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The 1780s

CHAPTER 8 NEW BEGINNINGS

CREATED EQUAL

JONES WOOD MAY BORSTELMANN RUIZ

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“…to see rising in America an empire of liberty, and a prospect of two or three hundred millions of freemen, without one noble or one king among them.”

John Adams, 1786

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TIMELINE1786 Shays’ Rebellion

Virginia’s “Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom”1787 Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia

U.S. Constitution signedNorthwest Territory createdThe Federalist, Hamilton, Jay, and Madison

1788 U.S. Constitution ratified1789 Washington elected President1789 Judiciary Act of 17891790 First U.S. Census

Congress restricts citizenship to “free white persons”Chief Little Turtle’s victory over U.S. troops

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NEW BEGINNINGS OverviewBeating Swords into PlowsharesCompeting for Control of the

Mississippi ValleyCreditors and DebtorsDrafting a New ConstitutionRatification and the Bill of Rights

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The Spread of Smallpox Across North America 1775-1782

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BEATING SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES

Will the Army Seize Control?The Society of CincinnatiRenaming the LandscapeAn Independent Culture

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BEATING SWORDS INTO PLOWSHARES

The questions facing the new republic:Who benefits the most?Who directs the new republic?With whom will the power rest?Who will hold the authority?What will the new cultural patterns be?

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Will the Army Seize Control? Rumblings from the military about pay. Would it be half pay for life? A duty of 5% on imported goods to raise money for the new republic.

The Nationalists: The income would benefit the Confederacy and the government would assume control of paying the military wages.

February, 1783: Horatio Gates petitions military to wait, if their demands are not met, veiled threats of a military coup.

March 15, 1783: Washington meets with officers and dissuades them from any action.

April, 1783: Congress assures back wages for officers, and guarantees full pay to officers for the next 5 years.

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The Society of CincinnatiRoman general Cincinnatus: his sword for a plowMay, 1783: General Knox announces formation of

the Society named after the Roman.A whole month’s wages to joinHereditary membership

Considerations on the Society or Order of Cincinnati…with Remarks on Its Consequences to the Freedom and Happiness of the Republic, Judge Aedanus Burke

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Renaming the LandscapeAmerica renames its towns, streets, schools

etc. to rid itself of reminders of royalty and to honor its war heroes and American heroes.Dunmore to Shenandoah (Indian name)Christopher Columbus rememberedCincinnati in honor of the SocietyWar heroes: Lafayette, Pulaski, Steuben,

Washington

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An Independent CultureAmerican Spelling Book, Webster (1783)Copyright laws for American literary works1784: First map of the U.S.Geography Made Easy, MorseBartram’s nature bookNotes on the State of Virginia, Jefferson (1785)Letters from an American Farmer, Crèvecoeur (1782)1785: Society for the Promotion of the Manumission Slaves

(Jay and Hamilton)

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COMPETING FOR CONTROL OF THE MISSISSIPPI VALLEY

Disputed Territory: The Old Southwest

American Claims and Indian Resistance

“We Are Now Masters”: The Old Northwest

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

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Disputed Territory: The Old Southwest

Spanish territory:Louisiana, West

Florida, East Florida, St. Augustine,

Pensacola, New Orleans, Natchez, St. Louis

The lower Mississippi

American encroachmentThe 31st parallel10,000 settlers near

KnoxvilleOhio River between

Lexington and LouisvilleNashvilleEnglish granted rights to

Americans to navigate the Mississippi American encroachment

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American Claims and Indian Resistance

Georgia: Yazoo region and Gov. Walton’s sales1796: TennesseeVirginia and Carolinas expand westNative Americans between the Spanish and

Americans Creeks choose leader of European-American descent Cherokee warrior Dragging Canoe and the Chicamuagas

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A Native American Ohio Before 1785

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“We Are Now Masters”: The Old Northwest

“We are now Masters of this Island” General Schuyler to the IroquoisTreaties between Americans and Iroquois and Ohio

