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Now Prosperity: You will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom; I hope that you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I took half the pains to preserve it. -John Adams. Critical Period: 1781-1789. Impact of Revolution Republicanism
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Now Prosperity: You will never know how much it cost us to preserve your freedom; I hope that you will make a good use of it. If you do not, I shall repent in heaven that I took half the pains to preserve it. -John Adams
Critical Period: 1781-1789 Impact of Revolution Republicanism Representative Gov’t Northwest Ordinance Articles of Confederation Federalists and anti-Federalists
The Treaty of Paris: 1783 • Cornwallis’s defeat at Yorktown heavy blow to Tories in Parliament • War was increasingly unpopular in England • Financially detrimental to British gov’t • Lord North & other Tories resigned • Whig leaders replaced Tories and sought ways to end war • Treaty of Paris: Provisions • Britain would recognize U.S. as independent nation • Mississippi River would be western boundary of U.S. • Americans would have fishing rights off the coast of Canada • Americans would pay debts owed to British merchants and honor Loyalist claims for property confiscation
Representative Democracy • Also referred to as a republic • Concept: Republicanism • Government authority comes from the people who elect officials that represent their interests • Promoted the end of slavery, encouraged education and sacrifice for the public good • 13 colonies had a tradition of governing themselves….. • Elected their own representative law making bodies • Passed laws to keep peace within their communities. • Colonies had a tradition of representative democracy
State Constitutions & State Gov’ts • Common aspects • Each state listed the basic rights and freedoms that belonged to all citizens • “unalienable rights” • i.e. jury trial and freedom of religion • Separation of powers • Legislative powers to an elected two-house legislature • Executive powers to an elected governor • Judicial powers to a system of courts • All white males with property could vote • Based on the assumption that property-owners had a larger stake in government than did the poor and property-less • Elected officials higher qualifications than the voters
Women’s Suffrage • Abigail Adams—1790’to early 1800’s • Elizabeth Cady Stanton and Susan B. Anthony---1830’s to 1900’s • Women’s rights reformers • citizenship • right to vote • education • Supported the abolition of slavery • Republican motherhood • Despite their contributions, women’s rights did not progress and would remain 2nd class citizens
Abolishment of Slavery • New England states are the first to abolish slavery after the Revolution. • Middle States would abolish later…. • In 1791, the Quakers formed first Anti-Slavery Society and Underground Railroad • Southern States would expand slavery after the invention of the cotton gin. • As country expands, North and South would compromise over the issue of slavery……
Mason Dixon Line set the precedent over dividing the country over slavery. • Ohio River would be the dividing boundary between North and South.
Articles of Confederation • Background: • John Dickinson drafted first constitution for the United States as a nation (1776) • Congress wanted to protect the rights of individual states- did not want to grant overriding power to federal gov’t • Articles of Confederation was adopted in 1777- submitted to states for ratification • Ratification: • Ratification delayed by land disputes west of Alleghenies • Rhode Island & Maryland insisted new lands be placed under central gov’t authority • Virginia & New York gave up claims to lands in the west • When they did- Articles were ratified (1781)
Articles Continued • Structure of Gov’t: • Central government w/ one body- a congress • Uni-cameral legislation: each state given one vote • 9 out of 13 votes needed to pass laws • Unanimous votes needed to amend laws • Powers: • Congress had power to: • a. wage war • b. make treaties • c. borrow money • 2. Powers NOT given to Congress: • a. power to regulate trade • b. power to tax (to finance any decision, Congress had to rely on states for money) • c. no executive power to enforce its laws
Articles and Accomplishment • Northwest Ordinance: 1787 • Encouraged settlers to form townships. • New states formed would be equal to original 13 • Influx of settlers causes violence with Indians • Guaranteed settlers “unalienable rights” • Winning the war • a. can claim some credit for ultimate victory of Washington’s forces • 2. Land Ordinance of 1785: • a. Congress established policy for surveying and selling western lands • b. one section in each township set aside for education • 3. Northwest Ordinance of 1787: • a. large territory between Great Lakes & Ohio River • b. Ordinance (laws) for creating new states • c. Limited self-gov’t given to developing territories • i. slavery abolished in the region
Grid system was created by Thomas Jefferson… • Structured and organized land policy • Allowed for a peaceful purchase of land. • Promoted an orderly expansion westward.. • Confederation Congress convinced states who claimed land out west to cede their land to the US Govt. • US Govt. was to come up with a fair and reasonable land policy…..Unlike the Proclamation of 1763…. Land Ordinance: 1785
Weaknesses of Articles • Financial: • Most war debts unpaid • States & Congress issued paper money (worthless) • Congress had no taxing power • States could only request state donations • Foreign: • Other nations had little respect for new nation • U.S. couldn’t defend itself or pay debts • Spain & Britain threatened U.S. interests in West (Confederation to weak to defend its interests) • Domestic: • Shay’s Rebellion • U.S. gov’t lacked the ability to quell rebellion
U.S. owed France & Spain Individual states owed money to citizens who loaned $ to states U.S. Gov’t owed soldier’s for fighting in war; debts to Loyalists & British
American Imports & Exports w/ Britain: 1783-1789 ** What conclusions can we make about the economic plan inherent in the Article of Confederation?
States held more power than the national gov’t: states couldn’t tax, regulate trade or enforce its laws REASON IN SIMPLISTIC TERMS: States feared authoritative power like that in England
Disputed Territorial Claims between U.S. and Spain: 1783-1796
Why a Constitution was Needed • Articles weakened central authority • AOC hand-cuffed gov’t from acting decisively • AOC did not protect: Life, Liberty and Pursuit of Happiness • States held too much power: if rebellion and revolt broke out in states, who’s authority is it to stop it? • Shay’s Rebellion forced Founding Fathers to realize AOC were too weak
Annapolis Convention (1786) • George Washington hosted a conference at his home in Mt. Vernon, VA (1785) • Representatives agreed that the problems were serious enough to hold further discussions at a later meeting at Annapolis, MD, at which all the states might be represented • Only 5 states sent delegates • Alexander Hamilton and James Madison persuaded the others to call for a Constitutional Convention, to be held in Philadelphia for the purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation
Convention Delegates (1787) • 55 white male delegate went to Philly • Most college-educated, early 40s • Wealthier than the average citizen • Many were practicing lawyers and/or helped in drafting state constitutions • Elected a presiding officer: George Washington • James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, Governor Morris, John Dickinson were notable delegates (different ideas of central power- all sought to make stronger gov’t though) • Notable absences: Jefferson, John Jay, John Adams, Thomas Paine, Sam Adams and John Hancock • Patrick Henry opposed any growth in Federal power; refused to take part
Federalists & anti-Federalists • You will read from Federalist No. Ten written by James Madison in which he defends the need for a large Republic to counter the influence of large majority factions. • Annotate and answer the questions found on the handout • Before reading Federalist #10, read from the excerpt below: • Read excerpt (pages 40-41) from AMSCO: • Break down the differences between Federalists and anti-Federalists • Be ready to discuss tomorrow…