CONFEDERATION + CONSTITUTION

PURSUIT OF EQUALITY “All men created equal” Most states reduced property holding requirements for voting Began to move away from primogeniture (property) Separation between church and state Attacking slavery Continental Congress called for complete abolition Some Northern states outlaw slavery Threatens national unity

PURSUIT OF EQUALITY Most women still doing traditional work Although some served in war N.J. allowed women to vote for short period of time Civic virtue Democracy depended on the unselfish commitment of each citizen to the public good “Republican motherhood” Women hold role to instill a moral education

CONSTITUTION MAKING Constitutional Congress calls on each colony to draft new constitutions (creation of individual states) Mass. procedure used for federal draft (given to people for ratification) Similarities between states constitutions become apparent Contracts that defined the powers of the gov’t Liberties, annual elections, separated branches of gov’t, etc.

ECONOMIC CROSSCURRENTS Land seized from British owners and broken into small farms Manufacturing was boosted by cutting off imports from Britain Drawbacks from independence American ships no longer allowed near Britain\ States borrow tons of money Inflation Americans now able to trade freely with other nations

SHAKY START Responsible for creating a brand new nation Gov’t has to last New type of gov’t Continental Congress merely ambassadors Did what it wanted to do 13 states were sovereign (VA ratified alliance with France)

Big argument over Western lands caused delay (all states needed to ratify it Federal gov’t) Some states had nothing, others had a lot Argued they would not have those lands if not everyone fought for them Could sell those lands and pay of their war time debts quickly Should federal gov’t own the Western lands? Maryland holds out (gives in when NY surrenders its land claims and VA “seems” to do so as well

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Federal “constitution” (links states together in a common goal) Outlined the powers that were to be exercised by the central government Congress was very weak (obviously) Did not have the ability to regulate commerce (tariffs/navigation laws) Could not enforce tax collection (honor system) No executive branch (why?) Congress was skewed -> each state had 1 vote Bills required 9 of 13 states, amendments -> unanimous decision

LAND LAWS PASSED BY CONGRESS Old Northwest -> area of land northwest of Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and South of the Great Lakes Land Ordinance of 1785 Sell Old Northwest and use money to pay off debts Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Government in the Old Northwest territories 2 evolutionary stages (subordinate to the gov’t) Could become state once it reached 60k population Forbid slavery in new areas

ROAD BUMPS Trouble raising money Some states refuse to pay, interest was increasing on national debt, credit was evaporating abroad Shay’s Rebellion Poor farmers losing their farms Demand issuing of paper money, stoppage of property takeover, lighten taxes

CONSTITUTIONAL CONVENTION “for the sole and express purpose of revising” the Articles of Confederation Every state but Rhode Island represented George Washington elected as chairman Benjamin Franklin, James Madison (Father of the Constitution), Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams, John Hancock (absent)

2 PLANS AND COMPROMISE

FINAL PRODUCT Short document based on common law (vague -> served as guide) Series of many compromises Electoral college 3/5 compromise -> slave would count as 3/5 of a person Congress reserved right to cut off slave trade in 1807 All state constitutions except Georgia did so immediately 3 branches of gov’t with checks and balances Republicanism -> only legitimate government was one based on the consent of the governed, and the power of government should be limited

RATIFICATION Four small states immediately accept the Constitution Pennsylvania becomes first of the larger states Massachusetts was very weary Persuaded with idea of amending the Constitution with more specifically outline rights Became adopted on June 21, 1788 New York and Virginia still not on board Federalist Papers written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison Impossible to extend a republican form of gov’t over a large territory