A more conservative constitution replaced the democratic convention of 1776. This new document provided for a strong governor who could veto legislation and control the militia, and a conservative senate designed to balance the more democratic assembly.

 

After the revolution, political leadership fell to the “better sort of men”  

 

Cuttoff of long-established pattern of overseas trade with England that severely depressed the US commerce as there was more imports and much less US exports.  

Since the costs of war mounted, so did taxes. From 1774-1778, there was an enormous increase of 400,000 Euros for the citizens of Massachusetts  

American independence

Governor James Bowden deployed 600 militiamen to subdue 500 farmers/war veterans gathering under Daniel Shays. He had a very long wait for his payment for military service.

 

Shays Rebellion: Farmers & other laborers argued with city-goers on issues like paper money and new possible laws to suspend collection of private debt (relief laws).

 

English banks called in American loans. Merchants tried to collect their own debts due to them by storekeepers and a credit crisis surged in the state of Massachussetts.  

Twenty-nine towns defaulted on their tax obligations. Farmers began to create crowds to condemn the government.  

Shay led over a thousand men to the federal arsenal in Springfield, Massachusetts. The defenders opened fire, killed four and dispersed Shay’s followers.

 

States under the Articles of Confederation did not govern as a whole but as separate governments.

Congress  unable  to  deal  with  huge  debt,  could  only  delay  and  borrow  more.  Congress  had  no  authority  to  levy  taxes,  relied  on  donations    

Federalists began to rise in the country to create a better constitution to make a strong national government. Anti Federalists rose, as well, because they believed that stronger state governments were better.

After much debate, the nation accepted the new chance to make the constitution and get rid of the articles of confederation.

Newburgh Conspiracies

In response to this, Congress ordered

the officers to disband. However, an

anonymous address circulated among

officers, attacking Congress and sent

ominous hints at more direct action if

their grievances were not addressed.

George Washington, being the leader

that he was, promised the officers that

Congress would treat the officers justly,

counseled patience, and urged his

comrades to not tarnish the victory that

they had so recently gotten. He

succeeded as the officers reaffirmed

their confidence in Congress and agreed

to disband.

This refusal challenged the

authority and ability to govern of

the Congress.

While awaiting peace negotiations

the army faced delays in pay and

lack of provisions

In early 1783, the officers at the

continental army camp in Newburgh,

NY sent a delegation to complain

about their severely delayed pay and

other benefits that Congress had

promised during the war.

The Articles of Confederation,

ratified in 1781, gave the Congress

power to maintain a wartime army,

but not the power to levy the taxes

needed to pay it. Citizens in the

states left with the power to

impose it on their citizens to the

extent needed to adequately fund

the operations of the new United

States.

By 1782, Congress had

but $125,000 of a

required $6 million and

could not pay the

interest on loans due its

creditors or meet the

military payroll.

States printed large amounts of paper money in response to the large debt, this caused painful inflation.

The inflation reached up to 147 dollars to 1 gold piece.

Wage inflation occurred, devastating the population.

Constitutional Convention

Robert Morris’ plan of stopping the printing of money, insisting that the states pay in gold and creating a bank of North America to sell more bonds

Hamilton’s plan of assumption and a large national bank solved the debt crisis for the new nation.

So, congress could not pay off their debt.

Congress could not tax the population, so asked the states for money.

States could not pay congress’ demands.

People could not pay state taxes.

Prices of products grew exponentially, despite attempts to regulate these prices.

Imports > Exports, furthering the National Debt.

France, England, and Spain all declined trade with America. In 1785 Jay attempted a treaty with England, yet failed.

Tobacco, shipbuilding, and other industries collapsed due to the low demand.

America lacked trade agreements with other nations, thus lacked the ability to mass export products.

Domestic Concerns.

Foreign Economy.

National Debt Estimated at 35,000,000

Northwest Land Ordinances

Land Ordinance of 1785

Land Ordinance of 1787

Provided For systematic

survey and sale of land

west of PA and north of

the Ohio river.

The area was laid out in 6

square mile townships into

640 acres lots. Provided for political

organization of the same

interior region.

Governed under

elected territorial

assemblies which

were ultimately

intended to be

admitted into the

union as new

states. Although it allowed

current slaves to remain,

it prohibited the

importation of new

slaves into the region.

This appealed to white farmers so that they didn't have to

live alongside blacks nor compete with their slave labor.

Together, these two

ordinances represented

dramatic change from

England's colonial

administration.

Both of the ordinances got

broad political support

because it opened land to

settlers and gave profit to

speculators.

All the profit from the

selling of these lands

reduced the national

debt.

The government sought

ways to promote

settlement expantion.

Alona Mostowy Alisha Kanitkar Taylor Tu Pd. 6

Northerners Considered ending slave

trade after achieving

independence.

