The Impact of the American Revolution on American Society

1. The Impact of the American Revolution on American Society

2. Benjamin Banneker & Phillis Wheatley

3. Postponing Full Liberty • The Revolution was limited in its extension of rights & failed to abolish slavery, grant universal male suffrage, or apply equality to women; But… • …it introduced the ideal of freedom and equality that future generations would use to make these ideals a reality

4. New State & National Governments

5. Forming New Governments • Whenindependencewasdeclared from England in 1776, colonists considered themselves a new nation & needed a new gov’t: • Colonies became individually sovereign states governed by written state constitutions • A national gov’t needed to be adopted to provide basic services like treaties & a military

6. States Constitutions • In 1776, the new states created written constitutions which: • Clearly defined the citizens’ rights & the limits of government • Guaranteed natural rights; Eight states had bills of rights • Almost all states reduced the powers of the governor & kept most power in the hands of the people via state legislatures

7. The United States, 1783

8. Defining Republican Culture • But, creating a national gov’t that met everyone’s needs was hard: • How to balance individual liberty with maintaining order? • How to balance property rights with equality? • How to create a centralized gov’t without creating a new tyrannical authority?

9. Defining Republican Culture Civic virtue is now a necessity • Americans set out to create a republican form of government after independence was declared: • Gov’t with no king or aristocracy • With power held by the citizens • Even though all previous republics had failed, Americans were optimistic this would be an “uncompromising commitment to liberty & equality”

10. The Articles of Confederation • In 1775, three committees were formed to sever ties with England: • Thomas Jefferson headed the committee to draft a declaration of independence • John Adams headed committee to establish foreign alliances • John Dickinson headed a committee to draft a new central government

11. Articles of Confederation • The Articles of Confederation was adopted as America’s 1st national gov’t in 1777 (but ratified in 1781) • The Articles established an intentionally weak central gov’t in order to protect state power • The confederation-style gov’t gave all 13 states 1 vote in a unicameral congress • There was no national president Each states was treated as a pseudo-nation` Too similar to a monarch

12. The Articles of Confederation The Articles were created to loosely tie the states together • The only powers granted to the national government were to • Negotiate treaties, handle Indian affairs, oversee an military • It could not tax citizens or states; could only request contributions • Laws required 9 of the 13 states • Amending the gov’t required agreement by all 13 states

13. “A firm league of friendship” The colonies were loosely joined to address common problems "each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power...which is not... expressly delegated to the United States.…"

14. Western Lands • The West presented a problem: • Many states had overlapping land claims in the West • Some “landless” states (MD, NJ, DE) wanted part of West & refused to ratify the Articles without this issue resolved • The US gov’t negotiated treaties with Indians to gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky

15. Western Lands • Virginia took the lead to solve the “West problem” by ceding its westernclaimstothenationalgov’t • Other states, especially NY, ceded their western lands too • By 1781, Congress (not the states) gained control over all lands west of the Appalachians • With dispute over, Maryland was the last state to ratify the Articles With the new gov’t finally ratified in 1781, Congress created the Departments of War, Foreign Affairs, & Finance

16. Don’t forget Indian lands too Indian Land Cessions:1768-1799 Western Land Claims Ceded by the States

17. The Land Ordinance of 1785 • The U.S. gov’t was eager to sell off Western lands to settlers to gain revenue (since the gov’t did not have the power to tax) • The Land Ordinance of 1785 established an orderly process for laying out western townships • Section 16 of the each township was dedicated to public schools

19. The Northwest Ordinance • The Northwest Ordinance (1787) gave structure to the NW territory: • Created new territories, ruled by a governor, & whose citizens were protected by a bill of rights • Residents could create a legislative assembly when the population reached 5,000 • Residents could apply for statehood with 60,000 people • Slavery outlawed in NW lands

20. The United States, 1783 Because of the 1785 & 1787 ordinances, the Northwest territories were well organized & orderly Prospectors poured into Kentucky & Tennessee By 1790, the region was plagued by land claims & counterclaims that generated lawsuits for years The USA in 1787 Territories south of the Ohio River received less attention from Congress

21. Constitutional Reform Congress did not have the tax funds to send an army Merchants in MA hired their own mercenary militia to end the uprising • By 1787, the fatal flaws of the Articles of Confed were exposed: • Shays’ Rebellion broke out among desperate MA farmers who faced losing their farms or being sent to debtor’s prison • Congress called for a meeting in Philadelphia to discuss revising the Articles & strengthening the national gov’t Shays’ Rebellion gave nationalists like Washington, Madison, Hamilton the urgency to call for a stronger national gov’t In May, James Madison led the Annapolis Convention to discuss improving American trade

