Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • What kind of democracy? – “Pure” democracy – Greeks – Republican in form • NOT “Republican Party” – representative • White Males only – landowning – Left door open to non-landowning later – States – • Drafting of State Constitutions – Primarily: Outlining the distribution and limitations of power.
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Little attention was devoted to National Constitution or Gov’t – Belief was that greater power resided in the States • Strongest beliefs held in South • Yoke of one Tyrant was thrown off (England) – Did not want to replace one with another – Any type of Gov’t would be “weak” by our standards today.
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Articles of Confederation, 1777 – Sent to States for ratification – No Executive Branch (President) – No Judicial Branch (Federal Courts) • Could not regulate commerce • Could not “Tax” – lacked enforcement • Required all 13 states to amend itself – Very difficult to do – any one state could be “spoiler”
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Lecture Notes, Chapter 7 1 Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Legacy – – Articles helped resolve war with England • Peace of Paris, 1783 • Expand territory (Land Ordinances) • Provided somewhat of a national framework for 11 years, until new constitution done – Were considered too “weak” for a fledgling country of independent states.
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Northwest Ordinance(s) – 1784, 1785 and 1787 • 1784, 1785 – dealt with new territory northwest of settled territory (no more than five, but no fewer than 3 states would be created) – Land sectioned off in townships 6 miles square » Each divided into 36 sections »Sale of 16th section was to provide for a school » Thomas Jefferson’s mark – education to help elect qualified people and sustain republic.
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Northwest Ordinance, con’t – When population reached 60,000 statehood could be petitioned • Gradual process built in to lead towards statehood – 1787 – last of three, very important • Guaranteed rights to citizens even before statehood • Prohibited slavery (not done in Constitution)
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Lecture Notes, Chapter 7 2 Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Trouble in Northwest Territory – Indian tribes did not recognize American authority to reside there. • Early settlers attacked and raided along frontier • 1795 Battle of Fallen Timbers – Indians defeated – General Anthony Wayne victorious – Another weakness of Articles of Confederation » Not until Constitution would government be able to muster an army to protect settlers on frontier
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Shay’s Rebellion, 1786 – Daniel Shay and Job Shattuck – Revolutionary veterans • Massachusetts “hard money” policy • Many farms to be foreclosed on – “What did we fight for? – lose everything?” – Headed for federal arsenal at Springfield, Mass – Rebellion put down, but leaders knew more would follow if something wasn’t done.
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • May, 1787, 55 delegates met in Philadelphia – Behind closed doors/secret from public – Boldly decided to scrap articles and start anew – James Madison – “Father of Constitution” • Kept a daily journal of activities • Other writings – ideas of “Checks and Balances” • Debate was hotly contested – More than once convention almost ended due to irreconcilable differences.
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Lecture Notes, Chapter 7 3 Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Benjamin Franklin – there as a calming force when tempers flared – Great Compromise – Roger Sherman, Conn. • Two Legislative Houses – One by population (favored by New York/Virginia) – One equal representation (favored by Rhode Island) » House of Representatives »Senate • Agreeable – but one more issue loomed: slaves
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Northerners: - Slaves should be counted as whole people for taxation • Southerners: - Slaves should be counted as whole people for representation – Neither side saw the other’s point of view –3/5th’s Compromise • Slaves counted as 3/5th’s a person for representation and taxation
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • New Constitution – – Three Branches • Legislative – meant to be strongest • Executive – President • Judicial – Supreme Court and Federal Courts – Checks and Balances – • Example: President commander and chief of armed forces • Only Congress can declare war
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Lecture Notes, Chapter 7 4 Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Bill of Rights – – First 10 Amendment of Constitution • 1. Freedom of Speech, Press and Religion • 2. Right to keep and bare Arms/Militia • 3. No Quartering of Troops • 4. Freedom from Unreasonable search and seizures • 5. Freedom from “Double Jeopardy” • 6. Right to speedy and public trial of peers • 7. Civil suits over $20 – trial with jury • 8. No excessive bail or cruel and unusual punishment • 9. Nothing written here is done to deny anything “not written” • 10. State Rights – what is not prohibited nor expressed for U.S. Lecture notes, Chapter 7 13
Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Sent to states for ratification – Only 9 states had to ratify to be accepted – Learned lesson of Articles of Confederation – Debate spilled over into states • Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists – Federalist Papers – Hamilton, Jay, Madison – Anti-Federalist Papers – Those in opposition » Published in New York papers under publius » Helped sway opinion for ratification
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Forging a National Republic 1776 - 1789 • Nine states ratified by June, 1788 – New York and Virginia hadn’t – They were two largest of states and needed badly for real support • New York ratified in July 26, 1788 • Virginia had ratified by that time • Last two states, North Carolina and North Carolina made it unanimous by May, 1790.
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