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Building a nation: 1783-1800

Building a nation: 1783-1800. Treaty of Paris: 1783- Election of Thomas Jefferson: 1800. “Nature has caused this tincture in the blood…All men would be tyrants if they could” – W. DaFoe. Constitutional Congress of 1776:. Called upon colonies to draft their own new Constitutions

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Building a nation: 1783-1800

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  1. Building a nation: 1783-1800 Treaty of Paris: 1783- Election of Thomas Jefferson: 1800

  2. “Nature has caused this tincture in the blood…All men would be tyrants if they could” – W. DaFoe

  3. Constitutional Congress of 1776: • Called upon colonies to draft their own new Constitutions • Sovereignty of new states would rest with authority of the people • Based on theory of Republicanism: Representative Government

  4. Economy of 1780’s • Huge debts • Lack of currency • Runaway inflation • Disrupted trading patterns – Brits cut off West Indies • Brits flood American ports with lower priced goods • Loyalist farms seized • Americans now need to create own markets

  5. Foreign Challenges to America • British manufacturing surplus: Dumped goods on markets at discount prices • Brits maintain relations with Natives in the West • Spanish Challenges: Closed Mouth of Miss River 1784 • James Wilkinson: American officer from KY – took oath of loyalty to Spanish king • Spanish Jay-Gardoqui Treaty: Supremacy along Miss River • French: Demand repayment for loans – restrict trade in West Indies • North Africa: Pirates seize American ships on high-seas

  6. Issues of Western Lands • What to do with lands in West? • 6 states held no land W. of Alleghany Mtns • Small states had no lands to sell to eradicate debts

  7. Articles of Confederation: 1781 • “Loose confederation / League of Friendship • Congress had “no power to conduct war, handle foreign relations, secure loans, borrow money, regulate trade, levy taxes” • Federal Govt could not act directly upon individual citizens • Each state had a single vote; RI = pop of 60,000 same vote as VA = pop of 600,000 • John Hanson, John Hancock among early “first American Presidents” under the articles

  8. Weakness of Congress under Articles • No power to regulate commerce • No power to collect taxes • States had to “donate money to federal government” • No ability to quell standing rebellion (Newburgh Conspiracy, Shay’s Rebellion)

  9. Land ordinance 1785 • Under the A.O.C • Provided that acreage of Old Northwest should be sold – proceeds to go to national debt • Region split into 16 sq miles – 16th section set aside for public schools

  10. Northwest Ordinance 1787 • Area to be independent • When population reaches 60,000 they could petition congress to become a state • Forbade slavery in NW Terr

  11. Shay’s Rebellion • Poor backcountry MA farmers • Demand cheaper paper currency, lower taxes and mortgage foreclosure • “mobocracy” – sends fear amongst wealthy • Need for stronger central govt

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