CHAPTRE 6 STRENGTHENING THE NEW NATION

CHAPTRE 6

STRENGTHENING THE NEW NATION

Objective

• This chapter explores the problems associated with the founding of

the federal union and how the government operated under the

Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1787.

Introduction

The new United States was a distinctive nation.

It was born out of ideas and ideals that were capturedin phrases that still resonate in American culture: Allmen are created equal – Liberty and justice for all – Epluribus unum (“Out of many, one” the phrase on theofficial seal of the United States)

The American Revolution created not only an independent new republic but also a different

conception of politics than prevailed in Europe

New forms of representative government and new models of dividing power among the

various branches of government

I- The Confederation Government

I – 1 Definition

A Confederation is a groupof States that are alliedtogether to form a politicalunit in which they keeptheir independence but acttogether for certainpurposes such as defense

I-2 The Critical Period

After the revolutionary war a“critical period” prevailedbecause the United Stateswas struggling to establishitself as a new nation.

It operated under the Articles of Confederation, America’s first constitution, from 1781 to 1787.

The Confederate Congress was weak, it had little authority.

No courts.

No power to enforce its resolutions and ordinances.

No power to levy taxes.

No executive or judicial branch (no administrative head of Government, President of congress chosen annually.

I-2 Finances Were Not Stable

The financial program of the Executive head of the Confederation (Robert Morris) failed because of lack of unanimous approval.

Consequence: the Confederation never put its finance in order and the Congress ran a deficit.

I-3 Land Policy

Western land was sold although confederation could not make money from it.

Plans were made through preparing for the creation of new States.

I-4 Northwest Ordinance of 1787

● Spurred by the plans for land sales and settlement, Congress drafted the Northwest ordinance.

● Territories were now subjected to a governor, a secretary and 3 judges, all chosen by congress, became States when reached 60.000 free inhabitants.

● The new States were to be admitted to the American Republic as equals rather than treated as subordinate colonies

I-5 Trade and the Economy

● The American economy was disrupted during the war (turbulent transition because of fighting).

● But after the war, the economy recovered.

● British trade with the United States resumed in 1783.

I-6 Diplomacy

●Nagging problems of relations with great Britain and Spain, both of which still kept illegal military posts on American soil and conspired with Indians.

● Captain Daniel Shays was the symbolic leader of Shays' Rebellion, which was started as a protest by Massachusetts farmers against high taxes (inflationary policy) and prison sentences for debtors.

● After, the Revolution had two concerns: Protection of new industries from foreign competition and shortage of currency owing to war debt.

● Shays’ Rebellion exposed the imperfections of political, social and economic life in post-Revolutionary Massachusetts and the United States more broadly.

I-7 the confederation’s problems and shay’s rebellion (Northampton, Massachusetts 1786)

II. Creating the Constitution

● Political leaders were beginning to be convinced that a strong central government was the only solution to anarchy.

II-1 The Constitutional Convention

● By the time the northwest ordinance was enacted, American leaders were in the midst of drafting a new and stronger constitution to replace the articles of confederation.

● debate started in Philadelphia on may 27, 1787.

II-2 Virginia and New Jersey Plans

● On June 15, delegates criticalof some aspects of Madison’sproposals submitted analternative: The New JerseyPlan, which sought to keep theexisting structure of equalrepresentation of the States andgive the Congress the power toregulate commerce.

● James Madison was veryactive, his plan (Virginia Plan):A separate legislative,executive and judicialbranches and a truly nationalgovernment whose laws wouldbe binding upon individualcitizens as well as States.

● Northern delegates were opposed to southern delegates over slavery.

● It was left to individual State to determine whether free Blacks were citizens.

● Native Americans were denied citizenship until 1924.

II-3 The Separation of Powers

● Several of the existing constitutions already had separated powers: executive, legislative and judicial.

II-2 The Fight for Ratification

Federalists (for a strong central government)

● Federation: A group of states with a central government but

independent in internal affairs

● Anti-federalists (feared a very strong central power; noticed there was no bill of rights).

● Little by little the 13 states ratified the constitution; but the issue of slavery had not been solved.

● The constitution was a good achievement, but did not solve the question of slavery.

● No political solution would be possible.

III - The Federalist Era

● The Constitution was ratified in 1788 because it promised to create a more powerful central government better capable of managing a new republic.

The structure of the new government

● Presidency: George Washington was the first president and john Adams the vice president.

● Department of state: Thomas Jefferson.

● Department of treasury: Alexander Hamilton (Created a national bank (bank of the united states).

● Attorney general: Edmund Randolph.

The Bill of Rights (December 1791)● The first ten amendments to the constitution to protect freedom of religion, the press, speech and assembly; the right to keep and bear arms.

IV. Hamilton’s Financial Vision● Alexander Hamilton wanted a capitalistic orientation to encourage investment and entrepreneurship.

● Alexander Hamilton’s controversial financial ideas provided the foundation of the political party known as The Federalists; in opposition were James Madison and Thomas Jefferson who took the name of Republicans or the Democratic Republicans.

V. Foreign and Domestic Crises

● Jefferson supported the French Revolution.

● Vice President John Adams was against it and said it had become barbarous.

● Internally, Whiskey rebellion (in western Pennsylvania 1791); groups of farmers rebelled against taxes on Whiskey (liquors) which they believed was unfair.

VI. Transfer of Power

Washington’s Farewell● By 1791 President Washington had decided that two terms in office were enough.

The Election of 1796● The election of 1796 was the first partisan election for President. John Adams beat Alexander Hamilton.

VII. The Adams Administration

Two acts were voted

● Alien Act: President could expel or imprison every alien or those considered dangerous out of the country at will.

● Sedition Act (Sedition- Activities aimed at weakening the established government).

● In 1800 there was a new election Thomas Jefferson won and became the third President.

Focus Questions1) What is the difference between a Confederation and a Federation?

2) What is the Constitution?

3) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the articles of Confederation? How did they contribute to the creation of a new U.S. constitution for the new nation?

4) What were the debates surrounding the ratification of the Constitution? How were they resolved?

5) In what ways did the Federalists’ vision for the United States differ from that of their republican opponents during the 1700s?

THANK YOUDR ETTIEN