Transcript Unit2P5 - apushhammond

The Constitution
• By Neil Hammond, Millbrook High School
The Articles of Confederation
• In November 1777, the Continental
Congress adopted the Articles of
Confederation and Perpetual Union.
• These Articles established a very weak
central government.
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation:
Western Policies
• It took until
1781 for all of
the states to
finally ratify
the Articles of
Confederation.
• At issue were
western land
claims of
several states
The Articles of Confederation:
Western Policies
• Lacking the power to regulate trade, Congress relied
on state contributions to fund the government.
• Congress also raised money by selling land it
controlled west of the Appalachian Mountains
• To encourage people to move to these lands,
Congress did two things:
– 1) Land Ordinance 1785 (set up method of surveying
western lands)
– 2) Northwest Ordinance 1787 (provided the basis for
governing most of the western lands)
The Articles of Confederation:
Western Policies
• worksheet
The Congress Falters
The first national government could not
regulate trade, collect taxes, or enforce
treaties, which led to calls for a
stronger national government.
The Congress Falters (cont.)
• Many states restricted British imports, but
the states did not all impose the same
duties on imported goods.
− This threatened the unity of the United
States because the states levied taxes on
each other’s goods to raise revenue.
The Congress Falters (cont.)
• Neither Britain nor the United States carried
out the terms of the Treaty of Paris.
− The Congress lacked the power to uphold
its side of the treaty.
The Congress Falters (cont.)
• The first major dispute between Spain and
the United States involved the border
between Spanish territory and the state of
Georgia.
− The dispute over this border, as well as
navigation on the Mississippi, remained
unresolved due to the limited power of the
Confederation Congress.
The Congress Falters (cont.)
• The end of the Revolutionary War and the
decline of trade with Britain had plunged the
U.S. into a severe economic recession.
− Farmers and other people in debt urged
the state governments to issue paper
money instead of raising taxes.
The Congress Falters (cont.)
• Violence erupted in Rhode Island, over the
value of paper money teaching two things to
many American leaders:
− Unless a government was properly
designed, the people could use the power
of government to steal from the wealthy.
− A strong central government was needed
to take on the country’s debts and stabilize
currency.
The Articles of Confederation:
Western Policies
• Shays’ Rebellion Video
The Articles of Confederation:
Postwar Concerns
• Money questions—debts, taxes, and tariffs—
dominated the postwar political agenda. Those
political leaders who had served the
Confederation as military officers, officials, and
diplomats looked at these problems from a
national perspective and became advocates of a
stronger central government. George
Washington, Robert Morris, Benjamin Franklin,
John Jay, and John Adams demanded that the
states give Congress the power to control
foreign commerce and impose tariffs. However,
most state legislators wanted to manage their
own affairs.
The Articles of Confederation:
The Annapolis and Philadelphia
Conventions
• In 1786, James Madison and other nationalists
persuaded the Virginia legislature to invite all
the states to a convention to discuss tariff and
taxation policies. Only five state governments
sent delegates to the meeting, which took place
in Annapolis, Maryland.
• Ignoring their small number, the delegates
called for another meeting in Philadelphia to
undertake a broad review of the Confederation.
Spurred on by Shays's Rebellion, nationalists in
Congress secured a resolution calling for a
revision of the Articles of Confederation and
endorsing the Philadelphia convention.
The Philadelphia Convention
• In May 1787, fifty-five delegates arrived in
Philadelphia. They came from every state
except Rhode Island, where the legislature
opposed any increase in central authority.
Most of the delegates were men of property:
merchants, slaveholding planters, or
“monied men.” There were no artisans,
backcountry settlers, or tenants, and there
was only a single yeoman farmer.
A Convention of Demi-Gods
• Every state chose reps except RI
– These leaders were appointed by state legislatures
– Select group of propertied men
• 55 men from 12 states finally started to meet at
Phila in May 1787
– Intimate setting
– Sessions held in complete secrecy
• “Demigods” in the words of TJ
– GW appointed chairman of the convention
– James Madison – “Father of the Constitution”
– Alexander Hamilton – advocated a strong national
govt.
Patriots in Philadelphia
• 55 delegates
– Conservative, well-off, lawyers, merchants,
shippers
– 19/55 owned slaves
– Young…nationalists
• Believed in Republicanism, but sought to
protect the Republic from its weaknesses
abroad and excesses at home
• Delegates also determined to “curb
unrestrained democracy”
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• The CC made a quick decision to completely SCRAP the
Articles…overthrowing the govt. by peaceful means
• Virginia Plan (Large State Plan)
– James Madison proposed it
– Three branches (Executive, Legislative, Judicial)
– Bicameral Legislature based on population
• A state’s representation in BOTH houses would be based on HOW
many people lived in the state
• New Jersey Plan (Small State Plan)
– Unicameral Congress
– Equal representation for all states
– The Articles on Steroids! States would be given the right to
tax and the right to regulate trade
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• Great Compromise
• House of Representatives = population
• Senate = equal representation for all states
• The Great Compromise saved the day
because it looked like the Convention was
deadlocked
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• 3/5 Compromise
• The argument over representation led to
another question: How would slaves be
counted for representation and taxation
purposes?
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• 3/5 Compromise
• Every five slaves would only count
as three for both representation
purposes and taxation purposes
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
• Problem: How much
power should be given to
the people when electing
the president?
• Answer = the Electoral College Compromise
Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises
•
Electoral College
Compromise… The executive was
to be elected INDIRECTLY.
Voters vote for electors…the
electors choose the president.
The number of electors is equal to
the number of representatives a
state has + the number of
senators it has…
• Large States would have the advantage in first round
of voting (where the number of electors is based on
Representatives + Senators), but small states would
have the advantage if no candidate has a majority b/c
each state gets one vote
– The founders expected this to happen often, but it has
only happened twice (1800 and 1824).
Slave Trade Compromise
• Should slavery be abolished?
• Slave Trade Compromise…slave trade will
be legal until 1808 at which point Congress
could ban the slave trade.
Beard’s Thesis versus the traditional view
• Was the constitution written by rich, white
men to protect their interests?
• Or...is the constitution an incredible document
that has stood the test of time, a document
produced by great men
Safeguards for Conservatism
• Democratic Elements
• Two great pillars of Republicanism:
– 1) legitimate power derives from the people
– 2) Powers of government should be limited
(in this case by the Constitution)
• September 17, 1878 – 42 delegates
remained to sign the constitution
– 3 refused
– No one was entirely happy