Foundations of the Foundations of the ConstitutionConstitution

In the beginning…In the beginning… 1750s-Great Britain was in debt and 1750s-Great Britain was in debt and

searching for new revenue. searching for new revenue.

The colonies paid little in taxes and had The colonies paid little in taxes and had just been defended by the British during just been defended by the British during the French and Indian Warthe French and Indian War

The colonies, however, had lived under The colonies, however, had lived under self rule for over 100 years and were not self rule for over 100 years and were not willing to give that up.willing to give that up.

RevolutionRevolution The Declaration of The Declaration of

Independence was based on Independence was based on the idea that government the idea that government was a social contract was a social contract between the people and WE between the people and WE have a right to break it when have a right to break it when OUR natural rights are OUR natural rights are violated.violated.

““The foundation of our The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance gloomy age of Ignorance and Suspicions, but at an and Suspicions, but at an Epoch when the rights of Epoch when the rights of mankind were better mankind were better understood and more clearly understood and more clearly define, than at any former define, than at any former period.”-George Washingtonperiod.”-George Washington

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Adopted in 1781, the Articles was the Adopted in 1781, the Articles was the first government of the new United first government of the new United States.States.– The Articles of Confederation was designed The Articles of Confederation was designed

around the idea of a confederation (a loose around the idea of a confederation (a loose collection of states) where the states collection of states) where the states retained the power and the national retained the power and the national government had only specific and limited government had only specific and limited powers.powers.

– The Articles was a league of friendship and The Articles was a league of friendship and an attempt to prevent the same government an attempt to prevent the same government the Americans rebelled from.the Americans rebelled from.

Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Weakness of Weakness of Articles:Articles:1. No executive 1. No executive branchbranch2. Central 2. Central government could government could not collect taxes not collect taxes (and states didn’t (and states didn’t have to pay them)have to pay them)

3. No federal 3. No federal judiciary to settle judiciary to settle interstate disputesinterstate disputes4. Unanimous 4. Unanimous consent of states consent of states to pass to pass amendmentsamendments5. 1 state-1 vote5. 1 state-1 vote6. No regulation of 6. No regulation of interstate or interstate or foreign commerceforeign commerce

Other post-Revolution Other post-Revolution issuesissues

British refused to leave forts in the British refused to leave forts in the northnorth

Indians being supplied by British to raid Indians being supplied by British to raid the frontierthe frontier

Barbary pirates raiding American Barbary pirates raiding American shippingshipping

America shut out of British West IndiesAmerica shut out of British West Indies Huge war debtHuge war debt Conflicting state trade arrangementsConflicting state trade arrangements

Shay’s Rebellion-America’s first Civil Shay’s Rebellion-America’s first Civil WarWar

After war, American’s After war, American’s buying up luxury goods on buying up luxury goods on credit. British began credit. British began demanding money back, demanding money back, British leaned on importers, British leaned on importers, who leaned on who leaned on shopkeepers, who leaned shopkeepers, who leaned on farmers (most of whom on farmers (most of whom were veterans of the were veterans of the Revolution) who had no Revolution) who had no money. money.

Farmers that lacked money, Farmers that lacked money, were put in debtors prison, were put in debtors prison, sometimes for life.sometimes for life.

In Massachusetts, the state In Massachusetts, the state government raised taxes to government raised taxes to pay off war debt (but where pay off war debt (but where would money come from?)would money come from?)

Farmers were hardest hit, so Farmers were hardest hit, so they banned together and they banned together and rebelled, closing courthouses rebelled, closing courthouses and burning records of debt. and burning records of debt. As the rebellion grew, the As the rebellion grew, the people looked to national people looked to national government, which could do government, which could do nothing because of Articlesnothing because of Articles

Impact of Shay’s rebellionImpact of Shay’s rebellion Following rebellion, Washington was Following rebellion, Washington was

quoted as saying, “What a triumph for quoted as saying, “What a triumph for our enemies to find that we are our enemies to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves.”incapable of governing ourselves.”

And, “Good God! who besides a …And, “Good God! who besides a …Briton predicted them! were these Briton predicted them! were these people wiser than others, or did they people wiser than others, or did they judge of us from the corruption, and judge of us from the corruption, and depravity of their own hearts? The depravity of their own hearts? The latter I am persuaded was the case, latter I am persuaded was the case, and that notwithstanding the boasted and that notwithstanding the boasted virtue of America, we are far gone in virtue of America, we are far gone in every thing ignoble and bad.”every thing ignoble and bad.”

Calls for a convention to Calls for a convention to reviserevise the the Articles went out, and on May 25, Articles went out, and on May 25, 1787 delegates began working on the 1787 delegates began working on the Constitution.Constitution.

By the way, Shay fled to Vermont, By the way, Shay fled to Vermont, pardoned in 1788, received his pardoned in 1788, received his promised $20 a month pension by promised $20 a month pension by 1820 and died in 1825.1820 and died in 1825.

Food for ThoughtFood for Thought

Washington also said of the Washington also said of the Revolution– “At this auspicious Revolution– “At this auspicious period, the United States came into period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own.”entirely their own.”