Shaping a New Nation

1. Shaping a New Nation Americans adopt the Articles of Confederation. A new constitution is ratified after Federalists agree to include a Bill of Rights. NEXT

2. Experimenting with Confederation SECTION 1 SECTION 2 Drafting the Constitution Ratifying the Constitution SECTION 3 Shaping a New Nation NEXT

3. Section 1 Experimenting with Confederation Americans adopt the Articles of Confederation but find the new government too weak to solve the nation’s problems. NEXT

4. SECTION 1 Experimenting with Confederation Americans Debate Republicanism Colonies Become States • People consider self-governing colonies the basic political unit - colonists give their allegiance to colony - idea persists when colonies become states Unity Through a Republic • Colonists believe democracy gives too much power to uneducated • Prefer republic—citizens rule through elected representatives • Views of republicanism, government based on consent of people: - John Dickinson: put nation’s good above self, only way a republic will work - Economist Adam Smith and followers: pursue own interests politically and economically Continued . . . NEXT

5. SECTION 1 continuedAmericans Debate Republicanism State Constitutions • Many states limit powers of governors, make strong legislatures; fear of executive authority • Most guarantee specific bill of rights to citizens (ie: freedom of religion) • Stress liberty, not equality: only white males can vote; in most states must own property Political Precedents • The founding fathers searched history for political precedents for a representative government, free of monarchy. • Previous republican governments cannot be adapted to U.S. needs: - none balanced concerns of state and national governments • Ancient Greece, Rome, Italian city-states did not last NEXT

6. Females vote in New Jersey: 1776-1807 The New Jersey State Constitution inadvertently gave women the right to vote. The 1776 New Jersey Constitution had vaguely stated that “all inhabitants” of the state could vote. As New Jersey’s constitution made no reference to sex, adult women who were worth fifty pounds and had resided in the county they wished to vote in for one year were granted suffrage. Women voted in large numbers until 1807, when the Assembly passed a law limiting suffrage to free white males. The 1807 law was not seen as specifically hostile to women; instead, it was intended to clarify the Constitution’s guarantee of the franchise to “all inhabitants.” Because some objected that “all inhabitants” could allow slaves and aliens to vote, the Assembly acted to clarify the state’s voting requirements.

7. SECTION 1 Articles of Confederation Supreme Power: Can It Be Divided? • Confederation or alliance: national government, states share powers (superiority over each other in different matters) • Articles of Confederation—laws assigning national, state powers --Goes into effect 1781 • National government handles war, treaties, weights, measures, mail • No executive or court system established to enforce, interpret laws Western Lands: Who Gets Them? • Vague western boundaries of colonial charters • Claims of different states conflicted • States without claims tend to be small (MD, DE, RI) • Maryland approves Articles when western land claims given to federal, not state power Continued . . . NEXT

9. SECTION 1 continuedArticles of Confederation Governing the Western Lands • Land Ordinance of 1785 creates plan for surveying western lands • Northwest Ordinance of 1787—plan for creating territories, statehood --Congress would appoint a territorial governor --When a territory reached 5,000 voting residents, they can write a temp constitution & elect their own gov’t --When a territory reached 60,000 free people, they could write a state constitution to be approved by Congress before granted statehood • Decided that new states would be equal to the 13 • 5 states were formed: OH, IN, IL, MI, WI • Articles of Confederation’s greatest achievements NEXT

10. SECTION 1 The Confederation Encounters Problems Economic Problems • Congress has no authority to regulate trade; each state looks out for itself • Congress amasses huge debt during Revolutionary War • Foreign debts cannot be paid Borrowers Versus Lenders •Depression hits farmers the worst • Creditors favor high taxes so they will be paid back • Taxes put farmers in debt; many lose land and livestock • Debtors want large supply paper money; creditors want small supply Continued . . . NEXT

11. SECTION 1 continuedThe Confederation Encounters Problems Foreign-Relations Problems • U.S. does not pay debts to British merchants or compensate Loyalists • In retaliation, Britain refuses to evacuate forts on Great Lakes • In 1784, Spain closes Mississippi River to American navigation • Westerners unable to ship crops east through New Orleans • Congress unable to resolve problems with foreign nations NEXT

12. SECTION 1 continuedThe Confederation Encounters Problems Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation • Congress can’t enact and collect taxes • Can’t regulate interstate or foreign trade --Each state issued its own currency • Each state has one vote, regardless of population • 2/3 majority needed to pass laws • Articles can be amended only if all states approve • No executive branch to enforce laws • No national court system • No national army, navy NEXT

13. Section 2 Drafting the Constitution At the Philadelphia convention in 1787, delegates reject the Articles of Confederation and create a new constitution. NEXT

14. SECTION 2 Drafting the Constitution Nationalists Strengthen the Government Shays’s Rebellion • 1786–87 armed farmers demand closing of courts to avoid losing farms • Shays’s Rebellion—state militia defeats farmers led by Daniel Shays • Many leaders fear rebellion will spread through country • George Washington calls for stronger national government Continued . . . NEXT

