The New Political Order

Creating New Constitutions Who would rule? Democracy v. Republic Pennsylvania's Constitution John Adams “Middling Men” and legislatures take the reigns of governments Women  education!

Virginia state Constitution, written by Madison

The Articles of Confederation –1777 A Loose Confederation of States Congressional powers Declare war and policy Collect/request funds for defense Borrow and print money (whose money?) Problems Changing the document Powers Majority vote for legislation Unicameral Congress could not _____________! Oh no! Success! Land Ordinances of ’80s and Northwest Ordinance of ’87  western organization and process of statehood

Articles continued… Debt? Tax? Inflation? Money? Trade? Shay’s Rebellion High taxes and debt Protested pro-creditor policies and elite rule Riot Act Easily dispersed Whose tyranny do we now live under? We need a stronger government? Will she tear herself asunder?

Constitution of 1787 Patriots v. Nationalists State v. Federal tax policies Philadelphia Convention -1787, 55 Delegates Enter Hamilton and Madison Propertied men Question of representation: Great Compromise Electoral college to satisfy states Slavery

Ratification and Implementation Federalists Antifederalist The Federalist Papers Compromise with the Bill of Rights Spring of 1788, 9 Ratified Washington Judiciary Act of 1789

Plan for Washington D.C. by Jefferson

Political Division of the 1790s Fiscal policy Hamilton v. Jefferson’s vision The French revolution Proclamation of Neutrality Jay’s Treaty Excise tax and Whiskey Rebellion 1 st Parties in US Adam’s Presidency Naturalization Act Alien Act Sedition Act VA and Kentucky Resolutions  nullification? “The Revolution of 1800”

It serves always to distract the public councils and enfeeble the public administration. It agitates the community with ill-founded jealousies and false alarms, kindles the animosity of one part against another, foments occasionally riot and insurrection. It opens the door to foreign influence and corruption, which finds a facilitated access to the government itself through the channels of party passions. Thus the policy and the will of one country are subjected to the policy and will of another.

The alternate domination of one faction over another, sharpened by the spirit of revenge, natural to party dissension, which in different ages and countries has perpetrated the most horrid enormities, is itself a frightful despotism. But this leads at length to a more formal and permanent despotism. The disorders and miseries which result gradually incline the minds of men to seek security and repose in the absolute power of an individual; and sooner or later the chief of some prevailing faction, more able or more fortunate than his competitors, turns this disposition to the purposes of his own elevation, on the ruins of public liberty.

However combinations or associations of the above description may now and then answer popular ends, they are likely, in the course of time and things, to become potent engines, by which cunning, ambitious, and unprincipled men will be enabled to subvert the power of the people and to usurp for themselves the reins of government, destroying afterwards the very engines which have lifted them to unjust dominion.

Millions for our defense, not a cent for tribute