1 / 23

Articles Time Period & Constitutional Convention

Articles Time Period & Constitutional Convention. A of C. John Dickinson drafted the plan to protect the power of the states Adopted by Congress 1777, last ratified March 1781. A of C Time Period Accomplishments. War was won Land Ordinance 1785 Northwest Ordinance 1787.

macaria-roseanne
Download Presentation

Articles Time Period & Constitutional Convention

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Articles Time Period &Constitutional Convention

  2. A of C • John Dickinson drafted the plan to protect the power of the states • Adopted by Congress 1777, last ratified March 1781

  3. A of C Time PeriodAccomplishments • War was won • Land Ordinance 1785 • Northwest Ordinance 1787

  4. A of C Time PeriodProblems • Continued British occupation of forts in Ohio Valley and along Canadian border-Americans had not repaid pre-war debts; British also suspected of stirring up Indian attacks • Confiscated Loyalist property-some fled to Canada or Britain, persecutions, even lynchings; others resumed lives okay

  5. A of C Time PeriodProblems • With Spanish-southern boundary and navigation rights along the Miss. River • Economic troubles-merchants cut from the British mercantile system; agric. trade with foreign markets suffered a downturn • Lack of uniformity on tariffs/trade restrictions-est. a commercial war between states

  6. A of C Time PeriodProblems • Local manuf. just starting out-needed states to give preference to American goods • Currency shortage-new paper money was divisive (debtors vs. creditors)

  7. A of C Time PeriodProblems-Shays’ Rebellion • 1786 • Shays, a MA. farmer and Rev. war vet, led an uprising vs. taxes (angry with govt. in Boston) • Economic issues (slowdown in market, debt to Britain, debt to wealthy, etc.) forced many states to pass high taxes: MA. had one of the highest • Farmers in debt, facing imprisonment and foreclosure, took up arms

  8. A of C Time PeriodProblems-Shays’ Rebellion • Shays led about 1000 farmers to seize weapons at Springfield (arsenal)-free debtors • MA. raised an army of about 4400 to suppress the rebellion, went in with cannons and scattered the debtor army with cannon volley, killing 4

  9. A of C Time PeriodProblems-Shays’ Rebellion • Rumors exaggerated the event-fear of other insurgencies for this young govt. arose • Tyranny can come from other areas, including the common people • Calls for a strong central govt.

  10. Questions • Started with the states and questions over navig. Rights on the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay • Decided to invite all 13 states to a discussion on interstate cooperation/commercial problems • Annapolis Convention-1786-only 5 appeared (no NE states, Carolinas nor GA): Hamilton presented to meet again the following year in Philly

  11. Constitutional Convention • 1787-Congress endorsed a convention “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation” • May, June…arrive • One of the hottest recorded summers

  12. Constitutional Convention-Rules • Proceedings were to be conducted in secret • Each state was allowed one vote (Rhode Island was not present-distrustful of fed. govt.) • Poll was often taken to see where people stood on issues-not to be recorded • Each delegate could speak only twice on each issue until everyone else had been given the opportunity to speak • Everyone was expected to pay strict attention • All remarks were to be addressed to the president of the convention and not members

  13. Convention • 55 attended one time or another-spotty attendance • Most delegates were young-42 was avg. age • All jobs, but mostly prominent lawyers, planters and merchants • President-G. Washington; secretary-James Madison • Ben Franklin (oldest at 81); A. Hamilton from NY (absent a good deal) • John Adams and Thomas Jefferson away on diplomatic missions • Patrick Henry refused to attend-fear of central govt. • After debate, agree to scrap the Articles; draft Constit.

  14. Debates • Representation in Congress -VA Plan-bicameral (2-house) legislature determined by size/pop. -NJ Plan-single house with equal 1 vote -CT, or Great Comp.-bicameral legislature- equal in Senate, House depends on state population

  15. Debates • Counting slaves within pop. to determine representation • 3/5 Compromise: each slave would be counted as 3/5 of a person for purposes of representation and taxation • Slavery itself was mentioned by name as little as possible-afraid it might set off a confrontation and wreck any chance of agreement

  16. Debates • Granting Congress the power to regulate foreign and interstate trade (including slave trade): Congress could regulate foreign commerce but not interfere with the slave trade for 20 years, until 1808 + tax of $10/slave; also forbidden to tax a state’s exports (only imports)

  17. Other issues • Madison and Randolph of VA urged a govt. structure divided into 3 parts variously elected and appointed • 60 different votes were needed for a single President with a legislative veto that Congress could override • Checks and balances-agreed to • Electoral college-too much democracy might lead to mob rule • Limited years of President in office, not terms • No formal discussion of women • Immigration-little said, other than President cannot be an immigrant

  18. Lost Hope? • Months of debate, many feared a consensus would never be reached • Franklin motioned for a minister to be invited and serve as chaplain/offer daily prayers-didn’t pass as they required payment for their prayers and the Convention had no money • Franklin’s noting of the sun: rising or setting?

  19. Ratification • After months of debate, the delegates approved the Constitution • Sept. 1787, 39 delegates sign the Constitution • 3 refused to sign-foreshadow of debate to come • 9/13 must still approve • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

  20. Ratification • Federalist arguments: strong national govt. was needed to provide order and protect the rights of people; a bill of rights was unnecessary because the new govt.’s powers were limited by the Constitution • Anti-Federalist arguments: wanted a weak national govt. so as not to threaten the rights of people or powers of the states; wanted to add a bill of rights to protect the people vs. abuses of power

  21. Ratification • By June 1788, 9 states had given their approval, but didn’t include VA or NY-the success of the new govt. depended upon acceptance of these two key states • Madison led the fight in VA. Against P. Henry; VA approved by 10 votes but with amendments suggested • Fight was in NY-Federalist Papers-ratification by 3 votes

  22. New Govt. • Sept. 1787-Constitution completed • Sept. 1788-Ratified; NY city-seat of govt. • Oct. 1788-Confed. Congress concluded its last business • March 1789-New govt. inaugurated • 1791-Bill of Rights added • Franklin: “Everything promises it will last…but in this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.” • Washington: “I didn’t expect it to last for more than 20 years.”

More Related