15. SECTION 2 continuedNationalists Strengthen the Government Annapolis Convention • 5 states send delegates to meeting on interstate trade and other financial problems (1786) • VA, NJ, DE, PA, NY • Present were James Madison of Virginia and Alexander Hamilton of New York Convention Highlights • In 1787, 55 delegates meet at Pennsylvania State House • Rhode Island, as a small state, was against federalism…thought it would strip states of rights • Washington unanimously elected presiding officer NEXT

16. SECTION 2 Conflict Leads to Compromise Big States Versus Small States • Delegates recognize need to strengthen central government - decide to form new government • Edmund Randolph’s Virginia Plan: bicameral legislature based on population • William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan: single house, one vote per state • Roger Sherman, delegate from Connecticut, proposes Great Compromise: - Senate has equal representation, elected by state legislatures - House of Representatives, based on population, elected by people Continued . . . NEXT

17. SECTION 2 continuedConflict Leads to Compromise Slavery-Related Issues • South wants slaves in population count for House, not for taxes • North wants slaves in population count for taxes, not for House • Three-Fifths Compromise allows 3/5 of state’s slaves to be counted • Congress given power to regulate foreign trade • Cannot interfere with slave trade for 20 years NEXT

18. SECTION 2 Creating a New Government Division of Powers • Federalism—division of power between national and state governments • National government has delegated or enumerated powers • Nation handles foreign affairs, defense, interstate trade, money • Powers kept by states are called reserved powers • States handle education, marriage laws, trade within state • Shared powers include right to tax, borrow money, establish courts Continued . . . NEXT

19. SECTION 2 continuedCreating a New Government Separation of Powers • Legislative branch makes laws • Executive branch enforces laws • Judicial branch interprets laws • Checks and balances prevent one branch from dominating the others • Electoral college—electors chosen by states to vote for president Creating the Constitution • Constitution can be changed through amendment process NEXT

20. Section 3 Ratifying the Constitution During the debate on the Constitution, the Federalists promise to add a bill of rights in order to get the Constitution ratified. NEXT

22. SECTION 3 Ratifying the Constitution Federalists and Antifederalists Controversies over the Constitution • Ratification (official approval) requires support of nine states • Voters elect delegates to vote on ratification at state convention • Federalists ---favor balance between state, national ---emphasis on a stronger national government ---Leaders: James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton • Antifederalists oppose strong central government - may serve interests of privileged minority - unlikely to manage a large country well - Constitution does not protect individual rights - Leaders: Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, Thomas Jefferson, Richard Henry Lee Continued . . . NEXT

23. SECTION 3 continuedFederalists and Antifederalists The Opposing Forces • Federalists ---Urban centered--merchants, workers favor trade/commerce regulations ---Small or weak states want protection of strong government • Antifederalist ---Rural areas: farmers fear additional taxes (remember Shay’s Rebellion?) ---Large or strong states fear loss of freedom to strong government • The Federalist Papers—essays that defend, explain, analyze Constitution • Antifederalists read Letters from the Federal Farmer: written anonymously ---Constitution would tear down states rights and lead to a loss of liberty ---lists rights they want protected NEXT

24. The Federal Farmer

25. The Federalist Papers “But the most common and durable source of factions has been the various and unequal distribution of property. Those who hold and those who are without property have ever formed distinct interests in society.”

26. SECTION 3 The Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification People Demand a Bill of Rights • Antifederalists demand written guarantee of people’s rights • Federalists promise bill of rights if states ratify Constitution Ratification of the Constitution • December 1787–June 1788, nine states ratify Constitution; DE first state to ratify • Federalists need support of large states Virginia and New York • After opposition and debate, Virginia and New York ratify by 1788; RI and NC still hold out • The new government becomes a reality in 1789 Continued . . . NEXT

27. SECTION 3 continued The Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification Adoption of a Bill of Rights • 1791, Bill of Rights, or first ten amendments, ratified by states • First Amendment—freedom of religion, speech, press, politics • Second: A well regulated militia being necessary to the security of a free state, the right of the people to keep and bear arms shall not be infringed • Third—no quartering of soldiers • Fourth through Eighth—fair treatment for persons accused of crimes • Ninth—people’s rights not limited to those mentioned in Constitution • Tenth—people, states have all rights not specifically assigned • After Bill of Rights adopted, RI and NC finally ratify the Constitution NEXT

28. The Militia Act of 1792 Militia members, referred to as "every citizen, so enrolled and notified," "...shall within six months thereafter, provide himself..." with a musket, bayonet and belt, two spare flints, a cartridge box with 24 bullets, and a knapsack. Men owning rifles were required to provide a powder horn, 1/4 pound of gunpowder, 20 rifle balls, a shooting pouch, and a knapsack. Some occupations were exempt, such as congressmen, stagecoach drivers, and ferryboatmen. Otherwise, men were required to report for training twice a year, usually in the Spring and Fall. "I loves mah guns...loves mah guns"