Articles of Confederation & U.S. Constitution :Articles of Confederation & U.S. Constitution An Introduction


Building A New Nation :Building A New Nation No guarantee American experiment would work. New institutions needed to be built. First attempt, the Articles of Confederation failed. Second attempt, US Constitution worked. Several issues remained unsettled. (States rights, economic policies, and slavery)


Aftermath of Revolution :Aftermath of Revolution Revolution did not bring about radical change. Yet America did become more egalitarian. Most states reduced property-holding criteria. Regular people demand to be called Mr. & Mrs. Laws of primogeniture abolished. Separation of Church and State (Anglican church dismantled and re-formed)


Aftermath of Revolution :Aftermath of Revolution Quakers founded 1st anti-slavery society. Some states freed blacks, but freemen continued to face discrimination. Founding Fathers believed pressing issue of slavery would tear country apart. Women denied voting rights. Yet idea of “Republican Motherhood” increased social prestige of women.


States Draft Constitutions :States Draft Constitutions Americans redefined concept of Constitution. They were written contracts & power flowed directly from people. (Constitutions similar) Defined powers of government, included bills of rights, annual elections for legislatures, & weak executive and judicial branches. “Average folks” elected to powerful legislatures. Capitals moved westward.


Economic Crosscurrents :Economic Crosscurrents States seized control of former crown lands. Loyalist holdings were confiscated & cut up. Fed trend toward cheaper land. Americans could trade freely with other nations. (British wouldn’t open ports to trade) Still, inflation was a major problem immediately after war. British imports hurt American manufacturing.


Creating A Confederation :Creating A Confederation Need a new central government but people suspicious of all authority. America more a name rather than country. Second Continental Congress weak. 13 states basically sovereign. Articles of Confederation adopted by Congress in 1777. (Not ratified until 1781) Old Northwest ceded to central government. (Source of unity)


The Confederation :The Confederation Confederation: 13 independent states linked together to deal with common problems. No executive branch, judicial arm in states, & Congress shackled. Each state had one vote. 9 states had to support a law. Amendments required all 13 states. Congress lacked power to regulate commerce nor could it enforce tax collection.


The Confederation :The Confederation Could not protect itself from indignities. In 1783, members of the national government had to flee because they couldn’t raise forces to protect itself against a mutiny of soldiers. Articles of Confederation (in retrospect) helped pave way for US Constitution.


The Confederation :The Confederation Land Ordinance of 1785. Permitted orderly settlement of Old Northwest. Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Provided a pathway for territories to achieve equality in statehood. (Need 60,000 residents) Prevented future American Revolutions.


Foreign Policy Dilemmas :Foreign Policy Dilemmas Britain made no commercial treaties & shut off trade to West Indies. (Lord Sheffield) Britain retained presence on northern border. Spain & America had disputed land claims. France demanded repayment of loans and restricted trade. North African pirates attack American ships.


Domestic problems :Domestic problems National debt wasn’t getting paid. More border disputes among states. States taxed each other. Some states starting printing money.


Shay’s Rebellion :Shay’s Rebellion Shay’s Rebellion Backcountry farmers in debt & facing foreclosures. Those of the propertied class were frightened. Unbridled republicanism bad. Need a strong central government. How do you create a strong central government and preserve states’ rights?


The Constitutional Convention :The Constitutional Convention First Convention ended in failure, but Alexander Hamilton pushed for a new one in Philadelphia. All states chose delegates except Rhode Island. (They liked paper money) 55 delegates appointed by state legislatures. Met on May 25, 1787. Sessions held in secrecy. Members were lawyers, merchants, moneylenders, shippers, and land speculators.


The Constitutional Convention :The Constitutional Convention George Washington elected chairman. Most of the fiery Revolutionary War leaders were absent from the convention. Delegates interested in preserving and strengthening the republic. Protect country from weaknesses abroad and excesses at home. (Provide stability) Daniel Shays, Dey of Algiers, Lord Sheffield were all “Founding Fathers.”


Reaching Compromises :Reaching Compromises Had instructions to revise Articles of Confederation, instead chose to scrap it. Large state plan: representation based on population in a bicameral house. Small state plan: equal representation in a unicameral house. “Great Compromise” of Roger Sherman. House of Representatives based on population & equal representation in the Senate.


Reaching Compromises :Reaching Compromises Provided for a strong independent chief executive. President elected by Electoral College. No decisions solved by House of Representatives. 3/5 Compromise settled issue of slavery. Slave trade would end in 1807.


Reaching Compromises :Reaching Compromises All delegates agreed on hard money policies and protection of private property. Delegates agreed with idea separation of powers and checks and balances of three branches. Agreed that pure democracy bad. President and Senators chosen indirectly. Accepted that government derived its power from people & government power limited.


Federalists vs. Antifederalists :Federalists vs. Antifederalists Framing Fathers said nine states had to approve US Constitution. Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, & Richard Henry Lee became Antifederalists. These were states-righters, backcountry dwellers, poor farmers, and debtors. Federalists were wealthier, better educated, more organized, and they controlled the press.


Federalists vs. Antifederalists :Federalists vs. Antifederalists Antifederalists: Demanded a Bill of Rights Disliked dropping of annual elections. Disliked creation of a standing army. Questioned the legitimacy of only asking 9 states for ratification. (Articles called for 13 to amend)


Federalists vs. Antifederalists :Federalists vs. Antifederalists Massachusetts proved to be a “battleground” state. Federalists promised a Bill of Rights. (Passed 187-168) 9 states eventually fell into line. 4 held out. (Va., N.Y., N. C., & R. I.) Patrick Henry in V.A. was tough antagonist. (Passed 89-79)


Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists :Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison joined together to write The Federalist. N. Y. yielded. (Passed 30-27) No lives were lost in the ratification process, but fights broke out in N. Y. & Pa. Last 4 states ratified Constitution because they had to. (Can’t safely exist outside Union)


A Conservative Triumph :A Conservative Triumph 1/4 of adult males voted for delegates to Constitutional Convention. Safeguards held against mob-rule. Strengthening the national government would help restore political and economic stability. Ideals of Revolution preserved and checks & balances ensured abuses of power curtailed. Liberty & order held in delicate balance.


Final Thoughts :Final Thoughts Struggle between Federalists & Antifederalists was over the nature of republicanism. Antifederalists: human nature corrupt & putting power in central government wasn’t a good idea. Only small governments under local control offered safeguards against tyranny.


Final Thoughts :Final Thoughts Federalists: strong, balanced central government would reign in selfish human instincts and channel them to do good. Alarmed by selfishness of state governments. Republicanism extended on national scale. Conventional wisdom held that republicanism only worked in small area with homogenous population. (But US not Athens)