Building the Republic 1775-1789

Articles of Confederation Written 1775 Finalized 1777 Required 7 states to pass legislation Unanimous vote to change the Articles Revenue was based on property values No way to force states to pay taxes No executive or judicial branch Ratified 1781

The States By 1778 most states had their own constitutions Government was based on the consent of the governed Citizenship, and voting rights based on property Women excluded Slaves excluded By 1804 Pa, NY, Cn, RI, NJ, abolished slavery Colonial money was near worthless

1786-1787 1785 Land Ordinance of 1785 established the abilitiy to survey and purchase western land. 1787 Northwest Ordinance- set the protocol for statehood. 60,000 people were required to apply for statehood. Banned slavery north of the Ohio River. Ohio was the first state to be created from the Northwest Territory

Shays’ Rebellion 1786-1787 Shay’s Rebellion- Anger over high taxes, debtors prisons, and lack of pay for Revolutionary War service, Daniel Shays organized a rebellion in Massachusetts. The mob seized an arsenal and the militia was called in to put down the rebellion. This led to the Constitutional Convention to rewrite or replace the Articles of Confederation

Constitutional Convention May 1787 State delegates began to meet in Philadelphia to consider government options Federalists- wanted a strong central government that could protect economic status. Benjamin Franklin Anti-Federalists- feared the infringement of individual rights especially with the issue of taxation. Most were farmers or manual laborers. Samuel Adams and Patrick Henry

Virginia Plan 3 branches of government 2 house legislature, strong executive branch, judicial branch Representation in both houses based on population

New Jersey Plan Single house of congress 3 man presidency elected by congress Congress had power to tax, regulate trade, and use force on unruly states

Great Compromise July 1787 Also known as the Connecticut Compromise Bicameral legislature House of Representatives determined by population elected by the people Senate 2 senators from each state appointed by the state legislature 3/5 Compromise stated that 3/5 slaves could count toward population total for representation Electoral College casts votes for the president Bill of Rights

Influences of the Enlightenment Enlightenment figures such as John Locke greatly inspired American political thought. The idea that Republicanism and Representative Democracy was superior to monarchy was a key Enlightenment principle. John Locke- natural rights challenged the rule of kings and queens. Sovereignty was derived from the consent of the governed. Baron de Montesquieu- called for the separation of powers

Influences of the Enlightenment Jacques Rousseau championed direct democracy and the idea of reason over emotion. The Enlightenment was the key influence in the writing of the Constitution and motivations for the Revolution.