Constitution and New Republic,1776-1800

Philadelphia Convention 1787¨ Washington agrees to preside only

after Shays’ Rebellion¨ Complete overhaul of federal gov’t

on the agenda¨ Weaknesses of Articles of

Confederation obvious¨ Fear of centralized gov’t still

strong

Madison and the Virginia Plan¨ Madison, Randolph and other

Virginians dominate early proceedings

¨ Executive, legislative, and judicial branches called for by Randolph–Bicameral Congress (2 houses)

•Lower house by population•Lower chooses upper house

Small States Respond (New Jersey Plan)¨ Patterson calls for unicameral

Congress (one house)–Equal representation for all states–Increased taxing/interstate power

¨ VA Plan supporters knew they had to compromise with the small states to ensure ratification

The Great Compromise

¨ Bicameral Congress created–House of Reps. (Lower House)

•elected based on population•3/5 compromise

–Senate (Upper House) •equal representation for all states

Dodging the Issue¨ Southern delegates worry about the

legality of slavery and the fed. gov’t interfering with it

¨ Slave trade allowed to continue until 1808

¨ No heavy taxing on imported slaves

Federalists¨ Hamilton, Madison, and Jay

publish The Federalist Papers¨ Thought a stronger, more

centralized gov’t was needed¨ Abandoned the ideas of the

Articles of Confederation¨ Feared chaos and the power of the people

Anti-Federalists

¨ Jefferson led this group¨ Feared concentrated power¨ Trusted the will of the people¨ Thought Constitution was too

removed from the people¨ Demanded a bill of rights

Bill of Rights¨ Appeased the Anti-Federalists¨ #1-9 stop Congress from

impinging on rights¨ #10 Powers not mentioned

reserved to the state gov’ts

Washington takes the oath of office

Washington’s Presidency

¨ Received all electoral votes ¨ Adams (Federalist) becomes Vice

President¨ Remained “neutral” in politics

(actually, supported Federalists)

Forming the First Cabinet¨ Hamilton

–Sec. of Treasury¨ Knox

–Sec. of War¨ Randolph

–Attorney General¨ Jefferson

–Sec. of State

¨ Tried to balance regions and viewpoints

¨ Rift develops between Hamilton and Jefferson

Hamilton’s Financial Program¨ Washington supported¨ Tried to gain support of the elite¨ Gov’t should assume public debt

and state debt¨ Taxes raised by whiskey tax¨ Create a National Bank to stabilize

financial structure

Opposition to Federalist Program¨ VA protests assuming state debts

–Future capital is moved to Washington DC as compromise

¨ Small farmers protest taxes¨ National Bank

–“Loose” interpretation of Constitution troubled Jefferson, Madison, and others

–Passed over protests

Beginnings of Political Parties

¨ Constitution does not mention parties

¨ Washington opposed them¨ These early squabbles created

allies and enemies•Federalists•Republicans (Anti-Federalist)

Securing the Frontier¨ Northwest Ordinance was not

enough¨ Land claims sorted out¨ Whiskey Rebellion in

Pennsylvania put down by federal gov’t. when President Washington sent federal troops to stop it

Whiskey Rebellion Flag

Foreign Difficulties¨ Britain and France engaged in war¨ American neutrality declared

–“Citizen Genet”–British impressment–Jay’s Treaty w/ Britain

(Federalist influenced)–Pinckney’s Treaty w/ Spain (US

can use the Mississippi)

Pinckney’s Treaty

John Adams’ Presidency

¨ Washington’s Farewell Address¨ One-term Federalist, elected in

1796 over Jefferson (became VP)¨ Federalists were splintering

The Quasi War with France

¨ XYZ Affair outrages Americans¨ Undeclared naval warfare¨ Eventually tensions cool

Alien and Sedition Acts¨ Federalists attempt to quiet

Republican Opposition¨ Alien Act

–Harder for foreigners (tended to be Republican) to become citizens

¨ Sedition Act–Punished anti-gov’t activities

(writings and otherwise)

The “Revolution” of 1800¨ Rematch from 1796¨ Bitter campaigns¨ Jefferson elected after 36 counts¨ Republicans now control executive

and legislative branches of gov’t.¨ Federalists control judicial branch

–Adams appoints “midnight” judges