Presentation Transcript

1. America is built on COMPROMISES 1776 - 1790

   The Confederation & The Constitution

2. Your Mission It’s 1776. You have declared your independence from Britain. Now what? What challenges do you face as you begin nation-building? Get into pairs and brainstorm: Most immediate challenge Most potentially damaging challenge Most difficult challenge to resolve
3. Articles of Confederation Government: 1781-1789
4. Victory! But can we survive without Mom? New responsibility of creating and operating a central government. This new type did not exist. Natural rights/equality taught by political leaders. Allegiance for a common cause was now gone. New American industry in competition with English goods.
5. WholesalePriceIndex:1770-1789
6. Federalist vs. Anti-FederalistStrongholds at the End of the War
7. American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789
8. American Strengths All 13 states had similar constitutions. Unity of a rich political heritage. Brilliant political leaders: Washington, Madison, Adams, Jefferson, Hamilton.
9. Move Towards Equality Exodus of Loyalists create a weakness in conservatives. Removal of many aristocrats Modified laws and customs for more equal treatment. Most states reduced property-holding requirements to vote. Religious freedom Expanded freedoms for women (education, civic virtue, and, republican motherhood) Challenged Slavery – why not removed? Sacrificed for unity Opportunities for all (esp. land) helps keep violence at bay.
10. How’s the Economy? Non-importation agreements helped give manufacturing a boost. Later the war itself Trade with Britain was restricted due to the same mercantilist laws Could freely trade with other nations DEBT from the war States had borrowed more than they could ever repay Inflation was out of control
11. The Creation of Articles of Confederation Drafted and adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777. Not ratified by all 13 states until 1781. Fighting was primarily over the west. All states fought for it, so why not split the prize? COMPROMISE Land was given up Areas for the “common benefit” – new republican states
12. Strengths in the Articles of Confederation The first step towards the present Constitution Clearly outlines central government powers Making treaties Establish the postal service Held the states together until America was ready for the next step in unity.
13. Occupational Composition of Several State Assembliesin the 1780s
14. Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation America’s “first constitution” Congress only no executive branch and judicial issues were left to the states. Each state had one vote Important votes required 9 states Changes to the Articles required unanimous ratification Three significant handicaps: No power to regulate commerce No power to collect taxes No power to force states or individuals of states (wart.com + no e + no j / sovereignty)
15. Indian Land Cessions:1768-1799
16. State Claims to Western Lands
17. Action of Congress: Land Ordinances Land Ordinance of 1785 Land to be surveyed and sold to pay off national debt. The Old Northwest acquired in the Peace Treaty of Paris
18. Land Ordinance of 1785
19. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress! Statehood achieved in three stages: Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory. When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners  elect territorial legislature. When population reached 60,000  elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.
20. Foreign Relations: No Respect England Would not send an ambassador to America Would not accept imports from U.S. Held trading posts on U.S. soil (Indian alliance & fur trade) Spain Closed the Mississippi river to American commerce in 1784 Claimed Florida other southern areas given to the U.S. in the Peace of Paris. France Demanded repayment of war debt (revolution’s a-brewin’) Restricted trade with West Indies
21. Disputed Territorial ClaimsBetween Spain & the U. S.:1783-1796
22. U.S. in 1783
23. Shay’s Rebellion:More Backcountry Strife Massachusetts in 1786 Impoverished backcountry farmers were losing their farms through mortgage foreclosures and tax delinquencies. Demanded the state issue paper money, lighten taxes, and suspend property takeovers Put down by a MA army – three were killed
24. Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7
25. Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7 There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders. -- George Washington
26. Impetus for Change Fears of “Democratic Despotism” Self-interest and greed instead of civic virtue ruling Conservatives and the wealthy wanted to create more power over the mob. Interstate fighting over commerce had become serious.
27. Annapolis Convention (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.
28. The United States in 1787
29. The Constitutional Convention Met to revise the Articles of Confederation 55 emissaries for 12 states met in Philadelphia on May 25, 1787. Washington, Franklin, Madison, Hamilton Not present? Jefferson, Samuel and John Adams, Hancock, Patrick Henry Met in complete secrecy Took 17 weeks Not all members signed the Constitution
30. Areas of Agreement Economically Reliable money Protection of private property Politically Stronger government Checks and balances – three branches Fear of mob rule Federal judges for life Indirect voting Most important 2 principles: Consent of the governed Powers of government should be limited
