Chapter 8

THE NEW NATION 1786-1800

The New Nation: Key TopicsThe tensions & conflicts between local &

national authorities in the decades after the Revolution.

The struggle to draft the Constitution & to achieve its ratification.

Establishment of the first national government under the Constitution.

The beginning of American political parties.

The first stirrings of an authentic American national culture.

The New NationChapter Outline:The Crisis of the 1780sThe New ConstitutionThe First AdministrationFederalists and Jeffersonian Republicans“The Rising Glory of America”

The Crisis of the 1780s

Economic Crisis: What factors

contributed to the economic crisis of the 1780s?

How did economic problems contribute to the creation of the national government?

Economic Crisis had its origins in the Revolution:

Shortage of goods due to British blockade, demand for supplies by armies, flood of paper currency caused inflation.

Shay’s RebellionMassachusetts

farmers, led by Daniel Shays, led a rebellion against the state’s high taxes. During the economic crisis, farmers were hurt the hardest. The rebellion turned into an uprising that the national government could NOT put down.

Many saw the conflict as a class struggle: rich v. poor, debtor v. creditor. Finally, a state militia put down the uprising.

Shay’s Rebellion

Shay’s Rebellion Consequences:Showed the need for a strong central

government.Supported the view of Nationalists, a group of

colonial leaders like George Washington, who urged the Articles of Confederation were too weak because they gave too much power to the states and not enough power to the federal government. Their goal was to create a system of government with a strong central government.

Annapolis Convention

Annapolis, MD ConventionConference of 12

delegates (5 states) that issues a call for a convention to meet in Philadelphia to consider major changes to the government.

The Virginia Plan

Presented by James Madison.

Scrapping the AOCBicameral

legislature; H of Reps based on population & Senate based on state legislatures

Council of Revision- consists of an appointed chief executive and national judiciary.

Strong central gov’t

Favored larger states

The Constitutional ConventionThe Virginia Plan

The Constitutional ConventionThe New Jersey

Plan- Favored the smaller states.

Strong central gov’t

Unicameral legislature- all states had equal representation

Smaller states getting overpowered by the larger states. They were opposed and fought the Virginia Plan.

The Constitutional ConventionThe Great Compromise- The plan proposed at the

1787 Constitutional Convention for creating a national bicameral legislature in which all states would be equally represented in the Senate and proportionally represented in the House.

It provided for a strong national gov’t but still provided for an important role for the states.

Expanded the powers of CongressEstablishment of a strong single person executiveEstablished the Supreme Court & national judiciary

Constitutional Convention: 3/5’s Compromise

There was also a debate between northerners & southerners over slaves and representation in Congress. Southerners wanted slaves counted for representation, but excluded in apportioning taxes.

Constitutional Convention: 3/5s Compromise

Issue of slavery persisted: Compromise stated that for every 5 slaves in the South, 3 would be counted as a person for representation. Also, the slave trade would end in 1808.

Federalists

Favored the ratification of the Constitution. May of the Federalists had been the Nationalists.

Were opposed of the ratification of the Constitution. The issue…they wanted a bill of rights guaranteeing civil liberties.

Ratifying the ConstitutionAntifederalists

Written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, the Federalists Papers were a series of essays published throughout the states. The original intent was to persuade New Yorkers to support ratification of the Constitution.

The Federalists Papers

Amendments: Additions/ Changes to the ConstitutionIdeas taken from state constitutions.First 8 amendments concerned with

individual rights.Guarantees freedom of religion &

expression as well as protection against arbitrary or wrongful legal proceedings.

Powers not granted to the national government retained by the people or the states.

THE FIRST ADMINISTRATIONSection 2

Washington’s PresidencyCongress passed two important pieces of

legislation.1. Judiciary Act of 1789 – It established

the Supreme Court and the federal court system.

2. Judicial Review- A power that gives the federal courts the right to review and determine the constitutionality of acts passed by Congress and state legislatures.

Washington’s Presidency- The CourtsJohn Jay- the first

Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

During the first decade, the Supreme Court heard very few cases. The ones they did hear, dealt with the power struggle between the states and federal gov’t.

Chisholm v. Georgia- ( 1793)

Washington’s Presidency- The EconomyVirtually bankrupt

after the Revolution, Congress passed the tariff of 1789, the first tariff of the U.S. It’s goal was to raise money and not protect American businesses from foreign competitors.

Alexander Hamilton- Secretary of Treasury1790 Report on the Public CreditPlan to reduce Revolutionary War debt a. Issue new interest bearing bonds b. Pay off foreign debt but not state debt c. Encourage foreign investmentCharter a national bank a. The bank system would be run by the gov’tGovernment promotion of industry a. Report on Manufactures- provide funds for new industries and implement high tariffs.

The French Revolution led to two camps regarding American foreign policy:

1. Hamilton and Nationalists believed

State debtsPlacement of capitalForeign policy in Europe

Washington’s Presidency- Sectional Differences