Chapter 7

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The New Country

• US seen as a rising empire – an empire of liberty as opposed to Europe• Advantages

Physical isolation Youthful population Broad distribution of property

ownership High literacy rate

The New Country

• Disadvantages Control of vast territory not secure Almost all citizens lived near

Atlantic coast Large areas of West remained in

Indian hands The British retained military posts

on American territory near Great Lakes (Northwest territory)

Spain controlled port of New Orleans and could close it to Americans at any time

America Under the Confederation

• First constitution written in 1777 was Articles of Confederation• First US government• National government was Congress

– each member state had one vote• Major decisions required approval

of nine states – to amend the articles required unanimous vote• States had more power than

Congress – Congress could not tax

America Under the Confederation• Congress only had powers essential to

the war• Revenue was contributions from states• Articles won ratification only after large

states ceded claims to Western regions• Most Indians supported British in

Revolution – therefore they forfeited rights to land• Treaties with Indian tribes required

surrender of thousands of square miles to US

America Under the Confederation

• End of Revolution saw large migration of settlers into new frontier lands• Land disputes between large

landowners, settlers, and speculators• Rush for land created chaos

America Under the Confederation• The Ordinance of 1784

Established stages of self-government for the West

Regions to be divided into districts initially governed by Congress

Eventually admitted into union as states

Prohibition of slavery in new regions rejected by one vote

America Under the Confederation• Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Established governments for the west

Territories carved out of western lands

Territories ruled by a governor until adult male population reached 5,000

Upon 5,000 territorial legislatures were elected that could send delegates to Congress

America Under the Confederation

The Land Ordinances allowed for a systematic and orderly way for new states to be formed and admitted into the union

These ordinances were used as the country moved west

When 60,000 people had settled the territory could become a state

Government had to be a republic and slavery was prohibited

Indian land could not be taken w/out consent

Confederation Weaknesses

• Country facing worsening economic problems• Congress printed money – now

worthless• Congress borrowed large sums of

money by selling interest-bearing bonds and paying soldiers in notes to be redeemed in future• Congress could not pay interest or debt• Foreign goods flooding US market –

hurt US businesses, caused outflow of money, and drove down wages

Confederation Weaknesses

• States imposed tariffs on foreign goods and raised taxes• Farmers and craftsmen often

could not pay taxes/mortgages• States printed large amounts of

paper money to increase money supply / make it easier to pay debts• Creditors howled at “attack” on

property rights

Shay’s Rebellion

• Late 1786 – early 1877 debt-ridden farmers forcibly closed courts to prevent foreclosures• Called themselves “Regulators” – led

by Daniel Shay• Used symbols of the Revolution to

protest failure of Massachusetts to provide relief• Governor used militia to put down

rebellion• Rebels dispersed – more than 1,000

arrested

Shay’s Rebellion

• American elite alarmed by rebellion – believed central government needed more power to stabilize economy and protect property• Believed “public liberty”

(unchecked power in the hands of the people) could endanger personal liberty and property rights

Nationalists of the 1780s

• James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and others proponents of a strong national government• Hamilton saw US future as a powerful

economic giant• Nationalists included army officers,

many members of Congress, and diplomats• Economic interests such as

bondholders, urban artisans, and those fearing state interference w/property rights

Nationalists of the 1780s

• Led by Hamilton, delegates from 6 states met to discuss better regulation of interstate and international commerce• Proposed convention in Philadelphia

to amend Articles of Confederation• Shay’s Rebellion added urgency• All states except Rhode Island sent

delegates in May 1787 – decided to scrap the articles and draft new constitution

A New Constitution

• The convention filled with the most prominent Americans – Washington chosen President of the Convention (prestige)• Jefferson & Adams did not take

part – both in Europe as diplomats• To ensure no one would be

swayed by public opinion – convention held in private

A New Constitution

• Delegates agreed quickly on many points Three branches of government Separation of powers Checks and balances Congress should have power to raise

revenue It would be a republic based on popular

sovereignty It would be based on federalism – sharing of

power between the central government and states

Federal government would control military, make treaties, regulate interstate and international trade

A New Constitution

• Conflicts arose over state & federal powers and representation

• Virginia Plan – bi-cameral legislature with representation based on population numbers

• New Jersey Plan – single house legislature with all states having one vote

• Great / Connecticut Compromise Bi-cameral legislature Senate (upper house) each state two

representatives chosen by states – 6 year terms

House of Representatives (lower) representation based on population – 2 year terms

A New Constitution

• Expanded democracy – representatives in lower house elected by the people• Voting rules to be established by each state (property, money, gender,

etc.)• The president to be elected by electors or the House – number of

electors determined by sum of representatives and senators• Electors would be chosen by state legislatures or popular vote