Valley tribes

Western land acquisitionsLand Ordinance of 1785

Jefferson’s proposal and the final outcome

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The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Law determining how territories north of the Ohio River would be governedImmediate prohibition of slavery north of the Ohio River; yet

deportation of runaway slaves allowedOnly 3 to 5 new statesIncreased property requirements for citizens to vote or hold

officeTerritorial officals: governor, secretary, and 3 judgesBasic rights for residents: religious freedom, trial by jury,

access to common-law judicial proceedingsFull entry into union as equal states

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CREDITORS AND DEBTORSNew Sources of Wealth“Tumults in New England”The Massachusetts Regulation

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New Sources of Wealth Britain imposes restrictions on trade with West

IndiesAmerican merchants explore new markets with the

Russians, Hawaii, ChinaThe speculative market

The wealthy buy loan certificates, paper notes, and wartime securities at low rates

Wealth concentrates in a minorityThe wealthy minority sees opportunities to influence power

by becoming involved in politics

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“Tumults in New England”With resentment over heavy taxes to pay

interest on debts the demand for new paper money

7 states issue paper money for debt reliefThe lack of the Caribbean market stems the

cash flow and debt cases riseRhode Island’s currency law

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The Massachusetts Regulation

1786: Massachusetts imposes direct tax on citizens to be paid in hard cash

Shay’s Rebellion (Daniel Shays)1786: New England Regulators march to close the courts in

Hampshire County and WorcesterAttempt to seize the federal arsenal in Springfield but are

stopped by a private militiaNext election they succeed in voting out the old governor

and electing John Hancock

A plus for advocates of a strong national government

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DRAFTING A NEW CONSTITUTION

Philadelphia: A Gathering of Like-Minded Men

Compromise and ConsensusQuestions of RepresentationSlavery: The Deepest Dilemma

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Philadelphia: A Gathering of Like-Minded Men

May, 1787: Constitutional Convention to consider commercial matters and improve the Articles of Confederation

Representatives from 12 states debate the Constitution. Rhode Island doesn’t attend. 55 white, male, well-educated delegates.

An “excess of democracy”? A strong central government would better handle finances and be creditor friendly

Representation. Proportional?Unicameral or bicameral?Balancing the branches

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Compromise and ConsensusA diverse gathering of political

and philosophical differencesWho has the power to elect?

Committee on Postponed MattersElectoral CollegeState legislatures set voting methods

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Questions of RepresentationMadison and the Virginia Plan

3 separate branches, bicameral with House selected by popular vote and Senate by state legislators

Paterson and the New Jersey PlanUnicameral, each state equal vote

Franklin’s committee works a compromiseSenate: each state 2 seats; House: proportional to state population

National Census needed every 10 yearsShould slaves count? The three-fifths formula: Every 5 slaves = 3

free people

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Slavery: The Deepest Dilemma

Even in light of heavy opposition to slavery, Southern planter delegates refuse any regulation or curtailed slavery.

Compromise: In exchange for for giving Congress the right to regulate international shipping, the convention allows slavery importation for at least 20 years.

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RATIFICATION AND THE BILL OF RIGHTS

The Campaign for Ratification Dividing and Conquering the

Anti-FederalistsAdding a Bill of Rights

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The Campaign for Ratification

September, 1787: Confederation Congress accepts proposed Constitution and submits it to states for ratification

Pennsylvania takes 3 months to ratify December: Delaware, New Jersey and Georgia ratify January: Connecticut ratifies Federalists and Anti-Federalists The Federalist: Publius (Hamilton and Madison) and Jay

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Dividing and Conquering the Anti-Federalists

A diverse coalition of Anti-Federalists oppose the new Constitution and a strong national government that threatened local politics

July, 1788: Through coalition building and “politicking” the Federalists get ratification from the remaining states: Massachusetts, Maryland, South Carolina, New Hampshire

Ratification by 9 states makes the new Constitution the law of the land

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Adding a Bill of RightsDrawn up by Madison

Motivated to ensure his election to the House, and to prevent a second national convention

Initially 12 proposed amendments focusing on individual rights

Three-fourths of the states ratify 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights