The Articles and the Constitution

1. The Articles and the Constitution

2. Not a radical revolution (FRN or RUS) War doesn’t directly affect most people Loyalists exodus- loss of aristocratic class Now- new elite class made up of Patriots Society and War

3. Most states reduce property requirement rights for voting People now addressed as Mr. And Mrs. Employers are bosses, not masters The Spread of =lity

4. Made of continental army members An attempt at establishing a new hierarchy Most don’t take SofC seriously Society of Cincinnati

5. Congregational church still established throughout NE Anglican Church- becomes Protestant Episcopal Church, now disestablished In Vir, Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Separation of Church and State

6. Penn, Quakers, 1775- first anti slavery society 2nd CC- (1774) called for abolition of slave trade Supported by North, not South No states south of Penn embrace abolition movements Still extremely racists laws in N and S Why didn’t the founding father’s jump on abolition band wagon? Early Abolition

7. Didn’t get =lity Still traditional roles Civic Virtue- the notion that democracy depended on the unselfish commitment of each citizen to the public good Republican Motherhood Educational opportunities increase Why? Women

8. Cont. Congress 1776 Ask colonies to become states, through creating constitutions Con. RI just redo colonial charters State Constitutions

9. Mass. – called special convention for drafting, then final draft given to the people for ratification Adopted 1780 Can only be changed upon calling of another convention Mass. Const. Longest lived constitution in the world State Constitutions

10. Contracts that defined power of governments Power is derived from people rather than royal authority Most have bill of rights Most have annual elections for legislatures Weak Judicial and Executive Branches Legislative branch is most democratic State Constitutions

11. Poor back country (westerners) voices now heard Some state capitols moves from coast to interior of state (SC, NY, New Hamp, NC) State Constitutions

12. Loyalists land split into smaller plots Economic Demo is small, but starts quicker than political Demo Manufacturing is strong Non Imp. Acts Rev. War Economic Democracy

13. Commerce Downside- American ships banned from English Ports Upside- New commercial outlets form East Asian Markets China- Ginseng Economic Democracy

14. Generally bad econ situation States are broke Most citizens were better off prior to the war 1786- British Merchants dump surplus goods on colonies Economic Democracy

15. Must set up new government Americans want “natural rights” and despise central authority Conservative Tory element is gone, thus government is open to experimentation Unity?

16. States are basically independent nations AofC drafts begin in 1776 1777- Translate it to French Ratified 1781 Articles of Confederation

17. Issue – Western Lands Penn and Maryland- no holdings beyond Allegheny Mtns. 7 states have generous land grants (based on previous charters) Problem 6 states fought equally for land, why shouldn’t they get it? States without land holdings may have to tax more, while the other 7 states can sell of lands to pay off debts AofC

18. AofC- needed all 13 colonies Maryland held out, until NY gave up some of land Congress says western lands are for public good Territories, would become republican states, and would enter the union on terms of complete =lity Only real powerful act by central government under the AofC- How so? Northwest Ordinance of 1787

19. 13 independent states- linked only to deal with common problems (foreign affairs) No executive branch 1 vote per state Bills require 9 states for ratification Amendments need all 13 states AofC 1st Constitution

20. No power to regulate commerce State establish their own tariffs No power to tax (collect taxes) Set tax quota, asked states to contribute AofC Congress

21. Ex-soldiers demand pay and compensation Congress (in Philly) asked the state for help Congress forced to runway to Princeton GW- convinces soldiers to have faith in new government “Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country” Newburgh Conspiracy

22. Really weak but establishes powers of government TJ comparing AofC to European governments- “Heaven and hell” AofC

23. Old North West Land Ordinance of 1785 Land used to help national debt, divided into townships with set uniform rules Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Two territorial stages, subordinate to Fed Gov. 60,000 then can be admitted as a state No slavery Landmarks in Land Laws

25. Foreign Relations England- not really Won’t make commercial treaty with US Won’t repeal Nav. Laws Closed West Indies (we smuggle around it) North- still strong in Canada Fur Trade Keep Natives on their side Justification= pay our debts and we will leave Americans are outraged, but congress can’t control commerce The World’s Ugly Duckling

