American Stories THIRD EDITION By: Brands By: Brands Chapter 6 The Republican Experiment 1783 ‒ 1788

The Republican Experiment, 1783 ‒ 1788 Defining Republican Culture What were the limits of equality in the “republican” society of the new United States? Stumbling Toward a New National Government Why did many Americans regard the Articles of Confederation as inadequate?

The Republican Experiment, 1783 ‒ 1788 “Have We Fought for This?” Why did Constitutional delegates compromise on representation and slavery? Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification What issues separated Federalists from Antifederalists during debates over ratification?

Video Series: Key Topics in U.S. History 1.The Making of a New Nation: 1783 ‒ Land Ordinance 3.Shays’s Rebellion 4.The Constitutional Convention Home

A New Political Morality During 1780s, individual states intent on local interest rather than national welfare Balance between public morality and private freedom Washington and Madison concluded United States needed strong central government Led to development of a constitution Home

Defining Republican Culture Social and Political Reform African Americans in the New Republic The Challenge of Women’s Rights The States: Experiments in Republicanism Home

Defining Republican Culture Republicanism In history, most republics had failed Republican – political culture, not party, in eighteenth-century America Post-Revolutionary divisions Worry – some Americans focused on material wealth Popularly elected representatives a potential source of instability Defining Republican Culture

Social and Political Reform Cincinnati crisis Society of the Cincinnati formed by Washington Seen as against Republican principles Attempts to maintain equality Wealthy Americans dropped titles Judges to not wear wigs to court Defining Republican Culture

Social and Political Reform (continued) Changes in laws and procedures Abolished laws of primogeniture and entail Property qualifications for voting reduced Capitals moved to enable better representation for frontier settlers Separation of church and state Defining Republican Culture

African Americans in the New Republic Abolitionist sentiment spread Moved beyond just religious language Revolutionary rhetoric African American intellectual success By 1800, slavery legally dying in North Little economic justification for slavery Antislavery societies formed Defining Republican Culture

African Americans in the New Republic (continued) In North, abolition took different forms Racism and segregation remained African American churches African Methodist Episcopal Church Southerners debated abolition No southern leader defended slavery as a positive good Racist rhetoric did not appear until the nineteenth century Defining Republican Culture

The Challenge of Women’s Rights Changes ended tyranny in the family John Locke - Some Thoughts Concerning Education Women demanded equality Abigail Adams – “Remember the Ladies” Political ideology – Republican Motherhood Education important Divorce changes Opportunities and limits Defining Republican Culture

The States: Experiments in Republicanism States created constitutions, 1776 Some already had republican governments Some created new political structures Some earlier constitutions rewritten Basic assumptions Constitutions must be written Premised on natural rights Defining Republican Culture

Discussion Question What were the limits of equality in the “republican” society of the new United States? Defining Republican Culture

Stumbling Toward a New National Government Articles of Confederation Western Land: Key to the First Constitution Northwest Ordinance: The Confederation’s Major Achievement Home

Stumbling Toward a New National Government Second Continental Congress met in 1775 First meeting during war Reluctantly assumed greater authority over national affairs as time passed Central authority would need to be able to conduct war, borrow money, regulate trade, and negotiate treaties Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Articles of Confederation Committee created to draw up plan John Dickinson – headed committee Report shocked delegates Had assumed a loose confederation Western states under congressional control Equal state representation in Congress Taxes paid on basis of state’s population Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Articles of Confederation (continued) Articles of Confederation approved Different from Dickinson’s original plan Severely limited central government’s authority over states Single legislative body, no executive branch, and no taxing power Amendments required unanimity Expected to handle military, foreign, and Native American relations No western lands Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Western Land: Key to the First Constitution Controversy over western lands Claimed by many states Most land had belonged to Native Americans All states wanted to benefit from land sales Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Western Land: Key to the First Constitution (continued) Resolution of controversy Virginia took lead in ceding western claims to Congress Other states ceded claims to Congress Congress gained ownership of all land west of Appalachians Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Northwest Ordinance: The Confederation’s Major Achievement Successful settlement not promising Colonial authorities ignored early settlers Squatters poured across Appalachians Initial attempt in 1784 Final plans more successful Land Ordinance – 1785 Northwest Ordinance South of Ohio mostly ignored Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Stumbling Toward a New National Government

