The U.S. Constitution Unit II

During the Revolutionary Era, most Americans identified with their local communities rather than with the American nation. “Pennsylvanian, New Englander, Virginian” “These united States”

As a result of the Revolution, more people (men) began to participate in elections and by serving on governing bodies.

In Britain were two major political parties: Whigs and Tories. Tories believed that colonial legislatures existed to serve the crown. Whigs believed that power must be kept in the hands of the aristocrats. (colonial elites wanted power) These parties both had followers in the colonies. Farmers, artisans challenged this and were more democratic.

State Governments As the states began to write their constitutions, they adopted different forms of government. Pennsylvania adopted a “radical democracy”. All free male taxpayers could vote, no governor. New York adopted the middle of the road position. Property ownership required to serve in the upper house & governor. Governor’s power was limited. Maryland took the conservative position and required property ownership to vote and had a powerful governor.

Precedent to the Bill of Rights Virginia Declaration of Rights – June 1776 – All men created equal, life, liberty, property, people are sovereign, right to abolish government, due process, trial by jury, press, free exercise of religion.

Jefferson Eliminate the law of “entail” or “primogeniture” Move toward democracy in property ownership. Religious freedom Great Awakening caused new sects to start. Wanted to be rid of STATE or “established” churches

Getting ideas….Thinking! If all men are created equal and have rights….why not women, too! They had helped with the Revolution. Abigail Adams The Revolution changed expectations for women, but they really gained no new rights.

Getting ideas…Thinking! As a result of the ideas spread in the American Revolution, some people freed their slaves. The population of free African Americans grew. Some adopted “gradual emancipation” in which children of slaves would be freed at birth. Again, the Revolution did not do much to improve the condition of African Americans, but it raised their expectations for liberty and equality.

Shays’ Rebellion Bankers were foreclosing on the loans of farmers to pay back wealthy businessmen. Farmers were losing their land. Daniel Shays led an uprising in Massachusetts. This caused the people with wealth and power to fear popular uprisings. Some saw a need for a strong central government to put down insurrections.

Post Revolution Economy The states owed a lot of money they had borrowed to pay for the war. The economy was in a bad recession. States passed laws requiring taxes to be paid in “hard currency.” Some states passed trade restrictions, but traders just went to states without the restrictions. People began to see a need for national laws with national enforcement.

Annapolis Convention 1786 Called for a convention of the states to change the Articles of Confederation to address the problems. They said they were just going to “revise” the Articles of Confederation.

The Constitutional Convention They met in Philadelphia. Most of the delegates were educated men: political leaders, army officers, slave owners, land speculators, and merchants. No ordinary farmers or artisans were present. The delegates feared ordinary people and too much democracy.

The Constitutional Convention George Washington was selected to chair the convention. The sessions were to be held in secret. It quickly changed its purpose from revising the Articles to completely re-drafting a completely new constitution.

The Constitutional Convention The Virginia Plan – would give the central government the power to tax the people directly and to enforce the tax directly, cutting out the states. Two House Legislature: – House – chosen by popular vote – Senate – chosen by the state legislatures  Appointed chief executive  Power to veto both state and national legislation.

The Constitutional Convention The New Jersey Plan One house (unicameral) Congress Equal representation for all states.

The Great Compromise House of Representatives based on population Senate with equal representation from each state For every 5 slaves, only 3 would count to determine population for representation purposed. (3/5 Rule or 3/5 Compromise) No restrictions on the importation of slaves for 20 years. Executive elected by an electoral college, executive with veto power over lelgislation

The Constitution Sought to limit power from being concentrated by establishing a system of checks and balances. – 3 branches – Federalism – national, state, local governments

The Constitution Nine of the 12 states needed to ratify. It was close in several states: New York, Virginia, Massachusetts. North Carolina and Rhode Island rejected it.

The Constitution Federalists supported ratification. They said the size of the U.S. was an advantage because the interests would be so diverse that no single faction could dominate. Merchants, manufacturers, large landowners, professionals made up 54% of federalists. Federalists tended to be concentrated in the cities. “The Federalist” papers – to persuade people to ratify.

The Constitution Antifederalists opposed ratification. They said the Constitution helped the rich at the expense of the people. They said the central government had too much power. They argued that states and communities would lose sovereignty. They believed it would lead to a loss of rights. They were primarily farmers and rural. “The Anti-federalist” Papers were written to persuade people to vote no.

Bill of Rights In order to get some states to agree to ratify the Constitution, the delegates agreed to draft a Bill of Rights, adopted in 1791, to guarantee individual liberties and to restrain the central government’s power even more.

Bill of Rights Press Religion Speech Assembly Petition No Quartering Arms Due process No double jeopardy The Bill of Rights was to be a restraining influence on the growth of government.