early american history: articles of confederation-constitution
TRANSCRIPT
Early American History: Articles of Confederation-Constitution
SSUSH5 The student will explain specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the United States Constitution. a. Explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays’ Rebellion led to a call for a stronger central government. b. Evaluate the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the debate on ratification of the Constitution as put forth in The Federalist concerning form of government, factions, checks and balances, and the power of the executive, including the roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison. c. Explain the key features of the Constitution, specifically the Great Compromise, separation of powers (influence of Montesquieu), limited government, and the issue of slavery. d. Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of individual and states’ rights. e. Explain the importance of the Presidencies of George Washington and John Adams; include the Whiskey Rebellion, non-intervention in Europe, and the development of political parties (Alexander Hamilton).
Aftermath of the Revolutionary War
Revolutionary War
• Ended by Treaty of Paris (1783)
• Government:– 2nd Continental Congress
– Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
a. Explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays’ Rebellion
led to a call for a stronger central government.
Development of the Articles
• Plan drafted by John Dickinson– Supported by Benjamin Franklin
• Articles of Confederation presented to Congress on July 12th, 1776– Adopted by Congress - November 15th, 1777– All states had agreed by 1781 – took effect– Guaranteed each state “sovereignty, freedom
and independence”
Articles of Confederation
• Congress of the Confederation– Members appointed by state legislatures– Each state had one vote
• Roles of the Congress– Conduct foreign affairs– Make treaties– Declare war– Coin money– Establish post offices
Weaknesses in the Articles
• Laws were hard to pass– Needed 9 of 13 states to approve– Amendments needed all 13 to approve
• Congress could not force the states to obey decisions or laws
• Congress could not tax or raise an army– Printed money that was not backed by specie
The Land Problem
• Many states had land claims that extended to Pacific Ocean– Land = money
• Western territory of states was surrendered to Congress
Land Ordinance of 1785
• Western land – “Northwest Territory”
• Divided into townships
• Townships divided into 640 acre lotsDID YOU KNOW: Each township had
one lot reserved for a school. This was the first federal aid for public education.
Typical Township
School
For public buildings/ veterans
Northwest Ordinance
• Established system of government for the Northwest territories
• Banned slavery in the territory
Also known as the Land Ordinance of 1787
Road to Statehood:
3-5 states would be created out of the land
When population reaches 5,000 eligible voters, it can elect a bicameral legislature and send a nonvoting member to Congress
When population reaches 60,000 free residents, it becomes eligible for statehood and can draft a state constitution.
Congress must then approve the new state
Shays’ Rebellion (1786)
• Led by Daniel Shays in Western Massachusetts
• Farmers protested against high taxes– Seized courthouses and closed down debtors
courts/property auctions
• Concerns: National government could not deal with issues that arise
Call for Reform
• Congress called for a Constitutional Convention
• Purpose: Revise the Articles of Confederation
• Began May 14, 1787
Constitutional Convention
• Met in secret– Why?
• Agreed to replace Articles with a new document– Would feature a stronger national government
Virginia Plan
• First proposed plan of government
• Major parts:– Bicameral Legislature (Congress)
• Representation based upon population or money• Lower house elected by voters, upper house by lower
– Executive• Chosen by Congress
– Judiciary• Chosen by Congress
Bicameral: Legislature with 2 separate parts, or houses
New Jersey Plan
• Counter proposal
• Major parts:– Unicameral Legislature (Congress)
• Equal representation
– Executive (more than 1)• Chosen by Congress, removed by state governors
– Judiciary (Supreme Court)• Chosen by Congress
Unicameral: Legislature with only 1 part (or house)
Virginia Plan v. New Jersey PlanVIRGINIA• Bicameral Congress
• Representation based on population/$
• 1 executive chosen by Congress
• Supported by large states
NEW JERSEY• Unicameral Congress
• Representation based on equality
• More than 1 executive chosen by Congress
• Supported by small states
Features of the Constitution
c. Explain the key features of the Constitution, specifically the Great Compromise, separation of powers (influence of Montesquieu), limited
government, and the issue of slavery.
Constitutional Compromises
• Great (or Connecticut)
• 3/5
• Commerce and Slave Trade
Great Compromise
• Debate over Representation
• Result:– Bicameral Congress– Upper Chamber: Senate– Lower Chamber: House of Representatives
Also called the Connecticut Compromise
SENATE• Smaller
• 2 per state– Equality!
HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES• Larger
• Based on population
DID YOU KNOW: The Connecticut Compromise has also been called the “Great Compromise,” because without it we may not have had a new Constitution!
Great Compromise
Issue of Slavery
• Since population counts, what about slaves?
• Slave-holding states
• Non slave-holding states
Three-Fifths Compromise
Compromise by James Madison:
• All free persons counted, “all other persons” (i.e. slaves) count as five slaves equal three free people in terms of population.
