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CHAPTER 5 the FEDERALIST ERA: Nationalism Triumphant

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CHAPTER 5 the FEDERALIST ERA: Nationalism Triumphant CHAPTER 5 THE FEDERALIST ERA: Nationalism Triumphant The American Nation: A History of the United States, 13th edition Carnes/Garraty Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 INADEQUACIES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION BRITAIN: n Withdrew troops from settled portion of United States n Refused to abandon seven military posts beyond the periphery of the original thirteen states SPAIN: n Closed the lower Mississippi River to American commerce in 1784 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 INADEQUACIES OF THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION FOREIGN TRADE n British exported large quantities of cheap goods to U.S., quickly reaching levels of early 1770s n U.S. exports to the empire reached only half of its former volume n 1784­1786: U.S. suffering post war depression n Cash shortage n Confederation lacked authority to place tariffs on incoming British goods n Effort to give Congress power to pass tariffs failed when Rhode Island refused Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 DANIEL SHAY’S “LITTLE REBELLION” n Massachusetts legislature determined to maintain sound currency and pay off debt n Levied heavy taxes especially on those with moderate income n Many farmers lost their farms to foreclosure n Summer 1786: mobs in western communities stopped foreclosures by preventing courts from operating n Under leadership of Daniel Shays, rebels marched on capital to keep supreme court from meeting n State government sent troops that routed the rebels while Shays escaped to Vermont n Most well­to­do Americans saw Shays’ rebellion as liberty gone mad n They saw the answer as greater authority vested in the central government Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 TO PHILADELPHIA, AND THE CONSTITUTION n March 1785: representatives of Virginia and Maryland, meeting at Mount Vernon to settle Potomac navigation dispute, suggested conference to discuss commerce problems n January 1786: Virginia legislature sent out formal call for meeting in Annapolis in September— failed n Alexander Hamilton suggested another meeting to discuss Articles of Confederation n All but Rhode Island attended meeting in Philadelphia, May 25, 1787 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE GREAT CONVENTION n Most delegates agreed n Federal system n Independent state governments n National government with limited powers to handle matters of common interest n Republican government drawing power from the people n No one group should have unrestricted authority n Proceedings were secret n Decided to produce new document not merely revise Madison, James. Painting (bust) by Gilbert Stuart. 148­CC­13­9 Articles of Confederation National Archives Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE COMPROMISES THAT PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION n May 30, 1787: agreed a national government should be established with separate judicial, executive, and legislative branches n There remained two big questions: 1. What powers should this national government be granted? 2. Who should control the national government? Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE COMPROMISES THAT PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION QUESTION 1 n Relative agreement on governmental powers n Right to levy taxes and regulate interstate and foreign commerce n Power to raise and maintain an army and navy and to summon the militia of the states to enforce national laws and suppress insurrections n States were deprived of right to issue money, to make treaties, and to tax either imports or exports without the permission of Congress Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE COMPROMISES THAT PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION QUESTION 2 n Large vs. Small n Larger states wanted representation based on population (Virginia Plan) n Smaller states wanted equal representation (New Jersey Plan) n Great Compromise: House of Representatives would have proportional representation (elected by popular vote) and Senate would have equal representation (elected by state legislature) Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE COMPROMISES THAT PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION QUESTION 2 n North vs. South n North wanted to include slaves for tax purposes n South wanted to exclude them for tax purposes but include to decide representation in House n Three Fifths Compromise: slaves would count for both purposes as three­fifths of free people (term slave was not used in Constitution) n Congress could not outlaw African slave trade before 1808 n Regulation of commerce caused sectional difficulties— banned export taxes to get Southerners to drop their demand that 2/3 both houses be required to regulate foreign commerce Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE COMPROMISES THAT PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION n Constitution signed September 17, 1787 n Legislature of two houses n House of Representatives: represented ordinary citizen, could introduce revenue bills n Senate seen as advisory council whose consent was required for treaties and major presidential appointments n Executive branch n President with wide ranging powers n Vice President who presided over Senate n Judicial Branch n Supreme Court n Inferior courts as necessary Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE COMPROMISES THAT PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION PRESIDENT n General responsibility for executing the laws n Commander­in­chief of the armed forces n General supervisor of foreign relations n Appointed federal judges and other officials n Could veto any law of Congress (could be overridden by two­thirds majority in both houses) n Deliver annual “State of the Union” addresses n Recommend necessary measures Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 THE COMPROMISES THAT PRODUCED THE CONSTITUTION PRESIDENTIAL ELECTIONS & COURTS n Each state would choose electors equal to its representation in Congress n Electors would meet in own states to vote for two people for president n If no one got majority, House of Representatives (each state having one vote) would choose president from among leading candidates n Courts were established to adjudicate disputes and came to exercise right of “judicial review” Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION n Constitution to be ratified by special state conventions n When three­fourths of states pass, it would be law n Those who favored Constitution: Federalists; those against: Anti­Federalists n Federalists: generally substantial individuals, members of the professions, well­to­do, active in commercial affairs, somewhat alarmed by Revolutionary changes—wanted orderly and efficient government n Anti­Federalists: more often small farmers, debtors, others who valued free choice over power and resented those who favored the latter Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION n Agreements: wanted national debt paid off, opposed unstable currency, favored uniform trade policies, wanted to protect states n Much of opposition disappeared when agreed to add “bill of rights” protecting civil liberties of the people Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION 1. Delaware ratified December 7, 1787 2. Pennsylvania followed with 2 to 1 majority 3. New Jersey approved unanimously December 18 4. Georgia approved unanimously January 2, 1788 5. Connecticut approved a week later, 128 to 40 6. Massachusetts approved in February in a close vote of 187 to 168 7. Maryland accepted in April, 6 to 1 8. South Carolina approved in May, 149 to 73 9. June 21, 1788, New Hampshire approved 57 to 47 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 RATIFYING THE CONSTITUTION 10. Virginia, vital to success, voted for it 89 to 79 on June 25, 1788 11. New York (third largest state) had anti­federalist majority in convention but Alexander Hamilton (who with John Jay and James Madison wrote Federalist Papers) brilliantly defended Constitution: approved 30 to 27 12. North Carolina ratified in November 1789 13. Rhode Island ratified in May 1790 Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 WASHINGTON AS PRESIDENT n Elections January and February 1789 n Congress underway in New York by April n April 6: George Washington elected President n John Adams elected vice­ president (person with second largest number of votes) n April 30, 1789: Washington sworn in as president in New York Washington, George, the Virginia Colonel. Painting (¾ length) by C. W. Peale, 1772. 148­ GW­46 National Archives Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 WASHINGTON AS PRESIDENT n Did not believe in introducing legislation to Congress n Believed veto only for unconstitutional laws n Established precedent for Cabinet n Believed in competent appointees n Secretary of State: Thomas Jefferson n Secretary of Treasury: Alexander Hamilton n Secretary of War: Henry Knox n Attorney General: Edmund Randolph Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 CONGRESS UNDER WAY n By September 1789 Congress had n Created State, Treasury, and War departments n Passed Judiciary Act n establishing 13 federal district courts and 3 circuit courts of appeal n Setting Supreme Court justices at 6 n John Jay named chief justice by Washington n Bill of Rights (first 10 amendments) prepared by Congress and ratified Pearson Education, Inc., publishing as Longman © 2008 HAMILTON AND FINANCIAL REFORM n Tariff Act of 1789 n 5% tariff (hemp, glass, and nails subject to higher tariff) n Heavy tonnage duties on all foreign
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