How much democracy?
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Transcript of How much democracy?
HOW MUCH DEMOCRACY?
You have your independence . . .Now what?
“governments derive their just powers from the consent of the governed” What does it mean for
Landowners ? Merchants ? Farmers ? Wealthy ? Poor ? Women ? Slaves ? Free blacks? Native Americans?
Politics and Government“Republicanism”
State Constitutions Some radical
Strong Lower Houses Weak Governors No property
requirements for voting
Education Bills of Rights
Wealthy concerned King George the First?
Politics and Government“Republicanism” John Adams
compromise Thoughts on
Government Similar to British (without
monarch) Elected
Chief executive (governor) Legislature (two houses)
Appointed Judiciary
Checks and balances Review legislation Veto power
Republican Motherhood
Women? Mary Wollstonecraft
A Vindication of the Rights of Woman
Equal social and political status for women
Some gains Eased property loss in
marriage Educational opportunities
Still seen as subordinate Abigail Adams:
“Don’t Forget the Ladies.“
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
The United States of America’s first government
Articles of Confederation Drafted by John Dickinson (Olive Branch Petition) States maintain sovereignty, independence, and
freedom Central government could
Declare war and peace Conclude treaties with foreign nations Settle disputes between states Borrow and print money Ask for funds for common defense
Central government No Executive No Judicial Branch Couldn’t levy taxes
Each state had one vote Required nine of thirteen states to make changes Required ALL 13 states to amend
Articles of Confederation
Major problem: western lands
Pennsylvania, Maryland, and New Jersey had none
Others didn’t want to give land to government
With land cession, Articles of Confederation passed in 1781
Financial and Economic Problems Congress:
Needed voluntary contributions during war
Bank of North America to stabilize currency
Plan to make debts proportional needed unanimous consent from all 13 states
1781 – Rhode Island no 1783 – New York no
Financial and Economic Problems
Lacked uniform Currency No Regulation of Interstate
Commerce National tariff “too British”
Western Lands
Congress: sell land to pay debts
Violated Proclamation Line of 1763
Problems: White squatters new republic? Spanish Louisiana
Southwest controlled by Virginia, North Carolina, and Georgia
Northwest controlled by Congress (Northwest Territory)
British Forts on United States Territory
The Northwest Ordinance
Chersonesus, Franklin, Sylvania, Assenisipia, Metropotamia, Polypotamia, Pelisipia, Saratoga, Washington, Michigania and Illinoia?
Path to statehood 5000 settlers = territory Congress appoints governor Voters elect legislature 60,000 settlers = apply for statehood Slavery Banned
The Northwest Ordinance
To acquire land Government survey first grid system of townships Land purchased from government
A portion of each “township” set aside for education
Northwest Ordinance
NW Survey Ranges Townships, Sections, Quarter Sections, etc.
WHAT DO YOU SEE AS THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION?
Post-War Problems
War debt Other Financial Woes Reaction
War Debt
States and Congress issued bonds
States and Congress issued paper money
War bonds worthless
Speculators bought up bonds (buy low, sell high)
Financial Woes
Farmers: little or NO money to pay
taxes/debts useless war bonds for service
Merchants lost money; cheaper British imports
Tariffs to protect American producers Taxes raised to pay debts States – two choices
Ease up on taxes for farmers Confiscate land from those who
couldn’t pay
Shays’s Rebellion, 1786-1787 Massachusetts: high taxes
Farmers who couldn’t pay forfeited property went to jail
Daniel Shays Continental army veteran Farmer (western
Massachusetts) organized farmers into army freed jailed farmers Fought against taxation
Sound familiar?
Shays’s Rebellion, 1786-1787 Massachusetts: Riot
Act (outlaw illegal assemblies)
Governor James Bowdoin sent militia
asked Congress for troops
Winter dispersed Shays’s men
Impact of Shays’s Rebellion
Bowdoin voted out Farmers in other states
revolt Congress can’t fix
economic problems Showed weakness of
central government New nation’s survival
at risk!
A More Democratic America?