State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation

State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation

Differing OpinionsElite republicans – welcomed hierarchical rule, not based on heredity. Feared democracy as mob rule.Working & poor people - worried that propertied elites prospered at their expenseRural Colonist – emphasized decentralization of power as much as possible


From Colonies to States Emphasis of State Governments during Revolutionary War

Intensification of prewar struggle between more radical democratic elements and elites who would minimize popular participationNew states continued to retain colonial precedents that favored the wealthiest elites


From Colonies to States Colonial Practices in New State Constitutions

11 had bicameral legislatures Few questioned property requirements for voters and elected officialsRepresentatives should use independent judgment (not just vote the will of the people)Candidates campaigned on basis of personal reputation and fitness for office not policies.1770’s & 1780”s equal distribution of legislative seats between cities and counties


From Colonies to States Colonial Practices in New State Constitutions (checks on Power)

Colonist changed – previously British constitutions were body of customary arrangements and practicesColonists now saw Constitution – as written compacts that defined and limited the powers of rulersConstitutions were adopted by popular ratification and could only be changed if voters decided to amend.


From Colonies to States Colonial Practices in New State Constitutions (checks on Power)

Revolutionary Constitutions spelled out citizens’ fundamental rights as final check on government1784 all states included Bill of Rights in state constitutions


From Colonies to States After newness of Revolution

Wealthier landowners, bankers, merchants, and lawyers, reasserted their desires for centralized authority and political prerogatives of wealth.Apportionment according to property valuesGovernor with powers to appoint and vetoing legislation1790 Georgia and Pennsylvania substituted unicameral legislatureOther states raise property qualificationsMaking room for “Wisdom, remarkable integrity”


From Colonies to States After newness of Revolution

Thomas Paine – 1782

The American Revolution was intended to ring in “a new era and give a new turn to human affairs.”


Articles of Confederation 1776 John Dickinson drafted a proposal for the national ConstitutionCongress adopted a weakened version of his proposal


Articles of Confederation Ratified by all thirteen states in 1777, reserved to each state “its sovereignty, freedom and independence” and was a very weak and ineffectual government.

Americans were citizens of state first and nation second1776 Whigs never considered consolidating this vast continent under one National GovernmentConfederacy of States, each must have a separate government


Articles of Confederation Structure of Government

Executive – there was noneCongressional Committees oversaw financial, diplomatic, and military affairs

Judicial – there was noneNo system to compel allegiance to its laws

Legislative – all authority held by Congress


Articles of Confederation Structure of Government

Legislative – all authority held by CongressUnicameral congressOne vote per state (regardless of the number of delegates sent by each state or population)No power to tax (without every state’s approval), had to request money from statesNo power to regulate interstate or foreign commerce


Articles of ConfederationWar-related political issues

Funding the militaryEstablishing military alliance with FranceNegotiating a Treaty


Articles of ConfederationPostwar issues

Robert Morris – U. S. Superintendent of FinanceU.S. had borrowed funds form abroad and printed paper money (continentals)

Lack of faith in government destroyed value – 98% loss 1776-1781Attempted passage of the Import Duty of 1782 – Rhodes Island voted againstState versus national control of war debt debate (and the need to establish financial credit, attract capital, and establish a strong national government)



Newburgh Conspiracy – 1783 – Robert Morris and Alexander Hamilton

Persuaded army officers, to threaten a coup d’etat unless the treasury obtain the taxation authority needed to raise their payGeorge Washington stopped the plot

1783 war ends and contributions from states decreasingLate 1780’s states 80% behind requested funds to operate and honor national debt



Economic Depression 1784 North East hit the hardest – poor land for farming, high taxes, and tightening creditMid-Atlantic ship farm goods to Europe (famine)Southern Planters switch crops (hemp)

1770 2/3 of exports originated in the South1790 less than ½ came form the South

British Trade restrictions – Confederation could not pry trade concessions from Great Britain

Before war 60% of Northern exports went to West IndiesHalf of all American exports went to Great Britain or its coloniesGreat Britain had halted trade during the war



Western territories – Northwest Territories states surrendered claims to more that 160 million acres north of the Ohio River, 1780-1786

Ordinance of 1785 – Congress established uniform procedures for surveying this land

Law established a township six miles square as a basic unit of settlement.Etc.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – congress defined the steps to become a state

it forbade slavery while a territory, but after becoming a state it could be legalized

These two ordinances laid procedures for territory farther west



Indian Affairs – Dec of Ind. Described the natives as “merciless Indian savages”Most available land from Appalachians to Mississippi River was occupied by Native Americans1789 divided into more than 80 tribes – 150,000 peopleConfederation commissioners declared “You are a subdued people…we claim the country by conquest.”



Indian Affairs – Northwestern Indians gave in under threats of continued warfareIroquois lost about ½ of their land in NY and Pennsylvania in the second treaty of Fort Stanwix, 1784Delaware & Shawnee leaders were forced to recognize American sovereignty over their lands at Fort McIntosh Treaty, 1785 and Fort Finny Treaty, 1786



Indian Affairs – Most Indians reacted with outrage

Repudiated TreatiesNatives felt British still present in the west, would supply arms to resist

Mohawk Joseph BrantLeader of Indian resistanceTranslated book of Mark and Anglican PrayersBecame minor celebrity in London



Shays’s Rebellion 1786Jay – Gardoqui Treaty -

opened up valuable Spanish markets to eastern merchants Renounced Spanish claims to disputed southwestern landsRelinquished American export rights through New Orleans for another 20 yearsTreaty rejected by Americans



Shays’s Rebellion 1786The depression of the 1780’s in New England – not fully recoveredCompeting political interests in the issue of national government powers:

New England Farmers – taxes, etcMid-Atlantic and southern farmers – open markets for goods,Massachusetts bankers – strong government for confidenceMerchants and shippers – secure shipping abroad to ensure economic stability and America’s standing in Atlantic EconLand speculators – more activist policy against Spain, Britain and NativesWestern settlers – more activist policy against Spain, Britain, and NativesUrban artisans – Gov’t that would impose a uniformly high tariff as protection from foreign competition


Articles of Confederation Postwar issues

Shays’s Rebellion 1786 Daniel Shays and the farmers protest Created fear of “mobocracy” vulnerability Rumored threats by Spanish Widespread public awareness of the weaknesses of the

national government The Annapolis Convention and the call for a convention to

revise the Articles of Confederation

Documents

State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation