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Journey to Democracy: Challenges and Progress in Early America

In the aftermath of gaining independence, early America faces questions of democracy and governance. The concept of deriving powers from the consent of the governed shapes the roles of various groups like landowners, merchants, farmers, and more. Republicanism influences state constitutions, legislative structures, and the notion of checks and balances. Women's rights, including Republican Motherhood, and the challenges of the Articles of Confederation and financial issues are examined. Shays's Rebellion reveals the fragility of the central government. The path to a more democratic America is explored.

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Journey to Democracy: Challenges and Progress in Early America

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  1. You have your independence . . . Now what? How much democracy?

  2. “governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed” • What does it mean for • Landowners ? • Merchants ? • Farmers ? • Wealthy ? • Poor ? • Women ? • Slaves ? • Free blacks? • Native Americans?

  3. Politics and Government“Republicanism” • State Constitutions • Some radical • Strong Lower Houses • Weak Governors • No property requirements for voting • Education • Bills of Rights • Wealthy concerned • King George the First?

  4. Politics and Government“Republicanism” • John Adams compromise • Thoughts on Government • Similar to British (without monarch) • Elected • Chief executive (governor) • Legislature (two houses) • Appointed • Judiciary • Checks and balances • Review legislation • Veto power

  5. Republican Motherhood • Women? • Mary Wollstonecraft • A Vindication of the Rights of Woman • Equal social and political status for women • Some gains • Eased property loss in marriage • Educational opportunities • Still seen as subordinate • Abigail Adams: • “Don’t Forget the Ladies.“

  6. The United States of America’s first government The articles of confederation

  7. Articles of Confederation • Drafted by John Dickinson (Olive Branch Petition) • States maintain sovereignty, independence, and freedom • Central government could • Declare war and peace • Conclude treaties with foreign nations • Settle disputes between states • Borrow and print money • Ask for funds for common defense • Central government • No Executive • No Judicial Branch • Couldn’t levy taxes • Each state had one vote • Required nine of thirteen states to make changes • Required ALL 13 states to amend

  8. Articles of Confederation • Major problem: western lands • Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey had none • Others didn’t want to give land to government • With land cession, Articles of Confederation passed in 1781

  9. Financial and Economic Problems • Congress: • Needed voluntary contributions during war • Bank of North America to stabilize currency • Plan to make debts proportional needed unanimous consent from all 13 states • 1781 – Rhode Island no • 1783 – New York no

  10. Financial and Economic Problems • Lacked uniform Currency • No Regulation of Interstate Commerce • National tariff “too British”

  11. Western Lands • Congress: sell land to pay debts • Violated Proclamation Line of 1763 • Problems: • White squatters • new republic? • Spanish Louisiana • Southwest controlled by Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia • Northwest controlled by Congress (Northwest Territory)

  12. British Forts on United States Territory

  13. The Northwest Ordinance • Chersonesus, Franklin, Sylvania, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Polypotamia, Pelisipia, Saratoga, Washington, Michigania and Illinoia? • Path to statehood • 5000 settlers = territory • Congress appoints governor • Voters elect legislature • 60,000 settlers = apply for statehood • Slavery Banned

  14. The Northwest Ordinance • To acquire land • Government survey first • grid system of townships • Land purchased from government • A portion of each “township” set aside for education

  15. Northwest Ordinance

  16. NW Survey Ranges Townships, Sections, Quarter Sections, etc.

  17. What do you see as the strengths and weaknesses of the articles of confederation?

  18. Post-War Problems • War debt • Other Financial Woes • Reaction

  19. War Debt • States and Congress issued bonds • States and Congress issued paper money • War bonds worthless • Speculators bought up bonds (buy low, sell high)

  20. Financial Woes • Farmers: • little or NO money to pay taxes/debts • useless war bonds for service • Merchants lost money; cheaper British imports • Tariffs to protect American producers • Taxes raised to pay debts • States – two choices • Ease up on taxes for farmers • Confiscate land from those who couldn’t pay

  21. Shays’s Rebellion, 1786-1787 • Massachusetts: high taxes • Farmers who couldn’t pay • forfeited property • went to jail • Daniel Shays • Continental army veteran • Farmer (western Massachusetts) • organized farmers into army • freed jailed farmers • Fought against taxation • Sound familiar?

  22. Shays’s Rebellion, 1786-1787 • Massachusetts: Riot Act (outlaw illegal assemblies) • Governor James Bowdoin sent militia • asked Congress for troops • Winter dispersed Shays’s men

  23. Impact of Shays’s Rebellion • Bowdoin voted out • Farmers in other states revolt • Congress can’t fix economic problems • Showed weakness of central government • New nation’s survival at risk!

  24. A More Democratic America?

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