31. Issues Debated Should the United States adopt the new Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation? Need for change. Does the government of the Articles need to be replaced? Can a republic govern a large territory and a diverse population? Will the new constitutional government create an aristocratic power in the presidency? Does the proposed Constitution protect the people’s liberty?
32. Constitutional Compromises Large State vs. Small State plans “The Great Compromise” House of Representatives and the Senate Electoral College Presidential elections by indirect means Three-fifths compromise Slaves counted as 3/5 a person End to slave trade Allowed to continue until 1807 Assumption of state debt Centrally located capital
33. Virginia Plan proposed by the larger states Establish a national government with 3 branches. Establish a bicameral Congress. People elect 1 house That house elects 2nd house Representation in both houses based on state population New Jersey plan proposed by small states Establish a unicameral Congress Each state to have 1 vote Equal representation States equally represented similar to the Articles of Confederation VIRGINIA PLAN VS. NEW JERSEY PLAN Issues of representative government would be argued at Constitutional Convention
34. ELECTORAL COLLEGE Historical Background Why was the Electoral College created by the Framers? Created as an alternative to either popular election or Congress electing the President. Each state chose electors---based on the number of representatives each states has in Congress. 2. Electoral vote was state to state---each elector voted for two candidates…. One vote per candidate. Electors vote with the “will” of the people from the state they represented……….but not required. Candidate with the most votes became President; runner-up became Vice President. 3. In case of a tie, the House of Representatives elected the President.
35. 3 BRANCHES OF GOVERNMENT SEPARATION OF POWERS Legislative Branch Executive Branch Judicial Branch 3 Branches are separate, have different powers, co-equal and checks and balances on one another to make sure one branch does not get to powerful Judicial Checks On Executive and Legislative Declare an act of President or law of Congress unconstitutional Appointed for life Legislative Checks On Executive Override a veto Declare war impeachment On Judicial Approve judges Impeachment ExOn Legislative Veto a law Ask for war Propose laws On Judicial Appoint judges
36. 3/5'S COMPROMISE Southern states wanted their slaves to be counted as part of the total population of their state. Why? This would give them more representatives in Congress. Thus giving them more voting power in Congress and protecting their self-interest of slavery.
37. 3/5's COMPROMISE Northern states objected to the South’s proposal and would only agree to compromise. 3 of every 5 slaves would be counted as part of a state’s total population. It was supported by both North and South
38. 3/5'S COMPROMISE Georgia’s Population White = 300,000 Slaves = 100,000 3/5’s of 100,000 3/5’s of 100,000 = 60,000 300,000 + 60,000 = Total Population = 360,000 which would be counted towards representation in Congress.
39. 3/5'S COMPROMISE Northern states agreed to the 3/5’s Compromise only if the South abolished the Slave Tradeby 1807…… Agreement was made….North was hoping slavery would eventually fade away and die out . This was their step towards abolishing slavery.
40. FUGITIVE SLAVE LAW Law created at the Constitutional Convention in 1787. Escaped slaves captured had to be returned to their plantation owner. Not enforced in North and led to the creation of the Underground Railroad. Southerners would become bitter and ultimately left the US.
41. Federalists vs. Anti Federalists
42. Ratification Four small states quickly sign PA was the first large state to sign VA, NY, NC, and RI hold out VA Patrick Henry rails against the Constitution, but Washington, Madison, and John Marshall win. NY Hamilton, Jay, and Madison pen The Federalist Papers. NC and RI finally ratified, unwillingly and months later.
43. Articles of Confederation States have most of the power and national govt. has little. No executive to carry out the laws of Congress No national courts---only state courts 9/13 states have to approve a law before it goes into effect Congress has no power to tax Congress can not regulate trade among the states. Each state coined its own money. No national currency. Unicameral Congress Articles only a “firm league of friendship” US Constitution States have some power, but most power is given to the national govt. Federal Government Electoral College 3 branches of govt. Executive---enforces law Legislative---makes law Judicial---interprets law Checks and balances Congress given the power to tax, regulate trade and enforce laws. Only national govt. has the power to coin money Bicameral (2 house) Congress Equal Representation by States and a State’s population Constitution established a strong National Govt. over the States and to form a more “perfect union” How the Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Were Corrected by the Constitution US Governments in 1781 and 1789
44. FREEDOM of Religion, Press, Speech, Assembly, Petition RIGHT TO KEEP AND BEAR ARMS No QUARTERING of soldiers in peacetime NO UNREASONABLE SEARCH and SEIZURE PROTECTION of ACCUSED RIGHT TO A SPEEDY, PUBLIC TRIAL BY JURY TRIAL BY JURY IN CIVIL SUITS NO EXCESSIVE FINES or CRUEL PUNISHMENT POWERS RESERVED TO THE PEOPLE POWERS RESERVED TO THE STATES Bill of rights "BILL OF RIGHTS" First 10 Amendments to the Constitution in 1791Rights and freedoms won in the Revolution are preserved and protected…
45. AMENDMENTS
46. AMENDMENTS
47. “Snapshot of a“Framer” White Male Adults Landowners Some education Some were slave owners Lawyers Merchants
48. Images http://migration.ucc.ie/ES2008/usasimages/usa1783.JPG