1. Chapter 7
Give Me Liberty!
An American History by
Eric Foner

2. ©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc
©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.
North America in 1783

3. I. Articles of Confederation
A. A treaty for mutual defense
1. Origins 1777
a. Drafting
b. Ratification
2. Structure-federal government was an agent of the state
3. Extent and limits of powers
war, foreign policy, make treaties
B. Disposition of the West
1. Competing agendas
a. Indians
b. Settlers
c. Land companies and speculators
FEDERALISM defined:
relationship
John Jay treaty with Spain over ports

4. I. Articles of Confederation
B. Disposition of the West—MOST important accomplishment
2. Congressional measures
a. Acquisition of Indian lands
i. Northern
ii. Southern
b. Ordinance of 1784-stages of self-government
c. Ordinance of 1785-regualted land sales; education
d. Sale of frontier lands to private groups
e. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
i. Plan for future 3-5 states
ii. Recognition of Indian claim to land
iii. Prohibition of slavery in region

5. Western Land Cessions, 1782-1802
©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.
Western Land Cessions,

6. The Northwest Territory and the Rectangular Survey

7. ©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc
©2004 Wadsworth, a division of Thomson Learning, Inc. Thomson Learning™ is a trademark used herein under license.
Land Ordinance of 1785

8. I. Articles of Confederation
C. Confederation lacked the authority to discharge debt
1. Points of controversy (no resources, power to tax, amend)
a. Unredeemed wartime bonds
b. Glut of imported goods
c. State tariffs
d. State debt relief measures
e. State issuance of paper money
2. Shays’ Rebellion (Mass.)
a. Objectives and spirit
b. Suppression
c. Upper-class alarm
3. Newburgh Conspiracy

9. I. Articles of Confederation
C. Confederation government under fire
3. Nationalist impulse
a. Concerns
i. Lack of national economic policy
ii. Popular infringement on property rights
iii. Social disorder
b. Leading figures
i. James Madison
ii. Alexander Hamilton
c. Main sources of support
i. Bondholders
ii. Large landholders
iii. Merchants
iv. Urban artisans
d. Initial mobilization
1786-Annapolis Convention

10. II. A new constitution Delegates to Constitutional Convention-1787
1. Elite backgrounds-55 men
2. Shared experience in struggle for independence
3. Shared aims
a. Stronger national authority
b. Curbs on “excesses of democracy”
c. Address nation’s problems

11. II. A new constitution B. Structure of government
1. Points of agreement
a. Creation of legislative, executive, and judicial branches
b. Congressional power to raise revenue
c. Protection of property rights from state infringement
d. Middle ground between excessive central power and excessive democracy
2. Debate over structure of Congress
a. Underlying issues
i. Balance between state and federal power
ii. Balance between large and small state interests
b. Competing proposals
i. Virginia plan (bicameral, lower elected house, appointed executive and judicial)
ii. New Jersey plan (one house, equal representation, expanded Congressional powers)
c. Solution: “GREAT COMPROMISE”

12. II. A new constitution C. Extent and limits of democracy
1. Expansions of democracy
a. Popular election of House of Representatives
b. Absence of property qualifications for voting
2. Limits of democracy
a. Small size of House of Representatives (65)
b. Indirect election of Senate
c. Indirect election of president and vice-president
d. Life appointments to Supreme Court

13. II. A new constitution (cont’d)
Division of powers
federalism:
1. Expanded national authority
a. Presidential powers
b. Congressional powers
c. Supremacy of national over state legislation
2. Remaining areas of state power
E. Separation of powers; checks and balances

14. II. A new constitution (cont’d)
F. The slavery question
1. Controversy over
2. Outcomes
a. Absence of mention in constitution
b. Slave trade clause-1808
c. Fugitive slave clause
d. Three-fifths clause
G. Conclusion of Constitutional Convention
1. Approval of final draft
2. Transmission to states for ratification

15. Ratification of Constitution
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Ratification of Constitution
Web

16. Ratification was NOT certain
A. Federalists
1. Mobilization
a. Leadership of Madison, Hamilton, Jay; The Federalist
b. Support among urban and commercial agricultural interests
2. Positions
a. Strong national government as guarantor of liberty
b. Urgency of balancing democracy and property rights
c. Securing rights by “extending the sphere”
d. “Liberal” self-interest over “republican” virtue

17. Ratification debate B. Anti-Federalists 1. Mobilization
a. Diffuse leadership
b. Support among small farmers, state politicians
2. Positions
a. Strong national government as threat to liberty
i. Specter of domination by elite interests
ii. Specter of denial of rights
b. Locally based democracy over “extended sphere”
C. Ratification: By 1788, 9 states had ratified

18. Bill of Rights D. Impetus behind 1. Key provisions 1. 6. 2. 7. 3. 8.
“unalienable rights”
2. Significance and legacy

19. National identity- “We the People”
A. Ethnic vs. civil criteria
B. Indians in the new nation
1. Conflicting approaches of white Americans
a. Exclusion
b. Incorporation
2. Early national policies
a. Marginalization of Indians in constitution
b. Appropriation of Indian lands under treaty system
c. Ohio Valley conflicts and Treaty of Greenville
i. Indian relinquishment of Ohio and Indiana lands
ii. Establishment of “annuity system”
d. Program to encourage American-style agriculture
i. Prescriptions for “male” and “female” labor
ii. Widespread rejection by tribes

20. IV. National identity C. Blacks in the new nation
1. Access to rights of citizenship
a. Ambiguous status of free blacks
b. Unambiguous exclusion of enslaved blacks
c. Explicit denial of black eligibility for naturalization
2. Growing view of blacks as inassimilable
a. Hector St. John Crèvecoeur’s Letters from an American Farmer-melting pot,1/5 black
b. Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia

21. Discussion Questions
Analyze the Articles of Confederation. What issues did they fail to address?
Examine the causes and consequences of Shay’s Rebellion.
How did the Northwest Ordinance affect the lives of natives and Americans?
Compare the plans presented at the Constitutional Convention. What compromise was finally adapted?