1. Lesson 1: The Confederation

2.  Even before independence, members of the Continental Congress realized that the colonies needed to be united (Establish 1 Government).  Nov 1777: Congress adopted the Article of Confederation and Perpetual Union (1 st Official government of the US).  Called for a “loose” union of states under the authority of Congress.

3.  Articles set up a weak central government that met once a year.  Many Americans feared a more powerful government (Reason for Independence).  Powers of Articles: Power to declare war, raise an army, and sign treaties.  Powers Articles lacked: Power to impose taxes and regulate trade.  This will be the downfall of the Articles of Confederation.  The only way the government could raise money was to sell land west of the Appalachian Mountains.

4.  Under this ordinance, Congress arranged this land into townships to make it easier to divide, sell, and govern.  Townships were divided into 6 square miles which were divided into 36 sections, one square mile each.

5.  This was the basis for governing new territory.  It created a new territory north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River.  Eventually 5 states will be established Ohio, Illinois, Indiana, Wisconsin, and Michigan.  Congress would choose a governor, secretary, and 3 judges.  When 5000 men settled the territory, they could elect a legislature.  When the population reached 60,000 it could apply for statehood.  Ordinance banned slavery in new territories.

6.  Great Britain tried to impose restrictions on America even after the American Revolution.  US negotiated trade treaties with France, Holland, Prussia, and Sweden.  By 1790, the United States trade was greater than before the American Revolution.

7.  Trade:  Following the war, British merchants flooded American markets with inexpensive goods (Competition for American Merchants).  Problem: No centralized government to regulate trade.  States would not impose the same taxes on imports. British merchants would land their goods at states with lowest taxes.  States set up custom posts on their borders and levied taxes on interstate commerce.  These actions weakened the Articles of Confederation.

8.  The Federal Government had no power over the states.  It could not force states to pay their debts or return property to Loyalist who lost their land following the revolution.  Congress had no way of raising money to pay off debt.  Result: British refused to evacuate American soil.  Problem with Spain: Border dispute between Georgia and Spanish Florida. American farmers could not trade in Spanish territory along the Mississippi River.

9.  The U.S. Suffered through a severe recession following the war.  To finance the war, many states issued bonds that were sold to wealthy American citizens.  To pay back the bonds, citizens argued for the states to issue paper money.  Problem: States didn’t have the gold and silver to back the paper currency.

10.  Occurred in MA in 1786.  MA government decided to raise taxes instead of issuing paper money.  Those who could not afford the taxes lost their property.  1,200 farmers led by Daniel Shays tried to prevent farm foreclosures by attacking the state arsenal.  Result: MA militia defended the arsenal and killed 4 of Shays men.  Many Americans realized that the Articles had failed and the need for a stronger central government was evident.

11. Chapter 3

12.  The weaknesses of the Articles worried many Americans.  Nationalists: People who supported a stronger national government (Washington, Franklin, Madison, and Hamilton).  Alexander Hamilton suggested that a convention be held to “revise” the Articles.  May 1787: All states with the exception of RI sent delegates to Philadelphia.

13.  Most of the 55 delegates had political experience at the colonial, state, or national level.  George Washington served as the presiding officer of the assembly.  James Madison: He kept the most accurate record of the events in Philadelphia.  The meetings were held in private and closed to the public.  Thomas Jefferson was in France during the proceedings (U.S. Ambassador to France).

14.  Delegates had to decide to either revise the articles or start over.  Many arguments over representation at the national level occurred at the convention.  What type of government should be established.

15.  VA delegates arrived in Philadelphia with a detailed plan for a new national government.  James Madison came up with most of the plan.  Plan proposed throwing out the Articles and to create a government with power to make national laws and power to tax.  Called for three branches of government.  Plan benefited states with larger populations.  Representation in Congress would be based on population.  Plan drew criticism from smaller states that wanted equal representation.

16.  Plan was proposed by William Paterson.  Plan was to revise the Articles to make a stronger central government.  Under the plan, Congress would have a single house with equal representation.  Plan would allow Congress the power to tax and regulate trade.  Congress: They voted to proceed with the VA plan with the purpose of working on a new constitution.

