1. Constitution and the New Nation

2. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Allowed for the creation of new states in the Northwest Territory.
Also called for the creation of territorial and state governments.
Forbade slavery
Provided for Public education
Called for fair dealings with the Indians.

3. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
No national unity
No ability to tax
No ability to regulate foreign or interstate trade
Each state had one vote in congress, regardless of population size
9/13 to pass important laws
All 13 to revise the Articles
No executive branch
No national court system

4. New Constitution
Three branches of government to provide checks and balances
Executive branch
Judicial branch
Legislative branch

5. The Great Compromise
Bicameral legislature: The House of Representatives and the Senate
House representation based on population
Senate- each state allowed 2 votes
Lengths of term provided for each
Senators were originally selected by state legislatures.

6. Three-fifths Compromise
3/5ths of the number of slaves would be counted for both representation and taxation.
National government forbidden to interfere with the slave trade until 1808

7. Government Power in the Constitution
Division of power – Federalism
Separation of powers – three branches
Checks and balances – check the actions of the other two branches.

8. Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Supported the Constitution
Strongest in urban areas
Want a strong central government
Supported by merchants, skilled workers, laborers
Washington, Hamilton, Madison
Opposed the Constitution as written
Strongest in rural areas
Opposed a strong central government
Concerned that the Constitution didn’t include a Bill of Rights.
Samuel Adams, Jefferson, Patrick Henry

9. Federalist Papers
Series of essays written by Hamilton, Madison, and John Jay in favor of the Constitution. In-depth analysis of the Constitution including:
Separation of powers, specific provisions, majority rule balanced with sustaining minority rights.
Anti-Federalists wrote “Letters from the Federal Farmer” arguing for a Bill of Rights that would protect individual liberties.

10. The Bill of Rights
Lists the important civil liberties to which all Americans are entitled.

11. Development of Political Parties
Hamilton – Federalist Party
Jefferson – Democratic Republicans
Strong federal government
Rule by elite
Loose interpretation of the Constitution
National Bank
Pay state debts
Merchants, landowners, investors, wealthy
Supported Britain in foreign affairs.
Power to the states
Farmers and commoners can rule themselves
Strict interpretation of the Constitution
Pay national debts, not state.
Opposed a National Bank
Supported France in foreign affairs.

12. National Bank A National Bank was proposed. Hold government funds
Circulate uniform national currency
Lend money to the government

13. National Bank
Jefferson and Madison argued that the Constitution made no provision for establishing a bank (strict interpretation)
Hamilton argued that the bank was “necessary and proper’ to perform the government’s financial duties (loose construction).
Congress approved a 20 year charter for the “Bank of the United States”

14. The Whiskey Rebellion 1794
Western Pennsylvania farmers, who relied on selling their distilled grain, rebelled against the excise tax.
A strong militia force scattered the rebels
Incident confirmed the power of the national government to enforce its laws
For most Westerners this provided additional reasons to support the Jeffersonian opposition.

15. Foreign Issues French Revolution – declared Neutrality
Northwest Territory – defeat = Ohio
Jay’s Treaty – not popular
Pickney’s Treaty – Miss. River and Florida

16. Alien and Sedition Acts (1798)
Federalist-controlled Congress passed laws to hurt the other party.
A Naturalization Act lengthened the residence requirement for aliens (considered likely to vote Republican) to become citizens.
A Sedition Act provided for restrictions on free speech and freedom of the press.

17. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (1798)
Republicans turned to state legislatures to oppose the Alien and Sedition Acts.
Resolutions affirmed the compact theory of government: theory says that the states were in a compact with the federal government, and if the government oversteps its bounds, then the states have the right to reject (nullify) the law.

18. Significance of all this:
We develop a flexible, strong Federal government that still exists today.
Political parties were formed.
The idea of nullification was used later, especially in the South.
America still got pulled into foreign conflicts, despite our efforts otherwise.
The right to dissent was endangered.