The Republican Experiment 1776-1791 Chapter Six The Republican Experiment 1776-1791

As the Revolution Continued The New Nation created a government under the Articles of Confederation. This was a weak national government Partially designed to avoid the “tyranny” of the Crown in England

States Were Experimenting with Government Setting up their own constitutions These documents created strong states. This is the basic concept of federalism. The division of governmental authority between the state and federal government. At the time of the American Revolution the State was considered to be the more powerful. Why do you think that was? Popular opinion at the time was for a weak central government. What would have caused that to be the case?

Changes in Society and Politics Aristocracy replaced by equality Repeal of primogeniture Lower property requirements to vote Inclusion of western settlers in state government Steps to separate church and state

African Americans Abolitionist Movement grows Strong voices and role models Benjamin Banneker Phillis Wheatley Slavery begins to die in the north Prejudice and racism still alive Slavery expands in South

Women’s Rights Women’s roles not determined by duties Education Abigail Adams Women’s roles not determined by duties Education Equal authority in the home Divorce initiative Legal rights Lucy Knox

Common Features in State Constitutions Belief in natural rights List of individual rights Separation of Powers (3) Voting extended to white male property owners Office holders held to a higher property qualification than voters Why a list of rights? How would this dovetail into the Declaration of Independence? What are the three powers? Why would this separation be important to the new nation? What kind of conditions had we just been under? Should office holders be held to a higher standard than other citizens?

Articles of Confederation Drafted in 1777 By the 2nd Continental Congress Issue of western land settled first Ratification delayed until 1781 People not ready for strong central government Again the issue is a federalist one. Who has control of these vast territories? The states laid claim to them and were reluctant to turn them over to the central government. If the states had been allowed to maintain claims, Some states would have extended all the way to the Pacific. Slowly but surely they turned over claims to the central government.

Structure of the New Government One Branch: Legislative Unicameral Each state had one vote At least nine votes required to pass laws Unanimous vote needed to amend the articles. Brainstorm a list of the problems that could be foreseen by the framers of this plan. Why would they be reluctant to form a strong central government? What is the problem with a unanimous vote? Why might some states disagree with the one state one vote concept? How much could a government like this accomplish?

Powers of Congress Wage war Make treaties Send diplomatic representatives Borrow money What important power is missing?

Powers Not Given to Congress Regulate commerce Collect taxes (states decided how much money to send to the federal government. Power to enforce laws Why make a federal government this weak?

Accomplishments Winning the Revolutionary War Treaty of Paris Land Ordinance of 1785, public policy for western lands, supported public education. Northwest Ordinance of 1787. The Articles of Confederation were not a complete bust. Some gains were made Biggest accomplishment was the formation of a standard policy for growth and the addition of new states.

Northwest Ordinance 3-5 territories between Great Lakes and Ohio River Government: Set up by Congress Population reaches 5,000: Elect assembly Population reaches 60,000: Write a constitution and apply for statehood The ordinance opened up the debate over the spread of slavery. That issue continues throughout the early history of the US with compromises and more compromises. The tension of expansion rests in the issue of slavery allowed or not.

Financial Problems War debts unpaid Worthless paper money issued Without the power to tax, national needs went unmet. A week national government did not benefit the nation. Who did it benefit? Who was “making out like a bandit?

Foreign Problems Little respect for new nation that could not pay her debts. Britain and Spain renewed interest in Western lands. Major issues were looming. Was the new nation strong enough to fight additional assertions from European countries?

Domestic Problems Domestic uprisings occur as a result of the power vacuum. Shays’ Rebellion demonstrated that a stronger national government was needed. Shay's Rebellion: Could it happen again? Crushed by debt and taxes, Shays led his followers to a rebellion aimed at preventing farm foreclosures. His movement forced judges out of their courtrooms and freed debtors from jails. Washington and other Federalists were outraged, viewing Shay’s’ rebellion as a threat to the principles of property rights. The Constitution of 1789 was designed, in part, with the motive of protecting such rights.  

Constitutional Convention 1787 meeting on amending the Articles of confederation turned into a historical session where the constitution of the US was drafted. Importance of James Madison in the formulation of the Constitution cannot be overemphasized.

Format of Government Bicameral legislature Three branches of government with shared powers Division of powers between federal and state governments Unique document for its time.

Document of Compromise Two houses of Congress One based on population (VA) One based on equality (NJ) Great Compromise Large states wanted representation based on population Small states wanted equal representation for all states Why? Compromise came from Connecticut: A Bicameral system with one house based on population and the other house based on equality. Also called the Great Compromise

Compromise on Slavery Three-fifths Compromise. Foreign Slave Trade would stop in 1808. The south wanted to count all their slaves in their population totals for the House of Representatives. The North did not want any of the slaves to count. Met in the “middle “ with the 3/5s decision and a ban on foreign slave trade after 1808.

Compromise on Commerce Placed tariff on imports but did not place taxes on exports. The North wanted a tariff on imports to protect their new industry and markets. The South was afraid that this tariff would also be placed on exports. The compromise was that imports are taxed, but exports are not.

Articles vs. Constitution Complete the chart comparing the Articles of Confederation to the Constitution.

Debate over the Constitution Division between Federalists and Anti- federalists demonstrated that very different visions of America and the scope of the federal government existed in the US at this time.

The Debate Federalist Anti-Federalist Strong Nation /weak state Constitution as is Bill of Rights not necessary Government and people are the same Executive necessary for strong nation Strong state / weak nation Constitution omits rights Addition of Bill of Rights People need protection from the government Strong executive would tend to be like king

Leadership FEDERALISTS ANTI-FEDERALISTS George Washington James Madison Alexander Hamilton John Jay ANTI-FEDERALISTS George Clinton Patrick Henry Thomas Jefferson Richard Henry Lee

Federalist / Anti-Federalist Activity Complete activity