The New Nation

Americans Debate Republicanism

Colonies Become States

• People consider self-governing colonies basic political unit

• colonists give their allegiance to colony

• idea persists when colonies become states

Unity Through a Republic• Colonists believe

democracy gives too much power to uneducated

• Prefer republic—citizens rule through elected representatives

• Views of republicanism, government based on consent of people: Adam Smith

Articles of Confederation• Two levels of

government share fundamental powers– It allowed the National

Government the power to

• Declare War, Make Peace, Sign Treaties, borrow money, set standards for coins and weights and measures, establish postal service, deal with Natives

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Congress could not enact and collect taxes

• Couldn’t regulate interstate or foreign trade

• Each state had only one vote in congress

• 2/3’s majority vote needed to agree to pass any law

• Articles could only be amended if all states approved.

• No executive branch to enforce laws

• No national court system to settle legal disputes

• Lack of National unity.

– Un-United States of America

Problems encountered by weaknesses

• The Rev. War had cost the nation $190m CC had borrowed from foreign countries. After the war the $ was worth nothing.

• W/O the power to tax congress suggested enacting a tariff. RI rejected. No control over trade.

• B/C British merchants did not get paid back they refused to abandon military forts on the Great Lakes.

• Spain who we borrowed money from decided to close the Miss. River.

Nationalists Strengthen the Government

Shays’s Rebellion• 1786–87 armed farmers

demand closing of courts to avoid losing farms

• Shays’s Rebellion—state militia defeats farmers led by Daniel Shays

• Many leaders fear rebellion will spread through country

• George Washington calls for stronger national government

Drafting the ConstitutionAt the constitutional convention in 1787, delegates reject the Articles of Confederation and create a new constitution.

Nationalists Strengthen the Government

Call for Convention• 5 states send delegates

to meeting on interstate trade (1786) Madison and Hamilton call for the mtg.

• Shays’s Rebellion leads 12 states to join Constitutional Convention

• James Madison of Virginia known as “Father of the Constitution”

James Madison

Constitutional Convention Highlights

• In 1787, 55 delegates meet at Pennsylvania State House

• Windows kept shut to prevent eavesdropping on discussions

• Washington unanimously elected presiding officer

• Rich and well educated, outstanding leaders

• Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alex. Hamilton

Conflict Leads to CompromiseBig States Versus Small States

• Delegates recognize need to strengthen central government - decide to form new government• Madison’s Virginia Plan: bicameral legislature based on population• William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan: single house, one vote per

state• Roger Sherman, delegate from Connecticut, proposes Great

Compromise:- Senate has equal representation, elected by state legislatures- House of Representatives, based on population, elected by people

Conflict Leads to Compromise Slavery-Related Issues• South wants slaves in

population count for House, not for taxes

• North wants slaves in population count for taxes, not for House

• Three-Fifths Compromise allows 3/5 of state’s slaves to be counted

• Congress given power to regulate foreign trade

• Cannot interfere with slave trade for 20 years

Division of Powers in the New Government

• Federalism—division of power between national and state governments

• National government has delegated or enumerated powers

• Nation handles foreign affairs, defense, interstate trade, money

• Powers kept by states are called reserved powers• States handle education, marriage laws, trade within

state• Shared powers include right to tax, borrow money,

establish courts

Separating the Powers!• Legislative branch

makes laws• Executive branch

carries out laws• Judicial branch

interprets laws• Checks and balances

prevent one branch from dominating the others

• Electoral college—electors chosen by states to vote for president

Baron de Montesquieu

• a French social commentator and political thinker who lived during the Era of the Enlightenment

• famous for his articulation of the theory of separation of powers

Ratifying the Constitution• Ratification (official

approval) requires support of nine states

• Voters elect delegates to vote on ratification at state convention

• Process bypasses state legislatures, who are likely to oppose

Controversies over the Constitution

Federalists • favor balance between

state, national governments

• Urban, white collar

Anti-federalists oppose strong central

government:- may serve interests of

privileged minority- unlikely to manage a large

country well- Constitution does not

protect individual rights- Farmer’s, blue collar

Federalist Papers

The Federalist Papers—essays that defend, explain, analyze Constitution written by Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay

The Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification

People Demand a Bill of Rights• Anti-federalists demand written guarantee

of people’s rights• Federalists promise bill of rights if states

ratify Constitution

Ratification of the Constitution!

