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Revolutionary Society After the revolution people started to question the meaning of equality in America Americans continue to look at these issues
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Social and Political Reform Many Americans did not want class to have special privileges Abolished laws of primogeniture Lower property requirements for voting Pennsylvania and Georgia allowed all white tax payers to vote Some were afraid women would soon want a vote
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Americans were now represented by elected representatives Governments re-examined relationship between state and church At the time the Anglican Church received tax monies 1786- several states voted to cut ties with the church
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African Americans John Woolman – Quaker (1720-1772) Preached the veils of slavery Abolitionists sentiment spread African Americans demanded freedom Many felt the revolution would set the free Phillis Wheatley–writer–religious and moral issues
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Northern states did not have the economic justification for slavery Anti-slavery societies formed here Franklin –1775 – helped organize “Society for the Relief of Free Negroes, Unlawfully Held” Vermont drafted a constitution prohibiting slavery
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Massachusetts – judge ruled slavery unconstitutional By 1800 was on the road to extinction in northern states Free blacks excluded from voting, serving on juries Denied access of education Segregated neighborhoods
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In southern states Slaves made up a large percentage of the population Slave numbers continued to grow Many in the south believed that their economic well being depended on slavery
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Women’s Rights Women began making demands for more rights Abigail Adams – told her husband to remember women when he went to the Continental Congress Women needed access to education to attain equality Women however would continue to be defined as mothers and homemakers
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Lessons of Republicanism In 1776 states took on the task of adopting constitutions States took on the process of electing legislatures
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State Constitutions Authors of the state constitutions believed men and women possessed natural rights Government should have no control over these natural rights Each state constitution contained a declaration of rights Religion, speech, press, unlawful searches and seizures and trial by juries
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Almost every state reduced the power of governors Pennsylvania and Georgia abolished the position of governor The framers of the state constitutions were fearful for any one person getting too much power Most power was in the hands of legislatures
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Power to the People Massachusetts adopted a constitution in 1780Deligates were selected to form a new constitution Included: House, Senate, and elected Governor Governor had veto power Constitution started- “We …the people of Massachusetts agree upon, ordain, and establish”
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National Government 1775 – Second Continental Congress waged a war in the name of a country that did not exist Congress assumed more and more power of national affairs
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Articles of Confederation Congress appointed a committee to draw plans for a confederation Articles approved - 1777 Confederation of states Limited power to federal government
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1 Legislative body – selected each year from each state Each state had 1 vote No veto power over legislation Denied Congress the power to tax Weak central government Ratified - 1781
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Western Legislation 1784 – cut 10 new states out of western territory When population reached – lowest state population – apply for statehood 1785 – Land Ordinance – orderly process for new townships & public lands (section set aside for education)
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1787 Territories established Governor, Secretary, 3 judges 60,000 people – write a constitution and petition for statehood Bill of rights Northwest Ordinance
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Daniel Boone Famous settler who helped explore the Cumberland Road Established settlements in Kentucky Brutal fights against Native Americans White people start the push west that will destroy Native American population.
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British Goods England merchants flooded America with English goods Goods often cheaper that American goods Put a strain on American economy Local merchants could not compete with low prices National government had no power to regulate trade
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Southerners who wanted to ship large quantities of raw materials could not agree on trade restrictions Some states printed their own money (no value) to pay debts
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Diplomatic Problems Central government to weak to enforce peace States passed laws restricting payments to England merchants for pre-war debts England refused to withdraw troops from Northwest territory Spain refused to abide by land boundary between them and Georgia Closed the Mississippi River to Americans
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James Madison Many leaders felt that America was at a crisis States were going in their own direction –often in conflict with other states Madison tried to persuade Americans toward a stronger central government Wanted the establishment of a government that could run the country but still be doing the will of the people
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Shay’s Rebellion Poor farmers in Massachusetts Banks –taking their homes and farms away Many were heroes from the revolutionary war They were paying heavy taxes Government lack of concern 1786 – Shay and neighbors closed a county court – foreclosures being conducted Threatened to seize a federal arsenal
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Congress did not have the funds to put together an army and put down the uprising Wealthy Boston men – paid for an army –4,000- This backfired on leaders when the next election voters – elected leaders sympathetic to Shays’s demands Many nationalist looked at Shays Rebellion as an example of law and order
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Philadelphia Convention 1787 – 55 men – representing 12 states They were looking at a way to fix the Articles of Confederation Soon they decided to scrap the Articles and establish a new constitution
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Virginia Plan Madison’s plan – two houses – one elected by the people – other chosen from the 1 st Representatives for both houses – proportioned by population Known as the Big State Plan
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New Jersey Plan Small sate plan Each state would get 1 vote in Congress Also included power to central government to tax and regulate trade
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Great Compromise Agreement to: 2 houses 1 – legislatures elected / population – House of Representatives 2. Equal representation for each state - Senate
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3/5 th Compromise South and north could not agree on how to count slaves. If they counted as a full person it would give the southern states more representation in government Agreement to count slaves as 3/5 th a person
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Slavery Many northerners wanted to end slavery Southerners felt their economy needed slavery In the Constitution slaves were described as “other persons”, “such persons” Agreement that Congress could not stop slavery until 1808 South – fugitive slave law – later the Fugitive Slave Act of 1793
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President Agreement that the president should be elected by electoral college Prominent men in each state elected by voters Number based on representatives and senators Done so a president would not be indebted to congress for his position President –most votes Vice-president – 2 nd most votes
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No majority – House decides Veto power Right to select judges Some concerned about the absence of a Bill of Rights
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Preamble We the people of the United States The new Nation would be a republic of the people not of the states… Ratification – 9 states needed http://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=30OyU4O80i4
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Federalist v. Anti-Federalist Federalist favored a strong nation government Anti-Federalist favored strong State government Anti-Federalist criticized the formation of a new constitution They wanted a government similar to the Articles of Confederation
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Federalist Papers Written by Madison, Hamilton, and Jay Essays – printed in national newspapers Spoke in favor of a new constitution with a strong central government
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Bill of Rights Anti-Federalist were afraid of a strong national government Feared government with too much power could trample the rights of the people Bill of Rights created by Madison 1 st Ten Amendments of the Constitution States what rights the government cannot take away from citizens
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Executive (President and Cabinet) Legislative (Senate & House) Judicial (Supreme Court) http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-EISWIY9bG8
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