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The New Nation
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Americans Debate Republicanism
Colonies Become States
• People consider self-governing colonies basic political unit
• colonists give their allegiance to colony
• idea persists when colonies become states
Unity Through a Republic• Colonists believe
democracy gives too much power to uneducated
• Prefer republic—citizens rule through elected representatives
• Views of republicanism, government based on consent of people: Adam Smith
Articles of Confederation• Two levels of
government share fundamental powers– It allowed the National
Government the power to
• Declare War, Make Peace, Sign Treaties, borrow money, set standards for coins and weights and measures, establish postal service, deal with Natives
Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
• Congress could not enact and collect taxes
• Couldn’t regulate interstate or foreign trade
• Each state had only one vote in congress
• 2/3’s majority vote needed to agree to pass any law
• Articles could only be amended if all states approved.
• No executive branch to enforce laws
• No national court system to settle legal disputes
• Lack of National unity.
– Un-United States of America
Problems encountered by weaknesses
• The Rev. War had cost the nation $190m CC had borrowed from foreign countries. After the war the $ was worth nothing.
• W/O the power to tax congress suggested enacting a tariff. RI rejected. No control over trade.
• B/C British merchants did not get paid back they refused to abandon military forts on the Great Lakes.
• Spain who we borrowed money from decided to close the Miss. River.
Nationalists Strengthen the Government
Shays’s Rebellion• 1786–87 armed farmers
demand closing of courts to avoid losing farms
• Shays’s Rebellion—state militia defeats farmers led by Daniel Shays
• Many leaders fear rebellion will spread through country
• George Washington calls for stronger national government
Drafting the ConstitutionAt the constitutional convention in 1787, delegates reject the Articles of Confederation and create a new constitution.
Nationalists Strengthen the Government
Call for Convention• 5 states send delegates
to meeting on interstate trade (1786) Madison and Hamilton call for the mtg.
• Shays’s Rebellion leads 12 states to join Constitutional Convention
• James Madison of Virginia known as “Father of the Constitution”
James Madison
Constitutional Convention Highlights
• In 1787, 55 delegates meet at Pennsylvania State House
• Windows kept shut to prevent eavesdropping on discussions
• Washington unanimously elected presiding officer
• Rich and well educated, outstanding leaders
• Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alex. Hamilton
Conflict Leads to CompromiseBig States Versus Small States
• Delegates recognize need to strengthen central government - decide to form new government• Madison’s Virginia Plan: bicameral legislature based on population• William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan: single house, one vote per
state• Roger Sherman, delegate from Connecticut, proposes Great
Compromise:- Senate has equal representation, elected by state legislatures- House of Representatives, based on population, elected by people
Conflict Leads to Compromise Slavery-Related Issues• South wants slaves in
population count for House, not for taxes
• North wants slaves in population count for taxes, not for House
• Three-Fifths Compromise allows 3/5 of state’s slaves to be counted
• Congress given power to regulate foreign trade
• Cannot interfere with slave trade for 20 years
Division of Powers in the New Government
• Federalism—division of power between national and state governments
• National government has delegated or enumerated powers
• Nation handles foreign affairs, defense, interstate trade, money
• Powers kept by states are called reserved powers• States handle education, marriage laws, trade within
state• Shared powers include right to tax, borrow money,
establish courts
Separating the Powers!• Legislative branch
makes laws• Executive branch
carries out laws• Judicial branch
interprets laws• Checks and balances
prevent one branch from dominating the others
• Electoral college—electors chosen by states to vote for president
Baron de Montesquieu
• a French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the Era of the Enlightenment
• famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers
Ratifying the Constitution• Ratification (official
approval) requires support of nine states
• Voters elect delegates to vote on ratification at state convention
• Process bypasses state legislatures, who are likely to oppose
Controversies over the Constitution
Federalists • favor balance between
state, national governments
• Urban, white collar
Anti-federalists oppose strong central
government:- may serve interests of
privileged minority- unlikely to manage a large
country well- Constitution does not
protect individual rights- Farmer’s, blue collar
Federalist Papers
The Federalist Papers—essays that defend, explain, analyze Constitution written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay
The Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification
People Demand a Bill of Rights• Anti-federalists demand written guarantee
of people’s rights• Federalists promise bill of rights if states
ratify Constitution
Ratification of the Constitution!