A New Constitution

• Elections would prove chaotic – electors to cast votes for two candidates / second place to be VP• If no clear majority – president chosen from top three finishers by the

House – each state casting one vote• The Senate would elect the VP• System put in place due to complexity of popular elections and fear

common voters would not be capable of making wise decisions

A New Constitution

• Proposal by Madison to let Congress veto state laws rejected• National legislation declared to

be “law of the land”• States barred from printing

money, impairing contracts, and interfering w/ interstate commerce

A New Constitution

• Issue of slavery divided delegates• Three-Fifths Compromise

Prohibited Congress from abolishing slave trade for 20 years

Required states to return escaped slaves

Provided that 3/5 of a state’s slaves would be counted towards representation and taxes

Much of pro-slavery points pushed by SC – threatened disunion if not granted

Delegates chose unity over slavery

A New Constitution

• Slave trade abolished on first possible day in 1808• Between 1787 and 1808, Southern

states imported more than ¼ the number of slaves in US• Federal government given no power to

interfere w/slavery• 3/5 rule gave Southern states more

power by enhancing their numbers of representatives (and electors)• Between 1788 – 1848 all presidents but

four were Southern slaveholders

A New Constitution

• Last session of convention September 17, 1787• Ben Franklin urged delegates

to accept the document despite imperfections• Of 45 delegates – 39 signed

the Constitution• Document sent to states for

ratification – 9 states needed to ratify to make Constitution official

Ratification

• Fierce public battle ensued over ratification• Delaware first state to ratify • By 1788 only three states outside union: RI,

NY, and NC• Fierce battle in New York between

Federalists (those wanting ratification) and Anti-Federalists (those against ratification)

• To sway public - series of essays written called Federalist Papers (Hamilton, Madison, Jay)

• People afraid Constitution would endanger liberties / federal government would become oppressive

Ratification

• Anti-Federalists included John Hancock, Sam Adams, and Patrick Henry• “Loss of liberty” was their

watchword• RI and NC voted against

ratification but relented when faced w/isolation• Ratification not really influenced

by addition of first ten amendments to Constitution – the Bill of Rights

Assignment

• Students will compare the executive from the perspective of the Federalists and Anti-Federalists. Make bullet notes to support your reading and your findings. These will be turned in and assessed for points based on depth of understanding, and extent and quality of support• Students will read Federalist Paper No. 69 The Real Character of the

Executive and Anti-Federalist Paper No. 6 • Federalist No. 69 - Students will focus on the powers the Federalists

envisioned for the executive as well as the reasoning as to why these powers should not be feared• Anti-Federalist No. 6 – Students will focus on how the Anti-Federalists

viewed the executive and what they suggested as alternatives in that branch

Assignment

• Students will also prepare a position paper taking either the Federalist or Anti-Federalist side. Use bullet points to support position. Powers of presidency today may be used in arguments• Be prepared to debate the issue. Has the executive changed from the

perspective of the Federalist Papers to the present? If so, in what ways? In light of what you know of today’s executive, does the Anti-Federalist view have any merits? Would you change the executive in any way?• Students will turn in comparison and position paper as two grades• Papers may be accessed at class website/assignments

Indians in the New Nation

• American government pushed for westward migration• Indian fate – removal west, their total

disappearance, or assimilation into American society• Treaties often negotiated with small

factions within tribes but all of tribe expected to conform• Washington & Knox envisioned

Indians lands protected by US, bypassed by settlers, and their eventual assimilation

Indians in the New Nation

• This vision mostly disregarded by states• Warfare w/Indians continued• 1791 Arthur St. Clair massacre – 630

dead• Battle of Fallen Timbers – General

Anthony Wayne• 1795 Treaty of Greenville – 12 tribes

ceded most of Ohio & Indiana to US• Established “annuity” system – yearly

grants of money to tribes • Indians rejected farming and

assimilation

Blacks and the Republic

• Northern states gradually emancipated slaves• Hamilton, Jay, and Franklin

worked for abolition of slavery• Initially, most free blacks

enjoyed most of the rights of citizens including right to vote• Naturalization Act 1790 defined

citizenship – restricted it to “free white persons”

Blacks and the Republic

• Jefferson believed Indians to be as intelligent as whites and that they would eventually blend w/whites

• Believed blacks to be unfit for economic independence and political self-government

• Believed they should be eventually free – but in Africa or Caribbean not US

• Jefferson believed himself humane slave owner – and slavery immoral practice

• Freed only 5 slaves in his will – all relatives of Sally Hemmings

Blacks and the Republic

• Race became justification for slavery• Hamilton wrote that blacks’

natural faculties were probably as good as ours, “But the existence of slavery makes us fancy many things that are founded neither in reason or experience”