Foundations of the Constitution

In the beginning… 1750s-Great Britain was in debt and searching for new revenue. 1750s-Great Britain was in debt and searching for new revenue. The colonies paid little in taxes and had just been defended by the British during the French and Indian War The colonies paid little in taxes and had just been defended by the British during the French and Indian War The colonies, however, had lived under self rule for over 100 years and were not willing to give that up. The colonies, however, had lived under self rule for over 100 years and were not willing to give that up.

Revolution The Declaration of Independence was based on the idea that government was a social contract between the people and WE have a right to break it when OUR natural rights are violated. The Declaration of Independence was based on the idea that government was a social contract between the people and WE have a right to break it when OUR natural rights are violated. “The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Suspicions, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly define, than at any former period.”-George Washington “The foundation of our Empire was not laid in the gloomy age of Ignorance and Suspicions, but at an Epoch when the rights of mankind were better understood and more clearly define, than at any former period.”-George Washington

Articles of Confederation Adopted in 1781, the Articles was the first government of the new United States. Adopted in 1781, the Articles was the first government of the new United States. –The Articles of Confederation was designed around the idea of a confederation (a loose collection of states) where the states retained the power and the national government had only specific and limited powers. –The Articles was a league of friendship and an attempt to prevent the same government the Americans rebelled from.

Articles of Confederation Weakness of Articles: Weakness of Articles: 1. No executive branch 2. Central government could not collect taxes (and states didn’t have to pay them) 3. No federal judiciary to settle interstate disputes 4. Unanimous consent of states to pass amendments 5. 1 state-1 vote 6. No regulation of interstate or foreign commerce

Other post-Revolution issues British refused to leave forts in the north British refused to leave forts in the north Indians being supplied by British to raid the frontier Indians being supplied by British to raid the frontier Barbary pirates raiding American shipping Barbary pirates raiding American shipping America shut out of British West Indies America shut out of British West Indies Huge war debt Huge war debt Conflicting state trade arrangements Conflicting state trade arrangements

Shay’s Rebellion-America’s first Civil War After war, American’s buying up luxury goods on credit. British began demanding money back, British leaned on importers, who leaned on shopkeepers, who leaned on farmers (most of whom were veterans of the Revolution) who had no money. After war, American’s buying up luxury goods on credit. British began demanding money back, British leaned on importers, who leaned on shopkeepers, who leaned on farmers (most of whom were veterans of the Revolution) who had no money. Farmers that lacked money, were put in debtors prison, sometimes for life. Farmers that lacked money, were put in debtors prison, sometimes for life. In Massachusetts, the state government raised taxes to pay off war debt (but where would money come from?) In Massachusetts, the state government raised taxes to pay off war debt (but where would money come from?) Farmers were hardest hit, so they banned together and rebelled, closing courthouses and burning records of debt. As the rebellion grew, the people looked to national government, which could do nothing because of Articles Farmers were hardest hit, so they banned together and rebelled, closing courthouses and burning records of debt. As the rebellion grew, the people looked to national government, which could do nothing because of Articles

Impact of Shay’s rebellion Following rebellion, Washington was quoted as saying, “What a triumph for our enemies to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves.” Following rebellion, Washington was quoted as saying, “What a triumph for our enemies to find that we are incapable of governing ourselves.” And, “Good God! who besides a …Briton predicted them! were these people wiser than others, or did they judge of us from the corruption, and depravity of their own hearts? The latter I am persuaded was the case, and that notwithstanding the boasted virtue of America, we are far gone in every thing ignoble and bad.” And, “Good God! who besides a …Briton predicted them! were these people wiser than others, or did they judge of us from the corruption, and depravity of their own hearts? The latter I am persuaded was the case, and that notwithstanding the boasted virtue of America, we are far gone in every thing ignoble and bad.” Calls for a convention to revise the Articles went out, and on May 25, 1787 delegates began working on the Constitution. Calls for a convention to revise the Articles went out, and on May 25, 1787 delegates began working on the Constitution. By the way, Shay fled to Vermont, pardoned in 1788, received his promised $20 a month pension by 1820 and died in By the way, Shay fled to Vermont, pardoned in 1788, received his promised $20 a month pension by 1820 and died in 1825.

Food for Thought Washington also said of the Revolution– “At this auspicious period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own.” Washington also said of the Revolution– “At this auspicious period, the United States came into existence as a Nation, and if their Citizens should not be completely free and happy, the fault will be entirely their own.”