The Confederation and the Constitution, 1776-1790 Unit 3: The U. S The Confederation and the Constitution, 1776-1790 Unit 3: The U.S. Constitution and the Early National Period “ What happened was accelerated evolution rather than outright revolution” ---American Pageant

Essential Questions How did the revolution affect social customs, political institutions and ideas about government? What role did compromise play in the creation of the federal Constitution How did the debate surrounding the strength and scope of the national government lead to the creation of the two party system?

Separating Church and State Congregational Church Anglican Church and the Protestant Episcopal Church Disestablishment Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom (1786)

Slavery Philadelphia Quakers Call for abolition Differences between North & South Political expediency

The Role of Women Civic virtue Republican Motherhood: Elevating women to a newly prestigious role as the special keepers of the nation’s conscience.

State Constitutions Continental Congress called upon colonies to draft new constitutions (become states) Sovereignty according to republican ideals Authority of the people Connecticut and Rhode Island Massachusetts (oldest) and the constitutional convention

Similarities Aided the drafting of the federal constitution Constitutions represented contracts that defined the powers of government Not the British tradition Inclusion of Bill of Rights Annual election of legislatures Weak executive and judicial branches

Now What? Suspicion of authority Unification and the removal of the common cause Loss of the conservative voice Sovereignty of the thirteen states Coin money Raise armies and navies Enact tariffs Virginia’s separate treaty with France

Articles of Confederation Adopted in 1777, ratified in 1781 Convince allies of a genuine government Western lands Central authority

Features of the AoC Loose confederation for dealing with common problems (foreign affairs) No executive branch Judicial authority at the state level Hobbled Congress Each state had one vote Nine votes required for passage Unanimous vote required for amending AoC No power to regulate commerce

Land Laws Land Ordinance of 1785 Survey, Sale to pay off debt, Subdivision & education:

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Defined path to statehood (7 steps). Banned slavery in the Old Northwest. Exempted slaves already present. Served as a model for future expansion. A Triumphant Cartoon This cartoon appeared in the Massachusetts Centinel on August 2, 1788. Note the two laggards, especially the sorry condition of Rhode Island.

Constitutional Convention Shay’s Rebellion (1786)… Eventually met in Philadelphia in 1787. 55 members, 12 states Propertied, elite. Many Revolutionary leaders were absent. Economic motives for meeting (land). Desire to curtail “unrestrained democracy”.

Independence Hall, Philadelphia

The Necessity to Compromise To scrap or revise? Large-state plan – The Virginia Plan Small-state plan – The New Jersey Plan Great Compromise Robust executive branch Electoral college Three-fifths Compromise Ending the slave trade

Ratification Antifederalists Federalists Debates within the states Call for a Bill of Rights Rhode Island – last to ratify.

Conservative Triumph Minority victory in revolution. Minority led the writing of the federal Constitution. Only 1/4th of the adult white males voted for the delegates to the constitutional conventions. Eventually, the decision to ratify meant not being left out as opposed to wanting to belong. Conservatives protected against “mob-rule” excesses.