The Constitution and New Republic 1776 - 1800

1. The Constitution and New Republic 1776 - 1800 Chapter 6

2. Philadelphia Convention • Unpopular Government • 1783 members of Confederation Congress withdrew from Philadelphia to escape army vets • difficult to secure a quorum to sign a treaty ending the war • 1780s wealthy and powerful groups demand a national government capable of dealing with problems that effected them

3. Issues • different taxes in different states, desire for one national duty • wealthy individuals wanted an end to paper money • large property owners looked for protection from mobs • “Indian Menace”

4. Constitutional Convention • General Info • Lasted from May to Sept. 1787 • fifty-five men • all states except Rhode Island • average age was 44 (young!) • represented property interests • feared “turbulence and follies” of democracy • products of Revolution

5. Alexander Hamilton (NY) • Aide to General Washington • Unhappy with A of C • Called for National Convention (w. James Madison)

6. George Washington (VA) • important figure • initially did not want to join the cause • Shays Rebellion freaked him out! • Support gave the meeting credibility • Unanimously chosen to preside over convention

7. James Madison (VA) • 36 years old • idea of a national government • two houses: “upper” and “lower” (a.k.a. Virginia Plan) • credited (by Brinkley) as being most important cast member • created plans to resolve issue of sovereignty and limit power

8. Edmund Randolph (VA) • Older delegate who Madison spoke through • credited with proposing three branches of Government • idea originated from Baron de Montesquieu (France)

9. Ben Franklin • Oldest delegate: 81 • “heated” arguments • Served to sooth the delegates (pg. 197 quote)

10. Thomas Jefferson (VA) • In France at time of convention • Wrote continual letters to almost every member • Viewed Shay’s Rebellion differently than most, including Washington. • “a little rebellion, now and then, is a good thing, and as necessary in the political world as storms in the physical” Brinkley, pg. 196

11. Politics of Convention • Each member has a single vote • Simple majority, doesn’t need to be unanimous

12. Issues • Representation (Small v. Large States) • “heated” disagreements • Grand committee • Single representative • “Great Compromise” • Two houses • “lower” based on population (House of Reps) • “upper” equal representation (Senate)

13. Issues Cont’d • South (v. North) and Slavery (representation) • No tax on exports (cotton, tobacco) • No tax on slaves more than $10 • No authority to stop slave trade for 20 years • Concentrated Authority (Federal v. States Rights) • Separation of powers • 3 branches: executive, judicial, legislative

14. Issues Cont’d • Sovereignty • State and federal • Power • US Constitution would be “supreme law” • Federal government would have the power to: • Tax • Big difference from Articles of Confederation • Unresolved • No definition of citizenship • Absence of individual rights

15. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists • Ratification • Convention changed the rules • Federalists • Supporters of the Constitution • Organized • Eminent leaders • Federalist Papers • Feared chaos

16. Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Cont’d • Anti-Federalists • People against Ratification • Believed Constitution corrupted principles of Revolution • No government could be trusted • Ratification (continued) • States

17. Washington’s Presidency • The First President • Received the votes of all presidential electors • Bill of Rights • Even people originally against a Bill of Rights (Madison) believed it was important to legitimize gov’t • Congress approved First TWELVE Amendments • Ten of them were ratified by the states by the end of 1791

18. Washington’s Presidency Cont’d • Bill of Rights Cont’d • 9 placed limits on Congress by forbidding it to take away human rights • One (#10) reserve to the states all powers except those specifically withheld from them or delegated to the federal government

19. Washington’s Presidency Cont’d • Washington’s Cabinet • Henry Knox= Secretary of War • Alexander Hamilton = Secretary of Treasury • Edmund Randolph= Attorney General • Thomas Jefferson= Secretary of State

20. Hamilton’s Financial Program • Elitist Prospective • Support the wealthy and powerful • “Funding the Debt” • Wanted to create a large national debt • National Bank • Provide loans and currency to business • Safe place for federal funds

21. Hamilton’s Financial Program Cont’d • Revenue • Lands in the west • Excise taxes • Liquors • Imports • Dissent • Bonds • Assumption Bill • Bank Bill

22. Hamilton’s Financial Program Cont’d • Results • Won support of influential segments of the population • Large profits • Manufactures benefitted from taxes on imports • Small farmers and average people saw Federalist program as only benefitting a small group of wealthy elites

23. Institutionalized Factionalism (AKA Early Political Parties) • Federalists • Base Philosophies • Strong central, national government • Complex economy • World power • Enlightened ruling class • Horrified by French Revolution • Alexander Hamilton

24. Institutionalized Factionalism (AKA Early Political Parties) • Republicans • Not connected to the modern Republican Party which was founded in 1850 • Base Philosophies • Organized to counter growing tyrannical structure • Modest central gov’t • Rural agrarian • Most power to states and people • Supported French Revolution • James Madison and Thomas Jefferson • TJ identified himself as a farmer • Fearful of advance industrial economy

25. Foreign and Domestic Difficulties • Fallout • Whiskey tax • Hamilton urges Washington to raise a united militia from 3 states • 15,000 troops led by Washington himself • Message: no more rebellions • Native Americans • Land • Many in NW and SW still in Alliance w/ British and Spanish • Ordinances of 1784-87 lead to border conflicts • Constitution left the question unanswered over who was in control of the West

26. Foreign and Domestic Difficulties Cont’d • Native Americans Cont’d • Rights • “not taxed” • Regulate commerce • not “foreign Nations” • No representation • Maintaining Neutrality • French at War • 1789 new French gov’t went to war with GB and it’s allies • US hopes to preserve Neutrality

27. John Adam’s Presidency • Strange Election • Adams nominated as head of Federalists • Deterioration of French Relations • Jay’s and Pinckney’s treaties • Maintained neutrality • Established NW sovereignty • XYZ Affair • Led to an undeclared war against France • Navy won a series of duels with French vessels • Became an ally with Britain in war against France

28. John Adam’s Presidency Cont’d • Deterioration of French Relations Cont’d • The Alien and Sedition Acts (among the most controversial legislation in American History) • Alien Act • Placed obstacles in the way of foreigners who wished to become American citizens • Discouraged immigration and many people left country

29. John Adam’s Presidency Cont’d • Sedition Act • Prosecute anyone engaged in “sedition” against gov’t • 10 Republican newspaper editors arrested • Republican counter-action • Supreme Court did not have authority to overrule and act of Congress at the time • Jefferson and Madison turn to the states • Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions argue that national gov’t cannot exercise “unauthoritative powers” • Results • Virginia and Kentucky only states to declare statues void • Dispute between Republicans and Federalists rise to a national level • Nation divided politically

30. The “Revolution” of 1800 • Political Welfare • Feds accuse Jefferson of: • Being radical = “Reign of Terror” • Romance? • Republicans accuse Adams of: • Being a tyrant trying to be a king • Subverting liberty • Imposing slavery on the people

31. New law requires two person on ballot • Republicans plan to have Jefferson win and Burr second (VP) • But there’s a tie at 73 each (so it goes to the House, where Federalists dominate) • After a bunch of votes, Hamilton argues that Burr is untrustworthy!- and Jefferson wins! • This creates some resentment by Burr! • MIDNIGHT APPOINTMENTS! • Before Adams leaves office he tries to fill in a bunch of new commissions, signing up to midnight on his last day in office.

32. Revolution of 1800!? • Was it a revolution? • YES = It was a change in the political party in control of the government (also bloodless) • NO – there was no change in political system (constitution), economy or society!