Chapter 7Chapter 7Consolidating the Consolidating the RevolutionRevolution

The American PeopleThe American People, 6, 6thth ed. ed.

I.I. Struggling with the Struggling with the Peacetime AgendaPeacetime Agenda

Demobilizing the ArmyDemobilizing the Army After the war, many of the troops refused to go After the war, many of the troops refused to go

home until the government acted upon their home until the government acted upon their grievances regarding back pay and other grievances regarding back pay and other benefits.benefits.

Some officers began to hint at a military coup if Some officers began to hint at a military coup if demands were not met.demands were not met.

Washington moved quickly to defuse the Washington moved quickly to defuse the situation, asking for patience and giving situation, asking for patience and giving assurances that pay would be rendered, as it assurances that pay would be rendered, as it eventually was.eventually was.

Opening the WestOpening the West The most notable accomplishments of Congress The most notable accomplishments of Congress

during this period were:during this period were: The Land Ordinance of 1785The Land Ordinance of 1785 – Provided for the systematic survey – Provided for the systematic survey

and sale of the lands west of Pennsylvania and north of the Ohio and sale of the lands west of Pennsylvania and north of the Ohio River.River.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – Provided for the political – Provided for the political organization and terms of eventual statehood for the same region.organization and terms of eventual statehood for the same region.

• Congress operated as if the Native Americans were a Congress operated as if the Native Americans were a conquered people who had given up their land by virtue conquered people who had given up their land by virtue of their alliance with Britain.of their alliance with Britain.

• Subsequent treaties with Indian tribes were often Subsequent treaties with Indian tribes were often produced by force, and usually spawned resentment and produced by force, and usually spawned resentment and violence.violence.

Wrestling With the National Wrestling With the National DebtDebt Evidence of the Confederation’s Evidence of the Confederation’s

inadequacy rested in its inability to deal inadequacy rested in its inability to deal effectively with the nation’s war debt.effectively with the nation’s war debt.

The debt has been recently estimated at The debt has been recently estimated at $35 million, owed largely to Dutch and $35 million, owed largely to Dutch and French bankers.French bankers.

Lacking any authority to tax, Congress Lacking any authority to tax, Congress had to rely on the willingness or ability of had to rely on the willingness or ability of the states to meet these debts.the states to meet these debts.

Surviving in a Hostile Surviving in a Hostile Atlantic WorldAtlantic World

Even after the United States had won its Even after the United States had won its independence, England, France, and independence, England, France, and Spain continued to be an aggressive Spain continued to be an aggressive presence on the continent.presence on the continent.

II.II. Sources of Political Sources of Political ConflictConflict

Separating Church Separating Church and Stateand State Prior to 1776, only Rhode Island, New Prior to 1776, only Rhode Island, New

Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Delaware promoted full religious freedom.promoted full religious freedom.

Other states supported a central church Other states supported a central church to which they gave government funds for to which they gave government funds for operation.operation.

The rhetoric of the Revolution inferred The rhetoric of the Revolution inferred that freedom of choice was the only safe that freedom of choice was the only safe basis for church/state relations.basis for church/state relations.

Slavery Under AttackSlavery Under Attack By 1790, every state except South By 1790, every state except South

Carolina and Georgia had abolished the Carolina and Georgia had abolished the importation of new slaves within their importation of new slaves within their borders.borders.

As a result, a higher proportion of slaves As a result, a higher proportion of slaves were American born, speeding the were American born, speeding the process of cultural assimilation.process of cultural assimilation.

In the North, slavery was abolished or put In the North, slavery was abolished or put on an eventual path to abolition.on an eventual path to abolition.

Politics and the EconomyPolitics and the Economy Although the victors, America’s loss of Although the victors, America’s loss of

trade with England sent the country into an trade with England sent the country into an economic depression.economic depression.

As always, certain artisans and people As always, certain artisans and people with the right political connections suffered with the right political connections suffered little trouble.little trouble.

Many farmers were unable to pay the Many farmers were unable to pay the exorbitant taxes on their farms with the exorbitant taxes on their farms with the worthless paper money of the states.worthless paper money of the states.

