Chapter 5 – The Constitution of the United States Section 1 – Government by the States

Early Government Now that the states won their freedom they faced questions: –Can they keep freedom AND maintain order? –What kind of government should a free people have? Individuals thought of themselves as citizens of each state rather than of the nation. English usage of “the United States” (?) Articles of Confederation – Cont. Congress suggested this in 1777; adopted by the colonies/states in –1 branch: Congress. It carried out both the legislative and executive duties of government (?) –Could declare war and borrow money but it could not tax. Could not force the states to provide money – had to ask –Each state could send as many delegates to Congress as they wanted – but each state only got 1 vote. –Any measure involving money needed a vote of 9 out of 13. –Any change to the Articles needed a vote of 13 out of 13.

Early Government, continued State Constitutions –Constitution – plan of government that describes the different parts of the gov’t and their duties and powers. –During and immediately after Revolution, state gov’ts had more power than the nat’l gov’t. –Pennsylvania’s constitution of 1776 became the first to allow all white men 21 years old and older who paid taxes – not only wealthy property owners Established a unicameral (?) legislature – NOW Nebraska is the only state with one of those State Representatives had to run for election every year!

Opposition to the Articles democracy - government by the people republic – a democracy in which there are elected representatives of the people NOTE: democrat = one who believes in a government by the people Democrat = a member of the Democratic Party republican = one who believes that there should be elected representatives of the people Republican = a member of the Republican Party 1.Economic problems – –3 years after the Revolution (1786) nation owed $50 million – very large amount for that time –Each state issued their own paper money –States heavily taxed goods going to other states –Upper class believed these problems were because average citizens had too much power in their state legislatures

Opposition to Articles, continued 2.Concerns about weak government Nationalists – a group in the early 1780s who wanted the national gov’t to be stronger Included some members of Congress, former military officers, merchants, planters, lawyers Included George Washington, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton Worried that challenging authority and demanding individual rights was getting out of hand Most Americans were happy with how things were. They thought it was better to have mistakes under a gov’t of the people than to have order under tyrants. The gov’t was strong enough to get independence from England, therefore strong enough.

6 Oppositions to the Articles, continued 3.Learning from history All prior attempts to have a republican gov’t had failed (including the Roman Republic) 4.America as a model All agreed that America was a model for the world – that it would be irresponsible to allow the country to become politically violent 5.The Annapolis Convention Maryland and Virginia met at G.W.’s home at Mt. Vernon to try to resolve their trade disputes 1786, a further meeting held in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss economic plans and a federal plan to regulate interstate and foreign commerce (?) Only 12 delegates from 5 states showed up Decided to have another convention in Philadelphia in 1787

Shays’ Rebellion Causes of the Rebellion –States had to pay war debts; raised taxes –Massachusetts put highest direct tax on its citizens and demanded it be paid in gold or silver rather than in the paper money they made –Opposition from farmers in western part of state – area hardest hit – losing properties for not being able to pay taxes The Rebellion –Daniel Shays was a Revolutionary war veteran who was about to be jailed for not being able to pay his debts –1786 Shays led a rebellion Chased away tax collectors Protested taxes with petitions and meetings When they lost in court, they forced the courts to close Shays and a small army went to an arsenal to get weapons and riot –Congress could do nothing because they had no money to raise an army –Massachusetts raised an army and put down the rebellion in Jan 1787 Effects of the Rebellion –Rebels: determined to defy any gov’t that acts against people’s wishes –Prominent Americans: national gov’t needs to be strengthened to avoid civil unrest –May 1787 – Philadelphia convention opened with representatives from 12 states – James Madison said that the results of the convention would “decide forever the fate of republican government.”