AP Chp 2 Constit

8/8/2019 AP Chp 2 Constit

1/23

Does Freedom

Require Order?Shays Rebellion

Annapolis Convention

John Jays Treaty

G. Washington

The Ultimate Game Strategist


2/23

WARNING!Articles of Confederation -

Rope of sand lurching from mere

incompetence to complete dissolution

Joseph Ellis, American Creation


3/23

WARNING!Without some alteration in our politicalcreed, the superstructure we have been

seven years raising at the expense of muchblood and treasure must fall. We are fast

verging to anarchy and confusion.

G. Washington to James Madison

5 November 1786


4/23

e n e years -

1787Most Americans regarded the Confederation Congress as just

some distant irrelevant organization.

It was their local and state govts that was the meaninful sourceof authority.

Most average Joes did not see or nor care about the

inadequacies of the AOC.

It was men of a more nationalisticvision who would create the

worlds greatest document for rule by the people.

Joseph EllisAmerican Creatio


5/23

e n e years -

1787Four issues convince founding fathers we need a rewrite!

1. Navigation rights on Mississippi River - John Jays treaty

2. Insurrection in Massachusetts - Shays Rebellion

3. Failure of the Annapolis Convention.

4. George Washington



6/23

RightsJohn Jay proposed giving up the trading rights inthe Mississippi R. (for 25 years!) in exchange for avery lucrative trade contract with Spain!

Northern States liked that!Va. and others were alarmed! They were basedon westward expansion!

Proof sectional interests were dominating.

Those western lands were everything to G.

Washington, GB, Va., debt recovery, authority of

AOC....

This is the Europeanization of America!

Union and libert are inse erable!


7/23

Shays Rebellion

What happens when a collective action

challenges popular consent?

Todays Exit Ticket: could or doessomething like this happen in America today?


8/23

Shays Rebellion

It is with the deepest and most heartfelt concern, I perceive by

some late paragraphs extracted from the Boston papers, that

the Insurgents of Massachusetts, far from being satisfied with

the redress offered by their general Court, are still acting in

open violation of law and government, and have obliged thechief Magistrate in a decided tone to call upon the Militia of the

State to support the Constitution. What, gracious God, is man!

that there should be such inconsistency and perfidiousness in

his conduct? It is but the other day, that we were shedding our

blood to obtain the Constitutions under which we now live;Constitutions of our own choice and making; and now we are

unsheathing the sword to overturn them. The thing is so

unaccountable, that I hardly know how to realize it, or to

persuade myself that I am not under the illusion of a dream.

G. Washington to David Humphries Dec. 26, 1786


9/23

Shays RebellionNeed money? How about state taxes and foreclosures to

finance debt? Massashusetts activated these and western

farmers rebelled.

It was not the massive insurrection as claimed. It was not

lawless mob. It was not former Tories. It was not debtors.

It was former Revolutionary soldiers. Daniel Shay had a sword

w/ hilt of gold given to him by hero Lafeyette.

They were not debtors as much as victims of war inflation and

new post war trade restrictions.

It was demands by creditors for CASH.L

and rich, cash poor.It was small towns with local court seats filing bankrupcy actions

and auctioning neighbors farms.


10/23

Shays Rebellion

Shay was a CONSTITUTIONAL REFORMER.

Massachusetts state constitution enabled eastern commercial

elite to dominate. Reapportionment, election frequency,

property qualifications for voting, tax reforms and access to

st. capitol all favored the eastern elite of the state.

Mass taxes higher than GB ever been -no relief on land rich,

cash poor - no paper currency here!

Just like GB treating those on periphery prior Am Rev

But that Spirit of 76 threatened the national union!

GB could take advanta e of this!


11/23

Shays Rebellion

No relief so Shay turns to state courts in the small towns andmilitantly closes them as a symbol. They called themselves

regulators.

They were surpressed not by militia (they were the statemilitia) but by a hired army - raising a standing army is a

sign of tyranny!

Rebels defeated. Trial. 2 executed but Massachusetts usesthis to expedite Philly reform convention.


12/23

Annapolis ConventionMajor transportation routes? Potomac. Mt. Vernon Compact

Calls for Annapolis Convention to proposed Confederation

Congress regulate state to state river commerce.

It was dead b4 it was begun.

John Jays treaty just passed 7 of 9. Sectional interestsdominate.

N states didnt even send delegates.

Va. only S state to show.

Md. didnt host nicely.

But JM and AH there and both see need for union now

Clear that Confederation Congress cant even

regulate commerce!


13/23

. ernon ompac

TodayMt. Vernon Compact said even though Md. owned the river Va.had the right to build on its own river banks.

Mt. Vernon compact still stands valid today. 1990 Va wanted to

river intake from Potomac River to serve Fairfax.

Md. said no according to original Kings Charter and their ownstate constitution.

Supreme Ct. said Va. was within its legal limits due to Mt.

Vernon Compact.


14/23

Shays Rebellion

Exit Ticket:Could/is something like the popularrebellion of western Massachusetts

happening today?


15/23

http://www.zunetracks.net/?p=86

KORN and Chaos


16/23

CHAOS

If the masses were turbulent and unregenerateand yet the govt must be founded upon theirsufferage and consent, what could a Constitution-

maker do?

18th c felt strongly they could not change thenature of man (Hobbes).

Too much to expect vice could be checked byvirture so the Fathers relied upon checking vice

with vice. Richard Hofstadter, The American Political Tradition


17/23

The Ultimate Game

Strategist

SicklyShortSuper smartOur countrys ultimate politicalphilosopher


18/23

The Ultimate Game

Strategist Ambitionmust bemade to

counteract

ambition


19/23

The Ultimate Game StrategistFirst hand witness to the

stupidity of politics in the Va.Assembly and the Conferation

Congress.

He saw that it wasnt about all the popular rhetoric of

the time. It was cleary partisan politics pushing their

own agendas.



20/23


In Virginia:

It was all about Jeffersons bill for religious freedom.

Anglican clergy became fearmongers.

It was paper money schemes designed to swindle creditorsby permitting debts to be paid off in wildly inflated currency.

It was candidates irresponsibly promising to eliminate all

taxes.Joseph EllisAmerican Creatio


21/23


In the Confederation Congress

It was persistant absenteeism.

It was utter disregard for the rising national debt.

It was Rhode Island.



22/23

The Ultimate Game

Strategist

He knew he had to get one man and one man only

on board to complete what would be a bloodless

coup of the AOC.

That man had recently retired (for what would be

the first of two retirements)


23/23

The Ultimate Game

Strategist

Documents

AP Chp 2 Constit