new country = new gov’t after revolution, question lingering on minds of founding fathers on what...
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New Country = New Gov’tNew Country = New Gov’tAfter Revolution, question lingering on minds of Founding Fathers on what kind of nation to build
Was it going to be a loose confederation of largely independent states?
Was it going to be a tight federation with a national gov’t?
Second Continental Congress appointed a committee of 13 to draft a constitution for a confederated type of government
Issues to be ResolvedIssues to be ResolvedNeed to organize a nation and military
Maintain civil order
Establish international recognition and credit
Defend territory against British
Resolve internal quarrels and competition
New Country = New Gov’tNew Country = New Gov’tFinal draft of Articles of Confederation was approved by Second Continental Congress in 1777 and was sent to states for final ratification
The Articles were the unofficial constitution of the states during most of the Revolutionary War
Articles became the official constitution of the states in 1781
All 13 states had to ratify the Articles of Confederation
Critical Period (1781-1789)Critical Period (1781-1789)Unity
Most Americans shared a common English language and culture – growing sense of one people
Single geographic unit
States had no tradition of hostility or war against each other
Cooperation to win independence
Critical Period Critical Period Disunity
Divided by loyalties to individual states
Lacked close contact – poor transportation
Not interdependent economically
No longer faced common enemy
Federalist vs. Anti-FederalistFederalist vs. Anti-FederalistStrongholds at the End of the Strongholds at the End of the
WarWar
Weaknesses of theWeaknesses of theArticles of Articles of
ConfederationConfederationA unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law].
13 out of 13 to amend.
Representatives were frequently absent.
Could not tax or raise armies.
No executive or judicial branches.
State ConstitutionsState ConstitutionsRepublicanism.
Most had strong governors with veto power.
Most had bicameral legislatures.
Property required for voting.
Some had universal white male suffrage.
Most had a “bill of rights.”
Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.
Occupational Composition of Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesSeveral State Assemblies
in the 1780sin the 1780s
Disputed Territorial ClaimsDisputed Territorial ClaimsBetween Spain & the U. S.:Between Spain & the U. S.:
1783-17961783-1796
Annapolis Convention Annapolis Convention (1786)(1786)
12 representatives from 5 states[NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA]
GOAL address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states.
Not enough states were represented to make any real progress.
Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.
Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-17871787
Daniel Shays
Western MA
Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.