Critical Period: Origins of Critical Period: Origins of American GovernmentAmerican Government

Newburgh ConspiracyNewburgh Conspiracy

• What was it?What was it?• What was its What was its

significance?significance?

North America After theNorth America After theTreaty of Paris, 1783Treaty of Paris, 1783

State ConstitutionsState ConstitutionsRepublicanism.

Most had strong governors with veto power.

Most had bicameral legislatures.

Property required for voting.

Some had universal white male suffrage.

Most had bills of rights.

Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Occupational Composition of Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesSeveral State Assemblies

in the 1780sin the 1780s

Accomplishments of the Articles Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederationof Confederation

• Kept the states together after the Kept the states together after the American RevolutionAmerican Revolution

• Negotiated the Treaty of Paris of 1783Negotiated the Treaty of Paris of 1783

• Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787Ordinance of 1787

Indian Land Cessions:Indian Land Cessions:1768-17991768-1799

State Claims to Western State Claims to Western LandsLands

Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of Northwest Ordinance of 17871787

One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress!

Statehood achieved in three stages:

1. Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory.

2. When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners elect territorial legislature.

3. When population reached 60,000 elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.

WholesaleWholesalePricePriceIndex:Index:1770-1770-17891789

Weaknesses of theWeaknesses of theArticles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederationA unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law].

13 out of 13 to amend. Why was this such a problem?

Representatives were frequently absent.

Could not tax or raise armies.

No executive or judicial branches.

Weaknesses ContinuedWeaknesses Continued

• Could not settle disputes between the Could not settle disputes between the statesstates

• Could not regulate interstate Commerce Could not regulate interstate Commerce (States were taxing each other’s goods)(States were taxing each other’s goods)

• Did not have a monopoly on CurrencyDid not have a monopoly on Currency

Legitimate Fears of Dissolution Legitimate Fears of Dissolution and Warand War

• States fighting each other over boundaries (North States fighting each other over boundaries (North and South Carolina)and South Carolina)

• Massive inflation: Why?Massive inflation: Why?• Trade inequities with Great Britain: Why?Trade inequities with Great Britain: Why?• Lack of Foreign Respect from Lack of Foreign Respect from

– Great Britain: How? Why couldn’t we do anything Great Britain: How? Why couldn’t we do anything about it?about it?

– France: How? Why?France: How? Why?– Spain: How? Why?Spain: How? Why?– North Africa: How? Why?North Africa: How? Why?

Disputed Territorial ClaimsDisputed Territorial ClaimsBetween Spain & the U. S.:Between Spain & the U. S.:

1783-17961783-1796

The United States in The United States in 17871787

American Exports, To & American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789From Britain: 1783-1789

Annapolis Convention Annapolis Convention (1786)(1786)

12 representatives from 5 states[NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA]

GOAL address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states.

Not enough states were represented to make any real progress.

Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77

Daniel Shays

Western MA

Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-77

There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders.

-- George Washington-- George Washington

Philadelphia ConventionPhiladelphia Convention

• Mandated Purpose:Mandated Purpose:

• Secrecy: Why?Secrecy: Why?

• What states were there? Who was not?What states were there? Who was not?

• Who were the Delegates?Who were the Delegates?

• Beard’s Thesis v. Commager’s ThesisBeard’s Thesis v. Commager’s Thesis

The“VirtuousRepublic”

The“VirtuousRepublic”

Classical view of

a model republic

Classical view of

a model republic

“City on a hill”

[John W

inthrop]

“City on a hill”

[John W

inthrop]Ideal citizen

[Cincinnatus]

Ideal citizen

[Cincinnatus]

1. Govt. gets its authority from the citizens.

2. A selfless, educated citizenry.

3. Elections should be frequent.

4. Govt. should guarantee individual rights & freedoms.

5. Govt.’s power should be limited [checks & balances].

6. The need for a written Constitution.

7. “E Pluribus Unum.” [“Out of many, one”]

8. An important role for women raise good, virtuous citizens.[“Republican Womanhood”].

Enlightenment

Thinking

Enlightenment

Thinking

Key Concerns of the DelegatesKey Concerns of the Delegates

• Interstate CommerceInterstate Commerce

• Protection of PropertyProtection of Property

• National Security/ International Influence National Security/ International Influence

• National UnityNational Unity

• The National DebtThe National Debt

Essential Dilemmas Facing the Essential Dilemmas Facing the Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention

• States Rights v. Central PowerStates Rights v. Central Power

• The Design of the Federal Level and The Design of the Federal Level and Division of Power within this BranchDivision of Power within this Branch

• The Degree of DemocracyThe Degree of Democracy

The U.S. Constitution: The U.S. Constitution: Document of CompromiseDocument of Compromise

• Great (Connecticut) Compromise:Great (Connecticut) Compromise:– Large State (Va.) v. Small State (NJ)Large State (Va.) v. Small State (NJ)

Slave Trade Compromise:Slave Trade Compromise:

Executive Compromise:Executive Compromise:

3/5 Compromise:3/5 Compromise:

Anti Democratic Elements of the Anti Democratic Elements of the U.S. ConstitutionU.S. Constitution

• Federal Judges appointed for life by Federal Judges appointed for life by President.President.

• President indirectly elected by the Electoral President indirectly elected by the Electoral College. Why??College. Why??

• Senators elected by State LegislaturesSenators elected by State Legislatures

• Who could vote? Who couldn’t?Who could vote? Who couldn’t?

• ONLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ONLY HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES ELECTED DIRECTLY.ELECTED DIRECTLY.

Federalist vs. Anti-FederalistFederalist vs. Anti-Federalist

Ratification FightRatification Fight

• Federalists Federalists v. v. AntifederalistsAntifederalists

• Small states approved: Why?Small states approved: Why?

Del., NJ, Ga., Conn.Del., NJ, Ga., Conn.

Pennsylvania Pennsylvania

MassachusettsMassachusetts

Maryland, S.C., NHMaryland, S.C., NH

Adopted but who left out??Adopted but who left out??

Laggard StatesLaggard States

• Virginia: Patrick Henry v. George Virginia: Patrick Henry v. George Washington, James Madison, John Washington, James Madison, John MarshallMarshall

• New York: Manhood Suffrage for New York: Manhood Suffrage for delegatesdelegates

• Federalist Papers: Alexander Hamilton, Federalist Papers: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John JayJames Madison, and John Jay

• Who’s left?Who’s left?

Bill of RightsBill of Rights

• Why did James Madison write them?Why did James Madison write them?

Challenge Questions:Challenge Questions:

Who is Dakota Meyer and what did he Who is Dakota Meyer and what did he do??do??

What were the proposed amendments 11 What were the proposed amendments 11 and 12 that were not ratified?and 12 that were not ratified?