• December 1787–June 1788, nine states ratify Constitution
• The new government becomes a reality in 1789
Adoption of a Bill of Rights• 1791, Bill of Rights, or first ten amendments, ratified by
states• First Amendment—freedom of religion, speech, press,
politics • Second, Third—right to bear arms, no quartering of
soldiers• Fourth through Eighth—fair treatment for persons
accused of crimes• Ninth—people’s rights not limited to those mentioned in
Constitution• Tenth—people, states have all rights not specifically
assigned
Launching the New Nation
• George Washington becomes the first president.
• Elected unanimously in 1789
The New Government Takes Shape
Judiciary Act of 1789• Judiciary Act of 1789 creates
Supreme, 3 circuit, 13 district courts
• State court decisions may be appealed to federal courts
Washington Shapes the Executive Branch
• Creates Cabinet:– Treasury: Alexander
Hamilton– State: Thomas
Jefferson– War: Henry Knox– Attorney General:
Edmund Randolph
Hamilton and Jefferson Debate
Hamilton and Jefferson in Conflict
• Hamilton: strong central government led by wealthy, educated
• Jefferson: strong state, local government; people’s participation
• Hamilton has Northern support; Jefferson has Southern, Western
Hamilton
Jefferson
Hamilton’s Economic Plan• Plan—pay foreign
debt, issue new bonds, assume states’ debt
• Some Southern states have paid debts, against taxes to pay for North
• U.S. owes millions to foreign countries, private citizens
Plan for a National Bank• Hamilton proposes Bank
of the United States:- funded by government, private investors- issue paper money, handle taxes
• Disagreement over Congressional authority to establish bank
• Debate begins over strict and loose interpretation of Constitution
The District of Columbia• To win Southern
support for his debt plan, Hamilton suggests:- moving nation’s capital from NYC to South
• Washington, D.C. planned on grand scale; government seat by 1800
Federalists and Democratic-Republicans
• Split in Washington’s cabinet leads to first U.S. political parties:- Jefferson’s allies: Democratic-Republicans- Hamilton’s allies: Federalists
• Two-party system established as two major parties compete for power
The Whiskey Rebellion• Protective tariff— import tax
on goods produced overseas• Excise tax charged on
product’s manufacture, sale, or distribution
• In 1794, Pennsylvania farmers refuse to pay excise tax on whiskey- beat up federal marshals, threaten secession
• Federal government shows it can enforce laws by sending in militia
U.S. Response to Events in Europe
Reactions to the French Revolution
• Federalists pro-British; Democratic-Republicans pro-French
• Washington declares neutrality, will not support either side
Treaty with Spain• Spain negotiates with
Thomas Pinckney, U.S. minister to Britain
• Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795, or Treaty of San Lorenzo, signed:- Spain gives up claims to western U.S. - Florida-U.S. boundary set at 31st parallel- Mississippi River open to U.S. traffic
Washington’s Farewell Address
• Dangers of political parties
• American neutrality in European politics
• Established the two term tradition
First Party-Based ElectionsAdam’s Presidency
• 1796, Federalist John Adams elected president- Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, is vice-president
• Result of sectionalism, placing regional interests above nation
Adams Tries to Avoid War• French see Jay’s Treaty
as violation of alliance; seize U.S. ships
• XYZ Affair—French officials demand bribe to see foreign minister
• called to lead army • Undeclared naval war
rages between France, U.S. for two years
Adams Provokes Criticism The Alien and Sedition Acts
• Federalists push Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 through Congress
• Alien Acts raise residence requirements for citizenship- permit deportation, jail
• Sedition Act: fines, jail terms for hindering, lying about government
• Some Democratic-Republican editors, publishers, politicians jailed
Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions
• Jefferson, Madison see Alien and Sedition Acts as misuse of power
• Organize opposition in Virginia, Kentucky legislatures
• Resolutions call acts violation of First Amendment rights
• Nullification—states have right to void laws deemed unconstitutional
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