17.  Some delegates were divided geographically.  Small states wanted protection against big states (Representation).  Northern and Southern states were divided over the slavery issue.  The convention appointed a special committee to resolve the issues between big/small states.  Benjamin Franklin was chosen as the chairman

18.  Also referred to as the Connecticut Compromise.  Roger Sherman came up with the compromise.  Proposed that the House of Representatives would be elected by the people and representation depended on population.  The Senate would be chosen by the House and each state would have equal representation (2 Senators).

19.  The slavery issue slowed down the proceedings.  South: Wanted slaves to count towards total population.  North: If slaves were counted for representation, they should also count towards taxation.  3/5 th Compromise: Plan for counting slaves to determine taxes and representations.  Every 5 slaves will count as 3 free citizens.

20.  Popular Sovereignty: Ruled by the consent of the people.  Constitution created a system of Federalism which divided the government between the national, state, and local levels.  It also provided a separation of power between the 3 branches of government.  Legislative Branch made the laws, Executive Branch enforces the laws, and the judicial branch interprets the laws.

21.  Constitution provides a system of Checks and Balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.  It also created a system for making changes or amendments to the document.

23. Chapter 3

24.  As soon as the convention was over, delegates rushed home to begin the campaign for ratification (Acceptance).  Each state held its own meeting (convention) to vote on the Constitution.  9 out of 13 states needed to approve the Constitution for it to take effect.

25.  This referred to those who supported the Constitution.  They believed that a strong central government was needed to impose taxes and regulate trade.  Supporters: Washington, Jefferson, and Madison.

26.  These individuals opposed the Constitution.  They felt it endangered the independence of individual states.  They felt that it should also include a Bill of Rights that would protect individual freedoms.  They agreed that the U.S. needed a central government, but questioned who would have the authority (National vs. State power).  Supporters: John Hancock, Patrick Henry, Richard Henry Lee, and Samuel Adams.

27.  Anti Federalists complained that the Constitution failed to protect basic rights, but they had nothing to offer in place of it.  The Federalists were better organized and had the support of many newspapers across the country.

28.  Collection of 85 essays written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay. (Wrote under the name of Publius).  Essays explained how the document worked and why it was needed.  Late 1787 to 1788: Published in New York papers.  They were very influential and still today, judges, lawyers, and legislatures rely on them to help interpret the Constitution.

29.  Federalists realized that they had a clear majority in some states, but that ratification would be difficult in some states.  December 1787 to January 1788:  5 States will ratify the Constitution.  Delaware (First State), Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Georgia, and Connecticut all ratify.

30.  Massachusetts convention met in January 1788.  Anti Federalists had a clear majority at the beginning and were led by Samuel Adams.  Federalists promised to add a Bill of Rights to the Constitution and agreed to reserve all powers not granted to the Federal Government to the States.  They agreed on ratification.  June 1788: Maryland, South Carolina, and New Hampshire ratified the document.  This meant that 9 states had now ratified.

31.  Both states were very influential and the Federalists knew they needed them to support the new government.  VA: Washington and Madison presented arguments for ratification.  VA. will ratify after Madison promised a Bill of Rights.

32.  New York: 2/3rds of the states members were Anti Federalists.  Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Jay the state held off ratification until 9 other states approved.  NY: The state was in an awkward position because all other states around them had ratified the document.  NY delegates ratified the Constitution in a very close vote (30 to 27).

33.  North Carolina: They waited for the proposed Bill of Rights before ratification.  Rhode Island, May 1790: Last of the original 13 colonies to accept the document (Close vote 34 to 32).  May 1790: United States now had a new government.  Question: Will it work better than the Articles of Confederation.

34.  Promised by the Federalists.  September 1789, Congress agreed on 12 constitutional amendments. Only 10 were approved.  The first 8 protect the rights of individuals against actions of the federal govt.  The 9 th states that people have powers not listed.  The 10 th reserves powers for the State governments.