Chapter Five – Shaping a New Nation

Section One – Experimenting with Confederation Americans Debate Republicanism a. Colonies Become States i. People consider self-governing colonies basic political unit 1. colonists give their allegiance to colony 2. idea persists when colonies become states 3. reluctant to unite b. Unity Through a Republic i. Colonists believe democracy gives too much power to uneducated 1. Prefer republic—citizens rule through elected representatives ii. Views of republicanism, government based on consent of people: 1. John Dickinson: put nation’s good above self 2. Adam Smith and followers: pursue own interests

c. State Constitutions i. Many states limit powers of government leaders ii. Guarantee specific rights to citizens; stress liberty, not equality iii Only white males can vote; in some states must own property d. Political Precedents i. Previous republican governments cannot be adapted to U.S. needs: 1. none balanced concerns of state and national governments ii. Ancient Greece, Rome, Italian city-states did not last

II. The Continental Congress Debates a. Representation by Population or by State? i. Size, population varies; represent people or states in Congress? ii. Congress believes it represents states; every state gets one vote b. Supreme Power: Can it be Divided? i. Confederation or alliance: national government, states share powers ii. Articles of Confederation—laws assigning national, state powers iii. National government handles war, treaties, weights, measures, mail iv. No executive or court system established to enforce, interpret laws

c. Western Lands: Who Gets Them i. By 1779, 12 states approve Articles of Confederation ii. Maryland approves when western land claims given to U.S. iii. Articles of Confederation go into effect March 1781 d. Governing the Western Lands i. Land Ordinance of 1785 creates plan for surveying western lands ii. Northwest Ordinance of 1787—plan for creating territories, statehood

III. The Confederation Encounters Problems a. Political and Economic Problems i. Confederation lacks unity; states pursue own interests ii. Congress amasses huge debt during Revolutionary War iii. Rhode Island rejects tariff on imports; foreign debt cannot be paid b. Borrowers Versus Lenders i. Creditors favor high taxes so they will be paid back ii. Taxes put farmers in debt; many lose land and livestock iii. Debtors want large supply paper money; creditors want small supply

c. Foreign-Relations Problems i. U.S. does not pay debts to British merchants or compensate Loyalists ii. In retaliation, Britain refuses to evacuate forts on Great Lakes iii. In 1784, Spain closes Mississippi River to American navigation iv. Westerners unable to ship crops east through New Orleans v. Congress unable to resolve problems with foreign nations

Section Two – Drafting the Constitution Nationalists Strengthen the Government a. Shay’s Rebellion i. 1786–87 armed farmers demand closing of courts to avoid losing farms ii. Shays Rebellion—state militia defeats farmers led by Daniel Shays iii. Many leaders fear rebellion will spread through country iv. George Washington calls for stronger national government

b. Call for Convention i. Five states send delegates to meeting on interstate trade (1786) ii. Shays’s Rebellion leads 12 states to join Constitutional Convention iii. James Madison of Virginia known as “Father of the Constitution” c. Convention Highlights i. In 1787, 55 delegates meet at Pennsylvania State House ii. Windows kept shut to prevent eavesdropping on discussions iii. Washington unanimously elected presiding officer

II. Conflict Leads to Compromise a. Big States vs. Small States i. Delegates recognize need to strengthen central government 1. decide to form new government ii. Madison’s Virginia Plan: bicameral legislature based on population iii. William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan: single house, one vote per state iv. Roger Sherman, delegate from Connecticut, proposes Great Compromise: 1. Senate has equal representation, elected by state legislatures 2. House of Reps, based on population, elected by people

b. Slavery-Related Issues i. South wants slaves in population count for House, not for taxes ii. North wants slaves in population count for taxes, not for House iii. Three-Fifths Compromise allows 3/5 of state’s slaves to be counted iv. Congress given power to regulate foreign trade v. Cannot interfere with slave trade for 20 years

III. Creating a New Government a. Division of Powers i. Federalism—division of power between national and state governments ii. National government has delegated or enumerated powers iii. Nation handles foreign affairs, defense, interstate trade, money iv. Powers kept by states are called reserved powers v. States handle education, marriage laws, trade within state vi. Shared powers include right to tax, borrow money, establish courts

b. Separation of Powers i. Legislative branch makes laws ii. Executive branch carries out laws iii. Judicial branch interprets laws iv. Checks and balances prevent one branch from dominating the others v. Electoral college—electors chosen by states to vote for president c. Creating the Constitution i. Constitution can be changed through amendment process

Section Three – Ratifying the Constitution Federalists and Antifederalists a. Controversies Over the Constitution i. Ratification (official approval) requires support of nine states ii. Voters elect delegates to vote on ratification at state convention iii. Process bypasses state legislatures, who are likely to oppose iv. Federalists favor balance between state, national governments v. Antifederalists oppose strong central government: 1. may serve interests of privileged minority 2. unlikely to manage a large country well 3. Constitution does not protect individual rights

b. The Opposing Forces i. Urban centers Federalist; merchants, workers favor trade regulations ii. Small or weak states want protection of strong government iii. Rural areas Antifederalist; farmers fear additional taxes iv. Large or strong states fear loss of freedom to strong government v. The Federalist—essays that defend, explain, analyze Constitution vi. Antifederalists read Letters from the Federal Farmer: 1. lists rights they want protected

II. The Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification a. People Demand a Bill of Rights i. Antifederalists demand written guarantee of people’s rights ii. Federalists promise bill of rights if states ratify Constitution b. Ratification of the Constitution i. December 1787–June 1788, nine states ratify Constitution ii. Federalists need support of large states Virginia and New York iii. After opposition and debate, Virginia and New York ratify by 1788 iv. The new government becomes a reality in 1789

c. Adoption of a Bill of Rights i. 1791, Bill of Rights, or first ten amendments, ratified by states ii. First Amendment—freedom of religion, speech, press, politics iii. Second, Third—right to bear arms, no quartering of soldiers iv. Fourth through Eighth—fair treatment for persons accused of crimes v. Ninth—people’s rights not limited to those mentioned in Constitution vi. Tenth—people, states have all rights not specifically assigned