• Used for both representation and taxes
Three-Fifths Compromise
Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise
• Congress had the power to regulate trade– Why could this be dangerous?
• Tariffs?– Export duties not allowed– Import duties allowed
• Slavery?– Importation of slaves allowed until at least 1807– Runaway slaves must be returned South
Remember, the population of the North was greater than that of the South. Many in the southern states were worried that the new Constitution would not protect them.
Separation of Powers
• Three Branches of Government
• Influence of Montesquieu– Contained in “Spirit of Laws” (1754)
Separation of Powers
Limited Government
• Government is not all powerful
• The government must operate under certain laws and protect the rights of both people and the states
Ticket out the Door
• Name one compromise, tell what it did and why you think it is important.
• Why do you think the members of the Constitutional Convention agreed to keep all of their discussions secret?
Federalists Anti-Federalists
b. Evaluate the major arguments of the anti-Federalists and Federalists during the
debate on ratification of the Constitution as put forth in The Federalist concerning form of government, factions, checks and balances, and the power of the executive, including the
roles of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
Federalists
• People who favored ratification of the new Constitution
• Supported a strong national government– Reasons:
• Needed one for security/prosperity
Federalists
• Important Federalists:– James Madison– John Jay– Alexander Hamilton
Anti-Federalists
• People who were opposed to ratification of the new Constitution
• Opposed to a strong, central government– Reasons:
• Illegal – Convention was only to change Articles• Would destroy state’s rights• New gov’t resembled a monarchy
Anti-Federalists
• Important Anti-Federalists:– George Mason
– Patrick Henry
– George Clinton
– Richard Henry Lee
The Federalist
• Series of 85 essays– Written between the fall of 1787
and spring of 1788– By James Madison, Alexander
Hamilton and John Jay
• Most cited essays:– #10 – by James Madison– #51 – by James Madison– #84 – by Alexander Hamilton
Also known as “The Federalist Papers”
DID YOU KNOW: The Federalist Papers were written under the pseudonym Publius.
DID YOU KNOW: Anti-federalist writings were later collected and published as the “Anti-Federalist Papers.”
Arguments about form of government
FEDERALISTS• Stronger national
government was necessary for success
• The national government should have most of the power
ANTI-FEDERALISTS• Stronger national
government was just as bad as living under a king
• The states should have most of the power
Arguments about factions
FEDERALISTS• Would be easy to
handle any problems that come up
ANTI-FEDERALISTS• Factions would form
due to long terms for Representatives and Senators
• Factions would not help the common people– People only vote on
Representatives
Arguments about checks and balances
FEDERALISTS• Balancing powers
between different people will make sure none become too powerful
ANTI-FEDERALISTS• Most of the powers
should be in the state to be closer to the people to keep anyone from becoming too powerful
Arguments about executive power
FEDERALISTS• Constitution favored
election of rich
• No bill of rights to protect poorer and uneducated men
ANTI-FEDERALISTS• Too much power in
the hands of one man
• Executive is not elected by the people
Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)
• First Secretary of the Treasury
• One of Washington’s closest advisors
• Influential Federalist
James Madison (1751-1836)
• “Father of the Constitution”
• “Architect” of the Constitution
• Influential Federalist
Ratification
Formal Approval of the Constitution
Ratification
• Each state had to vote to approve the Constitution
The Bill of Rights
d. Analyze how the Bill of Rights serves as a protector of
individual and states’ rights.
Bill of Rights
• 1st Ten Amendments to the U.S. Constitution
• Why were these passed?
As Protector of Individual Rights..
Amendment X
The powers not delegated to the United States by the Constitution, nor prohibited by it to the states, are reserved to the states respectively, or to the people.
As Protector of States’ Rights..
What does this mean?
If a right is NOT given to the federal government, then it belongs to the states.
For example:
Congress is not given the right to give licenses to people – therefore, the states are the ones that do it. Each state can have it’s own individual laws.
America Under the Constitution
e. Explain the importance of the Presidencies of George Washington
and John Adams; include the Whiskey Rebellion, non-intervention in Europe,
and the development of political parties (Alexander Hamilton).
George Washington (1732-1799)
• President of Constitutional Convention
• War hero
• Unanimously elected first President of the United States under the U.S. Constitution (1789)
President of the United States: 1789-1797 (1st)
French & Indian War Revolutionary War
Washington’s Administration
• Vice President: John Adams
Cabinet:
• Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson
• Secretary of War: Henry Knox
• Secretary of the Treasury: Alexander Hamilton
• Attorney General: Edmund Randolph
Created by Congress – not mentioned in Constitution
Major Events of Washington’s Presidency
• Creation of Cabinet (1789)
• Creation of Supreme Court / Court System– Judiciary Act of 1789
• Monetary Policy– Government would pay off all of its debts &
assume much of states’ debts– Bank of the United States (National Bank) - 1791
• Jay’s Treaty
• Whiskey Rebellion
Judiciary Act of 1789
• Established federal court system– District court in each state– Supreme Court
• 6 justices
• Defined the powers/jurisdiction of each court
Bank of the United States
• Purpose: – To provide stability to the financial system– To make credit available
Building that housed the First Bank of the United States in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
Argument over the Bank of the U.S.
