CHAPTER 6 Toward a More Perfect Union 1783 – 1788 There is no good government but what is republican.... because the very definition of a republic is "an empire of laws, and not of men." That, as a republic is the best of governments, so... that form of government which is best contrived to secure an impartial and exact execution of laws, is the best republic.“ --John Adams, Thoughts on Government (1776

"If I was equal to the task of forming a plan for the government of a colony, I should be flattered with your request, and very happy to comply with it; because, as the divine science of politics is the science of social happiness, and the blessings of society depend entirely on the constitutions of government, which are generally institutions that last for many generations, there can be no employment more agreeable to a benevolent mind than a research after the best.... We ought to consider what is the end of government, before we determine which is the best form. Upon this point all speculative politicians will agree, that the happiness of society is end of government, as all divines and moral philosophers will agree that the happiness of the individual is the end of man. From this principle it will follow, that the form of government which communicates ease, comfort, security, or, in one word, happiness, to the greatest number of persons, and in the greatest degree, is the best.... John Adams, Thoughts on Government (1776

"Mr. Chairman, the public mind, as well as my own, is extremely uneasy at the proposed change of government.... I consider myself as the servant of the people of this commonwealth, as a sentinel over their rights, liberty, and happiness. I represent their feeling when I say they are exceedingly uneasy at being brought from that state of full security, which they enjoyed, to the present delusive appearance of things.... If a wrong step be now made, the republic may be lost forever.... That this is a consolidated government is demonstrably clear; and the danger of such a government is... very striking.... What right had they [delegates to the Constitutional Convention] to say, We, the People? Who authorized them to speak the language, We, the people, instead of, We, the states? States are the characteristics and the soul of a confederation. If the states be not the agents of this compact, it must be one, great, consolidated, national government, of the people of all the states.“ -- Patrick Henry speaks against ratification of the Constitution (1788)

"I must take the liberty to make some observations on what was said by another gentleman (Mr. Henry) He told us that this Constitution ought to be rejected because it endangered the public liberty, in his opinion, in many instances. Give me leave to make one answer to that observation: Let the dangers which this system is supposed to be replete with be clearly pointed out: if any dangerous and unnecessary powers be given to the general legislature, let them be plainly demonstrated, and let us not rest satisfied without general assertions of danger, without examination…. Let us consider the most important of these reprobated powers; that of direct taxation is most generally objected to.... If this country should be engaged in war,...how would it be carried on?... I say, sir, that it is necessary to establish funds for extraordinary exigencies., and to give this power to the general government.... But it is urged that its consolidated nature, joined to the power of direct taxation, will give it a tendency to destroy all subordinate authority; that its increasing influence will speedily enable it to absorb the state governments.... It derives its authorities from these governments, and from the same source from which their authority is derived.... If we consider the mode in which the federal representatives will be chosen, we shall be convinced the general will never destroy the individual governments." -- James Madison defends the Constitution (1788)

Bibliography Charles and Mary Beard, An Economic Interpretation of the Constitution of the United States (1913) Fawn Brodie, Thomas Jefferson: An Intimate History (1974) Ralph Ketchum, The Anti-Federalist Papers and the Constitutional Convention Debates (1986) James Madison, Notes of Debates in the Federal Convention of 1787 Reported by James Madison (1787) James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, The Federalist Papers (1787) Dumas Malone, Jefferson and His Times ( ) Forest McDonald, Novus Ordo Seclorum: The Intellectual Origins of the Constitution (1985) Richard Morris, Witness at the Creation (1985)

North America in 1783 ©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning ™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Chapter Review Trace the effects of the War for Independence on the status of African Americans and on women. Discuss the Articles of Confederation, and tell what purpose they served in the earliest days of the Republic. Who was included in its language and who was left out? Briefly describe the economic, social and political challenges facing the new republic. Trace the general reasons for the movement toward Constitutional reform. Understand the various states’ viewpoints and explain them in brief. Describe the efforts of the Constitutional Convention, and give an overview of the finished product. Explain 4 key components of the new 1789 US Constitution. Compare the Articles of Confederation and U. S. Constitution. Compare the positions of the Federalists and the Anti-federalists.

Chapter Concepts Annapolis Convention,1786 Anti-federalists Articles of Confederation Bicameral Legislature – 3 branches of US government Bill of Rights Constitutional Convention – George Washington Constitutional Democracy Electoral College Federalism Great Compromise James Madison, John Jay, Alexander Hamilton – Federalist Papers Judicial Review [Marbury v. Madison, 1803] Land Ordinance of 1785, Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Natural Rights New Jersey Plan v. Virginia Plan Robert Morris Shays’s Rebellion, 1786 Suffrage

I. Politics and Change in the New Republic Articles of Confederation leave much power in hands of states Women get little attention from new government Growing abolition movement in North hints at more problems in future Religious freedom of expression grows somewhat, but religious tests for public office remain common

II. Challenges to the Confederation Inability to tax becomes major problem Demobilization of troops is additional problem Congress faces large war debt, and new federal bank frightens some Britain contributes to economic difficulties Relations with Europe remain tense, especially with Spain and Britain Congress passes Northwest Ordinances to regulate settlement there provide means for distributing land establish guidelines for formation of new states

Western Land Cessions, ©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning ™ is a trademark used herein under license.

Land Ordinance of 1785 ©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning ™ is a trademark used herein under license.

The Northwest Territory and the Rectangular Survey

III. Political and Economic Turmoil English demands for payment in specie and imposition of state taxes overburden Americans Farmers feel left out of decision-making Massachusetts farmers join Shays’ Rebellion, but government prevails

IV. The Movement for Constitutional Reform Philadelphia Convention of May 1787 addresses nation’s problems Constitutional Convention in the fall sets out to establish a truly workable government Virginia Plan and New Jersey plan demonstrate different goals of large and small states “Great compromise” expands role of federal government

Formation of constitution requires hard work Decisions include establishment of electoral college, balance of power in Congress, provision for using population for both representation and taxation Debate over ratification divides Americans, but Federalists prevail and constitution becomes law in June 1788

©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning ™ is a trademark used herein under license. Ratification of Constitution