Download - Articles of confederation
Articles of Confederation
One law making body called the CongressStates sent representatives to Congress
All states had 1 vote in CongressA super majority to get laws passed
No PresidentNo Courts
Under the Articles
• The Federal Government could :• Declare war and make peace• Raise an army• Make and borrow $$• Send and receive diplomats• Control Indians affairs• Est. post offices
Congress Could NOT:
• Regulate trade between states• Pass taxes• Enforce a law• Act directly or defend a state• Stop states from issuing $$$
• The Articles succeeded in making the United States legitimate –
• Northwest Ordinance 1785
• Financial Problems• Foreign Problems• Britain• Spain• Indians• Barbary Pirates• Domestic Problems- Shay’s Rebellion
The Constitutional Convention
• James Madison-Father of the Constitution• Principles of the Constitution• Federalism• Popular Sovereignty• Separation of Power• Checks and Balances• Limited Power of Government
A Series of Compromises
• Representation—how would states be represented??
• 2 Plans: Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan• Bicameral House• Upper House• Lower House
Slaves??
• Should Slaves be Counted?• 3/5 Compromise
Who would elect the President?
• Founders did not want one faction to ever be able to control and win the election
• States wanted some power• Example of Indirect Democracy• Electoral College
Federalist vs. Anti Federalists
• Federalists Papers-Hamilton, Madison, Jay• Bill of Rights• 1st 6th
• 2nd 7th
• 3rd 8th• 4th 9th
• 5th 10th
George Washington
• 1st Cabinet• Sec of State-Jefferson• Sec of Treasury-Hamilton• Sec of War-Knox• Judiciary Act of 1789 • The Assumption Bill and the Creation of the
National Bank-Excise Tax and Protective Tariff• Whiskey Rebellion
1st Political Parties
• The Federalists Republicans Hamilton Jefferson Reading the Constitution
The Nature of ManFed. Vs. State Gov.
Business, $$$, industryLeaders: Who should govern?
• The Federalists The RepublicansTaxes
Farmers and rural lifeCities
Foreign AffairsVoters
Foreign Affairs-England & France
• Establishing legitimacy with Great Britain was a major goal but difficult to achieve.
• In 1793 England and France to go war• Washington issued a Proclamation of
Neutrality (Jefferson resigned)• France-Edmond Genet• Searching and Seizing & Impressment-England
Jay’s Treaty
• The withdrawal of British soldiers from posts in the American West
• A commission to be established to settle outstanding border issues between the U.S. and Canada
• A commission to be established to resolve American losses in British ship seizures and Loyalist losses during the Revolutionary war
• Missing from the treaty was a provision for the British to refrain from the arrest of American ships and impressment of American seamen.
• Jay's Treaty significance- tremendously controversial - Washington was admired man, but he came under sharp attack during this time.
• Jay resigned from the Supreme Court and later remarked that he could have traveled the length of the country by the light of bonfires burning his effigy.
• Most historians acknowledge the Treaty's shortcomings, but believe that it was the best that could be hoped for given America's lack of international clout at the time.
Pinckney’s Treaty
• Spain recognized U.S. borders at the Mississippi and the 31st parallel (the northern border of Florida, a Spanish possession)
• Spain granted Americans the right to deposit goods for shipment at New Orleans.
Farewell Address
• Warned against Political Parties• Warned us against permanent alliances• Remain neutral
2nd President John Adams
• Superb statement but poor politician• Had to deal with France• XYZ Affair-three Frenchmen gave the United States an
offer or more precisely a deal – the deal stated that if the United States paid France a sum of ten million dollars, then the French would stop seizing the ships that belonged to the United States.
• Infuriated America and led to an undeclared naval war with France
• Ultimately France chose to negotiate, averting war
Alien and Sedition Act
• enacted in response to the XYZ Affair, and were aimed at French and Irish immigrants, who were considered subversives.
• Alien Act--empowered the president to arrest and deport dangerous aliens
• Sedition Act-- made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
• declared that states could nullify federal laws that the states considered unconstitutional.
Election of 1800Revolution of 1800?
• Midnight Appointments