Loose Construction• Supported by
Alexander Hamilton
• Congress could do anything UNLESS the Constitution said otherwise– “Necessary and
Proper” clause
Strict Construction• Supported by Thomas
Jefferson
• Congress could ONLY do what the Constitution specifically stated
Jay’s Treaty (1793)
• Goal: Avoid another war w/ Britain– Solve issues remaining from Revolution
• Main Results:– British would leave Northwest Territory in 1 year – Small US ships could trade in British West Indies – Rejection of American position on neutral rights
• Searches of American vessels/Impressment of sailors would continue
– No compensation for American ships/slaves taken
• Causes:– 1791 – Congress passes a tax on whiskey
• Rebellion:– 1794 – 6,000 men attacked U.S. Marshals
attempting to enforce the tax– Washington leads army of 13,000 – rebellion
ends
• Results:– Shows power of the federal government
Whiskey Rebellion
grain whiskeyEasier to transport
Flags carried by members of the rebellion
Non-intervention in Europe
• U.S. foreign policy
• First stated in George Washington’s Farewell Address
“Europe has a set of primary interests, which to us have none, or a very remote relation. Hence she must be engaged in frequent
controversies, the causes of which are essentially foreign to our concerns. Hence therefore it must be unwise to implicate ourselves,
by artificial ties, in the ordinary vicissitudes of her politics, or the ordinary combinations and collisions of her friendships, or
enmities. . . . Why, by interweaving our destiny with that of any part of Europe, entangle our peace and prosperity in the toils of
European Ambition, Rivalship, Interest, Humour, or Caprice?”
Development of Political Parties
• People divided over their view of the future of America – Democratic-Republicans
• Led by Thomas Jefferson• Strict Constructionists• Favored farmers, poor
– Federalists • Led by Alexander Hamilton• Loose Constructionists• Favored industry, rich
Development of Political Parties
FEDERALISTS• America should be
run by wealthy & educated
• Favored in the North
• Favored industry/ urban areas
DEMOCRATIC-REPUBLICANS• Farmers and middle class
could be trusted to run country
• Favored in the South
• Favored rural areas
Alexander Hamilton (1755-1804)
• First Secretary of the Treasury– Founded Bank of
U.S.
• Influential Federalist– Believed in rule by
rich & powerful
Thomas Jefferson (1755-1804)
• Third President of the United States
• Influential Republican– Believed in rule by
the everyday man– Feared industry
John Adams (1735-1826)
• Politician from Massachusetts
• Served as Vice President under Washington– Handpicked by
Washington to be his successor
• Federalist
President of the United States: 1797-1801 (2nd)
Adams’ Administration
• Vice President: Thomas Jefferson
• Administration was a disaster– Many Federalists were still loyal to Alexander
Hamilton, not John Adams– Vice President Jefferson and President
Adams did not get along
XYZ Affair (1798)
• In response to Jay’s Treaty (1793), France began seizing American ships
• Negotiations – Three men sent to France to make peace
• Charles Pinckney, John Marshall, Elbridge Gerry
– Negotiations w/ France broke down• French officials demanded bribes
DID YOU KNOW: After the XYZ Affair, the U.S. and France fought a short, undeclared naval war.
Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
• Passed in response to undeclared war with France
• Purpose:– protect the U.S. from foreign influences
Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
• What it did:– Lengthened citizenship residence requirement
from 5 to 14 yrs.– Gave President authority to deport any
“dangerous” foreigner– Illegal to “print, write, or speak in a scandalous or
malicious way against the government”
• Result:– Weakened Republicans
Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions (1798)
• Written by T. Jefferson & J. Madison– Democratic-Republicans
• State legislatures in KY and VA argued the Alien and Sedition Acts were unconstitutional– Therefore, states did not have to obey these
laws
Election of 1800
• Jefferson
vs.
• Adams
• Republicans win
• “Constitutional Crisis”
Election of 1800
• T. Jefferson and Aaron Burr receive the same number of electoral college votes– 73 each
• In case of tie = House of Reps. Votes– Federalists hoped to cause confusion by
supporting Burr– Hamilton disliked Jefferson but hated Burr
• Gives support to Jefferson• Jefferson officially selected president just a few weeks
before inauguration
Meant to be Vice
President
Result of the Election of 1800
• Twelfth Amendment– Separate vote in Electoral College for Pres. & VP
– In case of tie/no majority:• House votes on Pres.• Senate votes on Vice Pres.
– Vice President must be eligible to serve as Pres.
Each state with 1 vote