1. Early Governments of the United States Achievements and Legacies

2. 2 nd Continental Congress: 1776-1781 Central Government Raised an army Established an alliance with France Borrowed money- foreign loans Secured peace with Britain Couldn’t deal with economic recession of late Revolutionary period. Incredible debt

3. Articles of Confederation: 1781-1787

4. Articles of Confederation Land Ordinance of 1785 NW Ordinance of 1787 Inability to tax Raise an army Deal with economic problems Shay’s Rebellion

5. Constitutional Convention Compromises/regional awareness Gave South protection to slave trade for 20 years…also appealed to North. 3/5 Compromise Great compromise Gave state governments significant authority

6. Ratification…the biggest fight. Needed 9/13 state “conventions” Subject of our first great national debate Federalists—it would create a strong prosperous union AF—would erode the power of the states and cater to the wealthy

7. Antifederalists Usually wealthy southerners or elite NY merchants/bankers Fearful of too much government Erosion of Republican institutions into tyranny

8. Quotes: “This will be the government of oppression…a few years ago we fought for liberty; we framed a general government on free principles; we placed power in the state legislatures…Now it is proposed to do the contrary.”

9. “It is the opinion of the ablest writers on the subject, that no extensive empire can be governed on the basis of republican principles, and that such a government will degenerate into tyranny unless it is made up of a confederacy of smaller states.”

10. “This new system is therefore a consolidation of all the states into one large mass, however diverse the parts might be. The attempt made by Great Britain to introduce such a system struck us with horrour (sic).”

11. Federalists Had to “counter” AF arguments Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison Elaborated on “checks and balances” Safeguarding republicanism— importance of factions (parties?)

12. Tipping the scales Federalist papers Admission of a request for the Bill of Rights Washington’s agreement to lead

13. Close conventions Some were unanimous…others were close. 57-47 New Hampshire 187-178 Massachusetts 89-79 in Virginia 30-27 in New York