26. Spain In control of mouth of Miss. River Also claim coastal area north of Gulf of Mexico Also befriend natives France Demands repayment from war Restricted trade in West Indies The World’s Ugly Duckling

27. North Africa Prior to Rev. we got protection from British Barbary Wars- pirates from Tripoli vs. US Navy Embarrassment for US Hold US navy hostage, demands ransoms The Worlds Ugly Duckling

28. No states are turning in taxes Complain about “King” congress NY taxed firewood from Conn. And cabbages from NJ A Crumbling Nation

29. Mass Backcountry (ex RW) losing farms through foreclosures Led by Daniel Shay, men want state to issue paper money, lighten taxes, and stop property takeovers Mass raises small army to fight rebellion Shay’s Rebellion 1786

30. Mass. Passes debtor relief laws Importance- many realize that in order for republicanism to be prosperous, a stronger central government is needed. Shay’s Rebellion 1786 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.“ TJ

31. Major issues How can we achieve maximum state rights, while at the same time have a strong central government? 1786- Virginia calls for a convention, only 5 states show AH- says congress shall meet one year later in Philly Need for Change

32. Original purpose- deal with commerce issues and amend AofC 55 delegates, none from Rhode Island Done in secret Many considered “Demigods” Philly 1787

33. George Washington- “Sword of the Revolution”- chairman BF- elderly statesmen James Madison- “Father of the Constitution” AH- only member who asked for super powerful national government TJ, John Adams, Thomas Paine in Europe Sam Adams, John Hancock not elected by Mass Demigods

34. All well to do, none are poor Average age 42 19 owned slaves Goal= embrace republicanism, but stop unrestrained democracy Preserve the American experiment Patriots in Philly

35. Edmund Randolph and James Madison Representation in a bicameral congress should be based on population Whom does this plan favor? Virginia Plan

36. William Patterson = representation in a unicameral congress Favored smaller states NJ Plan

37. Senate- equal representation House of Representatives- representation based on population Bicameral legislation The Great Compromise

38. Shay’s rebellion demonstrated that a popularly elected governor can have benefits Now we must establish a executive branch The New Constitution

39. Slavery issue North wants to tax them, not count them as people South wants to count them as people, not tax them Slave Trade- SC and GE still need it, congress will ban the trade in 1807 3/5ths compromise

40. Econ- need unified currency and protection of private property Politically- 3 branches of government, checks and balances, stop mobocracy Direct Democracy is bad President indirect election Federal judges (life terms) picked by president Senate- elected by state legislatures HOR- only place where vote counts Unity

41. Two principles of republicanism Legitimate government is based on consent of people Government shall be limited 17 weeks later Sept 17 1787- 42 signed it Unity

42. Need all 13 states for Constitution to be ratified (no way RI will ratify) Special state conventions- if nine states approve, Const. Will become law of the land The dispute begins

43. AF Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee Supports state rights Backcountry, poorer folks Demand a Bill of Rights Federalists BF,GW Upper class, coastal area More educated, better organized, had more control over media Federalists and Anti Federalists

44. Special elections Feds- support the Const. AF- against it Del, Pen, NJ, GE- first to adopt it Mass- stronghold of AF, but Feds promise Bill of Rights will be the first issue congress addresses Debates in the States

46. Vir, NY, NC, RI Vir largest state, wanted to hold out but it knew it couldn’t stand as independent NY- AH, James Madison, John Jay, create federalists paper Propagandaish material to support constitution Fed paper 10-a republican government can work for large territories NC, RI won’t ratify until months after government is running Four states didn’t really want to join, but had to in order to survive. The Four Laggard States

47. Roughly ¼ of adult white males voted for delegates to the ratifying conventions By embedding the doctrine of self rule in a self limiting system of checks and balances among three branches, the Const. Reconciled conflicting principles of liberty and order It elevates the ideals of Revolution, while at the same time setting boundaries on them. A Conservative Triumph