• December 1787–June 1788, nine states ratify Constitution

• The new government becomes a reality in 1789

Adoption of a Bill of Rights• 1791, Bill of Rights, or first ten amendments, ratified by

states• First Amendment—freedom of religion, speech, press,

politics • Second, Third—right to bear arms, no quartering of

soldiers• Fourth through Eighth—fair treatment for persons

accused of crimes• Ninth—people’s rights not limited to those mentioned in

Constitution• Tenth—people, states have all rights not specifically

assigned

Launching the New Nation

• George Washington becomes the first president.

• Elected unanimously in 1789

The New Government Takes Shape

Judiciary Act of 1789• Judiciary Act of 1789 creates

Supreme, 3 circuit, 13 district courts

• State court decisions may be appealed to federal courts

Washington Shapes the Executive Branch

• Creates Cabinet:– Treasury: Alexander

Hamilton– State: Thomas

Jefferson– War: Henry Knox– Attorney General:

Edmund Randolph

Hamilton and Jefferson Debate

Hamilton and Jefferson in Conflict

• Hamilton: strong central government led by wealthy, educated

• Jefferson: strong state, local government; people’s participation

• Hamilton has Northern support; Jefferson has Southern, Western

Hamilton

Jefferson

Hamilton’s Economic Plan• Plan—pay foreign

debt, issue new bonds, assume states’ debt

• Some Southern states have paid debts, against taxes to pay for North

• U.S. owes millions to foreign countries, private citizens

Plan for a National Bank• Hamilton proposes Bank

of the United States:- funded by government, private investors- issue paper money, handle taxes

• Disagreement over Congressional authority to establish bank

• Debate begins over strict and loose interpretation of Constitution

The District of Columbia• To win Southern

support for his debt plan, Hamilton suggests:- moving nation’s capital from NYC to South

• Washington, D.C. planned on grand scale; government seat by 1800

Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

• Split in Washington’s cabinet leads to first U.S. political parties:- Jefferson’s allies: Democratic-Republicans- Hamilton’s allies: Federalists

• Two-party system established as two major parties compete for power

The Whiskey Rebellion• Protective tariff— import tax

on goods produced overseas• Excise tax charged on

product’s manufacture, sale, or distribution

• In 1794, Pennsylvania farmers refuse to pay excise tax on whiskey- beat up federal marshals, threaten secession

• Federal government shows it can enforce laws by sending in militia

U.S. Response to Events in Europe

Reactions to the French Revolution

• Federalists pro-British; Democratic-Republicans pro-French

• Washington declares neutrality, will not support either side

Treaty with Spain• Spain negotiates with

Thomas Pinckney, U.S. minister to Britain

• Pinckney’s Treaty of 1795, or Treaty of San Lorenzo, signed:- Spain gives up claims to western U.S. - Florida-U.S. boundary set at 31st parallel- Mississippi River open to U.S. traffic

Washington’s Farewell Address

• Dangers of political parties

• American neutrality in European politics

• Established the two term tradition

First Party-Based ElectionsAdam’s Presidency

• 1796, Federalist John Adams elected president- Jefferson, a Democratic-Republican, is vice-president

• Result of sectionalism, placing regional interests above nation

Adams Tries to Avoid War• French see Jay’s Treaty

as violation of alliance; seize U.S. ships

• XYZ Affair—French officials demand bribe to see foreign minister

• called to lead army • Undeclared naval war

rages between France, U.S. for two years

Adams Provokes Criticism The Alien and Sedition Acts

• Federalists push Alien and Sedition Acts of 1798 through Congress

• Alien Acts raise residence requirements for citizenship- permit deportation, jail

• Sedition Act: fines, jail terms for hindering, lying about government

• Some Democratic-Republican editors, publishers, politicians jailed

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• Jefferson, Madison see Alien and Sedition Acts as misuse of power

• Organize opposition in Virginia, Kentucky legislatures

• Resolutions call acts violation of First Amendment rights

• Nullification—states have right to void laws deemed unconstitutional