Discussion Question Why did many Americans regard the Articles of Confederation as inadequate? Stumbling Toward a New National Government

“Have We Fought for This?” The Genius of James Madison Constitutional Reform The Philadelphia Convention Inventing a Federal Republic Compromise Saves the Convention The Last Details We the People Home

“Have We Fought for This?” By 1785, the country seemed adrift Pessimism and doubt reigned Leaders knew they had to act “Have We Fought for This?”

The Genius of James Madison Shortcomings in small state republics Ordinary citizens not virtuous enough State leaders not concerned about national government Montesquieu – leading philosopher James Madison rejected Montequieu’s argument David Hume – Scottish philosopher Competing factions “Have We Fought for This?”

Constitutional Reform Annapolis Convention Plan to overhaul Articles of Confederation Agreed to meet again – new constitution Shays’s Rebellion Tax revolt of indebted farmers Shut down county courthouse Crisis strengthened support for new central government “Have We Fought for This?”

The Philadelphia Convention Convention convened May 1787 Fifty-five delegates from most states Delegates possessed diverse backgrounds Early procedural decisions Secrecy rule imposed Majority vote by state “Have We Fought for This?”

Inventing a Federal Republic Virginia Plan Two-house legislature Executive elected by Congress Central government may veto all state acts New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature Power to tax and regulate trade “Have We Fought for This?”

Compromise Saves the Convention Committee formed To resolve differences between small and large states Different representation in each house Each state - two delegates in the Senate Lower house - based on population All money bills must originate in the lower house Three-fifths rule “Have We Fought for This?”

Compromise Saves the Convention (continued) Slave trade issue Northern states wanted to end slave trade Southern states threatened to leave Compromise reached More important to create strong central government than address slave trade at that point in time “Have We Fought for This?”

The Last Details Committee of Detail formed Prepared rough draft of Constitution Revisions to executive Electoral college would select president Executive given a veto over legislation Executive may appoint judges Bill of Rights Included in most state constitutions Not necessary “Have We Fought for This?”

We the People Elected state conventions to review Constitution Bypassed state legislatures Approval of only nine states required Added phrase “We the People” Made government a republic of the people, not of the states “Have We Fought for This?”

Discussion Question Why did Constitutional delegates compromise on representation and slavery? “Have We Fought for This?”

Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification Federalists and Antifederalists Adding the Bill of Rights Home

Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification Ratification would not be easy Constitution went beyond the convention’s mandate Document referred to states with no recommendation Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Federalists and Antifederalists Federalists supported the Constitution Recruited most prominent public figures The Federalist – series of essays Supported by newspapers Appealed to elite Antifederalists opposed the Constitution Tended to be poorer, less urban, less well educated Popular appeal of message Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Federalists and Antifederalists (continued) Constitution quickly ratified by states All states ratified, but more contentious in some states Delaware first – December 7, 1787 Rhode Island last – May 29, 1790 Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Table 6.1 Revolution or Reform? The Articles of Confederation and the Constitution Compared Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Why Did Ratification of the Constitution Face Opposition? What was the relation between Loyalism in the Revolutionary War and subsequent views on ratification? Did the level of slavery in an area affect opinion towards ratification? What was the opinion in areas with a large German settler population? Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Adding the Bill of Rights Fruit of Antifederalist activism Adding Bill of Rights forestalled Second Constitutional Convention Purpose was to protect individual rights from government interference Rights included various freedoms First ten amendments added by December 1791 Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Discussion Question What issues separated Federalists from Antifederalists during debates over ratification? Whose Constitution? Struggle for Ratification

Conclusion: Success Depends on the People New government of the people More responsibility for own society Some Americans complained that the new government had a great potential for despotism Others were more optimistic and saw it as a great beginning for the new nation