III.III. Political Tumult in Political Tumult in the Statesthe States

The Limits of Republican The Limits of Republican ExperimentationExperimentation The period following the Revolutionary The period following the Revolutionary

War saw a backlash in the political spirit of War saw a backlash in the political spirit of the country as conservatism returned to the country as conservatism returned to the mainstream. the mainstream.

Political leadership began to fall to men Political leadership began to fall to men who felt the republican experiment had who felt the republican experiment had gone too far. gone too far.

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion Massachusetts citizens in 1786 had to borrow money to simply pay Massachusetts citizens in 1786 had to borrow money to simply pay

their taxes or support their families.their taxes or support their families. People usually borrowed from each other rather than from a People usually borrowed from each other rather than from a

traditional bank.traditional bank. Facing foreclosure, the citizens turned to the state for “stay laws” Facing foreclosure, the citizens turned to the state for “stay laws”

prohibiting private creditors from demanding payment in “hard prohibiting private creditors from demanding payment in “hard currency” rather than questionable paper money.currency” rather than questionable paper money.

Massachusetts scoffed at the citizens and demanded immediate Massachusetts scoffed at the citizens and demanded immediate payment of debts in gold or silver.payment of debts in gold or silver.

Backed into a corner, the citizens – led by Daniel Shays – took up Backed into a corner, the citizens – led by Daniel Shays – took up arms against the government of Massachusetts and later the United arms against the government of Massachusetts and later the United States.States.

The insurrection eventually collapsed, but it underscored the The insurrection eventually collapsed, but it underscored the problems of the Articles of Confederation.problems of the Articles of Confederation.

IV.IV. Towards a New Towards a New National GovernmentNational Government

The Rise of FederalismThe Rise of Federalism FederalistsFederalists: the supporters of a strong, : the supporters of a strong,

central government.central government. Anti-federalistsAnti-federalists: Concerned with : Concerned with

supremacy of the states.supremacy of the states. Federalist leaders feared the loss of their Federalist leaders feared the loss of their

own political and social power.own political and social power. Congress’s inability to deal with the Congress’s inability to deal with the

pressing issues of the country nullified pressing issues of the country nullified the arguments for state supremacy.the arguments for state supremacy.

The Grand ConventionThe Grand Convention

Delegates gathered at Independence Hall Delegates gathered at Independence Hall in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787 to in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in 1787 to construct the blueprint for a new and construct the blueprint for a new and better form of government.better form of government.

George Washington was chosen as the George Washington was chosen as the convention president and all deliberations convention president and all deliberations were to be kept secret.were to be kept secret.

Drafting the ConstitutionDrafting the Constitution

Two major differences separated the delegates:Two major differences separated the delegates:The Virginia PlanThe Virginia Plan called for a bicameral system called for a bicameral system

of legislature with proportional representation. of legislature with proportional representation. Large states loved it.Large states loved it.

The New Jersey PlanThe New Jersey Plan called for representation called for representation in terms of equal votes per state but adopted the in terms of equal votes per state but adopted the basic state supremacy plan of the Articles.basic state supremacy plan of the Articles.

After some debate, the Virginia Plan was votes After some debate, the Virginia Plan was votes as the most workable solution.as the most workable solution.

Another contentious question was how to Another contentious question was how to census the number of blacks within its census the number of blacks within its borders. borders. The Great CompromiseThe Great Compromise dictated that blacks be counted as three-dictated that blacks be counted as three-fifths of a white resident for purposes of fifths of a white resident for purposes of proportioning.proportioning.

An An Electoral CollegeElectoral College of informed of informed delegates would be selected by state delegates would be selected by state legislatures for electing the president.legislatures for electing the president.

Selection of the SenateSelection of the Senate would come from would come from the votes of the House of Representatives.the votes of the House of Representatives.

Dodging a political bullet, the founders Dodging a political bullet, the founders agreed that slavery as an institution could agreed that slavery as an institution could not end for at least twenty years.not end for at least twenty years.

The Struggle Over The Struggle Over RatificationRatification

No national referendum or review was No national referendum or review was ever held on the content of the ever held on the content of the Constitution. Constitution.

It took less than a year to secure the nine It took less than a year to secure the nine states needed to win ratification.states needed to win ratification.