Southerners Believed slaves were

imperative to Southern economy and wanted to

keep slavery.

“20 Year Guarantee” Congress would not end slave

trade for another 20 years.

Northerners Did not want slaves to be

represented in Congress because fewer slaves in North than South.

Southerners Wanted African Americans to be fully counted to increase

representation in government.

3/5 Compromise Each slave counts as 3/5 a person

for the purpose of taxation and representation.

Slavery

Northerners Wanted the Central gov. to regulate interstate/foreign

commerce.

Commercial Compromise Congress regulated interstate/foreign

commence, including placing tariffs on foreign imports, but prohibited placing taxes on

exports.

Southerners Afraid export taxes would be

placed on its agricultural products such as rice & tobacco.

Trade

Virginia Plan Proposed by Edmund Randolph, it

suggested a bicameral Congress which

favored larger states due to its

representation in government based on

population.

Connecticut Plan Also called the Great Compromise. Congress

becomes bicameral. Representation in the House of

Representatives is based on population size, while

representation in the upper and smaller Senate is

equal for all states

New Jersey Plan Proposed by William Paterson, it

favored small states due to the states’

equal representation in the central

government. According to the plan,

each state received 1 vote.

Representation

Direct Election: President was to be named

by popular vote.

Virginia Plan President was to be named by Congress.

Electoral College System Each state has a number of electors

equal to the number of state

representatives and senators.

Hamilton Wanted a Congress and President

elected for life. Believed in a strong

national gov.

Luther Martin Anti-Federalist who opposed the idea of presidency and all

ideas of aristocracy.

President acquires the power

to veto Congress’ actions and the

President’s term of office is determined to

be 4 years, but there is no limit on the

number of allowed terms a single

President may have.

Powers/Election of President

Continental Congress

Issues

The Ratification Debate

Sophie H, Pranith L, Pratyush T.

Federalists Anti-Federalists

Key People - James Madison- Alexander Hamilton- John Jay

- Patrick Henry- Timothy Bloodworth- Samuel Adams

Views - Promoted ratification of theConstitution- Believed that the newgovernment providedadequate safeguards- Argued that the separationof powers into 3 independentbranches protected the rightsof the people- Saw a stronger federalgovernment as critical to theUnited States- Believed that listing rightslimits them. Government canabuse unlisted ones

- Against the ratification of thenewly amended constitution- Favored a clearly definedBill of Rights- Argued that Congress andthe Executive Branch heldand wielded too much power- Believed that the ratificationprocess was illegal becauseof the lack of unanimousconsent from the states- Believed that the FederalGovernment received toomuch power while takingaway too many powers of theStates-Against revolutionaryrepublicanism

Notable Works Federalist Papers:- Served to retaliate againstany Anti-Federalistarguments made against theproposed Constitution- Helped place theConstitution and the idea of astronger federal governmentin a positive light

Federalist 10:- Written by James Madison- addresses how to guardagainst “factions”- Argued that a strong and bigrepublic provided morebenefits than smallerrepublics such as individualstates-government not meant to bepartisan

Against the FederalConstitution:- Written by Patrick Henry- Outlined, explicitly, the mainarguments made by theAnti-Federalists-Brought to light the debateover the States vs People,the consequences of aconsolidated government,and showed that chaos is allthat would be produced

State’s Argument - The Constitution:

- too much power in authoritative government

- took power away from states

- still sovereign

- deprived of power to:

- impair obligation of contract

- enact ex-post-facto laws

- pass bills of attainder

- betrayed revolutionary republicanism

States Date of Ratification

- Delaware- Pennsylvania- New Jersey- Georgia- Connecticut- Massachusetts- Maryland- South Carolina- New Hampshire- Virginia- New York- North Carolina- Rhode Island

- December 7, 1787- December 12, 1787- December 18, 1787- January 2, 1788- January 9, 1788- February 6, 1788- April 28, 1788- May 23, 1788- June 21, 1788- June 25, 1788- July 26, 1788- November 21, 1789- May 29, 1790

The Bill of Rights (ratified November 1789):

○ Gave a means of defending rights (individual liberties)

○ Stated rights

■ Civil/religious liberty

■ Unalienable rights of the people

○ Anti-Federalists believed that without, rights would be infringed upon

○ Federalists believed that a list stating rights was could be a dangerous thing. They

argued that if the national government was to protect specific rights, what would

stop it from violating other rights that aren’t listed?

Overall Result and Impact:

○ Idea of federalism was popularized and accepted among Americans

○ The inadequate Articles of Confederation served as the “push” towards ratification

○ Somewhat helped get the final states (New York and Virginia) to ratify it

○ Federalist papers served as the ‘debator’s handbook’

○ Set in stone the ideas of the Constitution, such as the lack of partisanship meant

by Founding Fathers