- Federal gov. contract with states that if broken, states could nullify federal law.

37. Consequences to the Resolutions The argument used by Virginia and Kentucky would be used again in a controversy in the 1830’s. Federalists lost their majority in Congress after the election of 1800. Supreme Court under John Marshall made the court the last resort on deciding if a federal law is constitutional.

38. Election of 1800 Federalists lost popularity. (Alien and Sedition Acts & Taxes preparing for war) Election Results: -Congress and President powers were lost for Federalists -Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr (Republicans) received the same number of electoral ballots. -House of Representatives decided on Jefferson. -Passing of power peacefully- Called the peaceful revolution known as the Revolution of 1800

39. 1800 Election consequences Jefferson becomes President Peaceful transition of power Democratic-Republicans take control of Congress Illustrated a weakness in the electoral college

40. Partner Activity In your group reorder the Bill of Rights from most important to least important. In a paragraph or two, explain why you came up with the order that you have. Finally, draw a picture depicting at least 5 of the Bill of Rights.