The Republican Experiment

1. The Republican Experiment In the Revolutionary era, Americans translated republican ideas into practical governments on the local and national levels, but they were divided over the relative importance of individual liberty and social order

2. Defining Republican Culture • Americans were divided over the relative importance of individual liberty and social order, the right of private property and the ideal of equality. A series of controversies resulted, shaping the governments created during and after the war for independence.

3. Living in the Shadow of Revolution • American Revolution changed American society in unexpected ways • Social and Political Reform • Changes in the laws of inheritance • More liberal voting qualifications • Better representation for frontier settlers • Separation of church and state • African Americans in the New Republic • During revolution they demanded the natural right to be free • Northern states responded by gradually abolishing slavery • Abolition became a subject of serious debate in the south

4. Living in the Shadow of the Revolution Cont. • The Challenge of Women’s Rights • Women demanded the natural right of equality • They contributed to the creation of a new society by raising children in households where the republican values of freedom and equality were practiced • Women became more assertive in divorcing and in opening their own businesses • But they were still denied their political and legal rights

5. Living in the Shadow of Revolution Cont. 2 • Postponing Full Liberty • Revolution did not entirely abolish slavery or give equal rights to women • But it did introduce an ideology of freedom and equality that inspired future generations

6. The States: Experiments in Republicanism • Blueprints for State Government • People wanted written constitutions that would clearly define the rights of the people and the limits of government power • These constitutions were experiments that provided valuable lessons that were used in constructing the central government • Natural Rights and the State Constitutions • Constitutions guaranteed freedom of religion, speech, and press • Governors generally weakened • Elected assemblies given the most power • Power to the People • Constitution had to be written by a convention specially elected for that purpose • It had to ratified by a referendum of the people • Some Americans thought the early state constitutions were flawed and began to argue for a stronger central government

7. Articles of Confederation • John Dickinson presented a plan for a strong national government in 1776, but it was rejected • He wanted to give all the land beyond the Appalachians to Congress and have each state get equal representation in Congress-large states rejected this proposal • After years of debate, the Continental congress drafted the Articles of Confederation • Gave the central government virtually no power to force the states to do anything • States regarded the Articles with suspicion

8. Articles of Confederation Cont. • Main delay in the ratification of the Articles was the problem of ownership of the western lands • Maryland delayed ratification of the Articles until 1781, when Virginia agreed to renounce claims to the West • Other states followed Virginia’s example, and Congress wound up owning all the land west of the Appalachians

9. Northwest Ordinance: The Confederation’s Major Achievement • Jefferson’s plan • Land Ordinance of 1785 • The Ordinance created a new government for the area north of the Ohio River • The Ordinance created a number of territories, each headed by a Congress appointed governor • Population in the territory increased. When population reached 5,000, voters could elect an assembly. When it reached 60,000 they could write a constitution and apply for statehood. • The Ordinance also contained a bill of rights, and outlawed slavery

10. Strengthening Federal Authority • The Nationalist Critique • New Government had economic problems to deal with • Empty treasury, runaway inflation, massive debts • Congress had no power to tax so they could not fix the problems • Nationalists-Alexander Hamilton and James Madison • Tried to give Congress authority to collect “impost” on imported goods • Proposals raised immediate objections and failed to be put into action • Congress sank further in public esteem • Failed to pay soldiers’ wages • Newburgh Conspiracy • Group of extreme nationalists plotted to use the army to establish a strong regime • Squelched by George Washington • Nationalists considered the Articles to have failed

11. Strengthening The Federal Authority, Cont. • Diplomatic Humiliation • Congress was so weak that other nations insulted America without fear • England kept troops on American soil after the peace treaty • Spain closed New Orleans to American commerce • Jay-Gardoqui Treaty • Congress sent John Jay to Madrid to solve the problem • Instead Jay signed a treaty that ignored the problem in Mississippi in exchange for commercial advantages benefiting the Northeast • People of West and South denounced treaty and forced Congress to reject it

12. “Have We Fought For This?” • The Genius of James Madison • Needed a stronger government • Madison recast American political ideas away from the dogma that only small republics could be free and democratic • This unprepossessing Virginian was the most brilliant American political thinker of his generation • Constitutional Reform • Shay’s Rebellion • Nationalists feared it was America’s slide into anarchy • Crisis atmosphere persuaded many Americans to support a strong, central government

13. Creating the Constitution • Framers • Organizations and Procedure -working in Secrecy -A momentous Decision “Resolved, …that a national Government ought to be established consisting of a supreme Legislative, Executive and Judiciary”

14. Virginia Plan • Proposed by James Madison of Virginia • Consisted of 15 Resolutions • Described the topics covered in the resulting constitution • Drawback: Representation determined by population. Government power given to the larger states. Smaller states (Delaware, Maryland, New Jersey, and New York) found it too radical. On June 15 William Patterson of New Jersey presented the position of the small states.

15. The New Jersey Plan • Outlined the structure of the new federal government • Call for two houses of Congress • Equal representation proportional to their population

16. Compromises The Connecticut Compromise Two Houses-smaller Senate represented equally (2 per state) / House represented upon population. The Three-Fifths Compromise All “free persons” should be counted and so, too, should “three-fifths of all other persons” The Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise Congress was forbidden the power to tax the export of good from any state. Also, it was forbidden to act on the slave trade for at least 20 years.

17. Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification • Federalists and Antifederalists • Antifederalists-those who opposed the Constitution • Distrusted any government removed from direct control of the people • Suspected the new constitution had been written o benefit of the rich and powerful • Federalists • Supported by the news media • Well organized • Delaware was the first to ratify the Constitution • Only states to not ratify the Constitution were North Carolina and Rhode Island • Adding the Bill of Rights • Nationalists had to promise the Antifederalists that they would add a Bill of Rights