23. The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787

24. The Philadelphia Convention • Shay’s Rebellion led to increased support for a stronger central government & more attendance at the Philadelphia Convention • In May 1787, 55 delegates from all states (except RI) met to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation, but it soon became apparent that something more serious was needed They did NOT intend to replace the Articles

25. The Philadelphia Convention Is this a government of the people? • The Philadelphia Convention delegates in Philadelphia made 3 important (& illegal) decisions: • The Articles of Confederation were to be completely replaced • Nothing from the meeting was to beprintedorspokentothepublic • Every state got 1 vote but all decisions needed a majority vote (not 9 of 13 states) to pass To amend the Articles, all 13 states had to agree

26. Delegates incorporated 4 major principles into this new gov’t: Limited gov’t—even though a strongergov’twasbeingcreated, citizens’ liberty is protected Republicanism—the people vote for their leaders Separation of powers—three branches with defined powers Federalism—the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts Inventing a Federal Republic

27. William Paterson presented the New Jersey Plan: Congress given power to tax Each state had one vote in a unicameral legislature But Articles mostly untouched James Madison presented the Virginia Plan: Bicameral legislature Larger states had more representatives Create a chief executive appointed by Congress Inventing a Federal Republic Small states objected to this large-state dominance The large states listened politely then overwhelmingly votedagainst it

28. The Great Compromise Also known as the “Connecticut” Compromise” • Roger Sherman helped resolve the differences between the large & small states by proposing the Great Compromise • Congress would be a bicameral legislature (House & Senate) • Each state was given 2 delegates in the Senate • House of Representatives was determined by state population Victory for the small states Victory for large states Only the House of Reps could introduce tax bills

29. Three Branches of Government

30. What did Congress look like after the Great Compromise?

31. Federalism—state gov’ts & the national gov’t both have power The supremacy clause establishes the Constitution (not the states) as the "the supreme law of the land" A state law cannot contradict a national law

32. Federalism

33. The 3/5 Compromise • Problems still remained between the northern & southern states regarding how to count population size (do slaves count?) • The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the issue: • Three-fifths of the slave population could be counted toward representation in the House of Representatives

35. Compromising with Slavery • Despite the contradiction slavery posed, Southerners threatened to leave the USA anytime the slave question was discussed • As a compromise for the South, the slave trade could continue to 1808 & runaway slaves returned “Great as the evil is, a dismemberment of the Union would be worse.” —James Madison

36. The Last Details Including ideas once considered tyrannical: Presidential power to appoint judges & presidential veto power over Congress • In 1787, a final draft included: • Electoral College to vote for the president to “filter the masses” • System of checks & balances among the 3 branches of gov’t • President would serve for 4 years rather than for life • Delegates decided against a Bill of Rights because most state constitutions already had them

38. James Madison helped broker many of the compromises that made the Constitution possible & is referred to as the “father of the Constitution”

39. Key Ideas of the Constitution Only Congress can make laws, declare war, create taxes The “elastic clause” gives Congress implied powers to make laws seen as “necessary & proper” The Senate ratifies treaties & confirms judicial appointments

40. Key Ideas of the Constitution The president can only recommend legislation to Congress but can veto bills The president oversees the bureaucracy

41. Key Ideas of the Constitution The only court mentioned in the Constitution is the Supreme Court

42. The Struggle for Ratification

43. The Struggle for Ratification • The delegates in Philadelphia knew that ratification of the new Constitution would not be easy: • They had no authority to change the Articles of Confederation • They did not inform the public of their ongoing decisions • They fundamentally altered the relationships between the states & the central government

44. Federalists Supported ratification of the Constitution Were well-organized & educated Used Federalist Papers to argue for ratification Had the support of the media Anti-Federalists Against ratification Distrusted of a gov’t that removed power from the hands of the people Claimed the new Constitution favored the upper class Federalists & Anti-Federalists Authored by Madison, Hamilton, & Jay Anti-Federalists argued for more protection of individual liberties “The Constitution is itself a Bill of Rights”

45. Ratification of the Constitution

46. Adding the Bill of Rights If 1776 was the 1st American Revolution…1787 was the 2nd revolution • To win ratification, the Federalists agreed to add a Bill of Rights • With this protection of citizens’ liberty, all 13 states agreed to ratify the Constitution • Constitution became the official the law of the land in 1789 • After bitter fight, most Americans chose to support the Constitution