The Articles and the Convention

1. The Articles and the Convention

2. America in 1776: • Colony of Great Britain, but govern themselves; had done so for over 150 years. • Great Britain fights France in French and Indian War. . .down on money. Decide to tax Americans through the teeth. • Americans have no representatives in British government. UNFAIR. • Declaration of Independence: Americans cut ties with Britain. Fight Revolutionary War (1776-1783). Win independence.

3. America in 1776 II • USA really a group of 13 nation-states, not part of one union. • Declaration of Independence proclaimed the colonies “free and independent States.” • Heading: “The Unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America.”

4. New Country/New Government: • America now independent-What kind of government to set up? • Didn’t want monarchy: Too much power in the hands of one person. Learned their lesson from King George III (British king). • Want to keep all of the states together, but not make the national government too strong (so it could take away the states rights). • States jealous of power-want to hold it for themselves.

5. The Articles of Confederation (1779) • Fears of the new nation: • Creation of a national government that was too strong. • Some states would dominate others in the national government.

6. Articles of the Confederation (1781) • Organized a weak national government around Congress (one house, the Confederation Congress). • Every state had one vote (delegate). • For law to pass, 9 of 13 colonies must agree. • Changes in the Articles had to be unanimously approved. • No executive branch (no president) or judicial branch. • Formed a “confederation,” a firm league of friendship, but not really a nation.

7. Articles began to falter. . . • Only powers of national government? Conduct foreign affairs, make treaties, declare war. • No central authority. . .just a bunch of squabbling delegates in Congress. Too many had to agree to get anything done. • No state had to listen to Congress; their decisions were just advisory.

8. Articles began to falter II: • Couldn’t change Articles: If one state held out, no changes were made. • Congress could not tax anyone. Had to ask states for money. • No power to regulate commerce: Serious disputes broke out between states with no courts to make decisions. • European nations began to drool. . .could invade and take back parts of territories.

9. Articles began to falter III • During war, economy was good. After war, began to falter. • Imported too much from Great Britain: debt. • Still paying for the war for independence: taxes. • States were making their own money. . .what was a RI dollar? NY dollar? Disaster. • Gold/silver hoarded. • Depression that lasted five years (1784-89)

10. From “Plain Honest Men” (2009) • The Articles of Confederation suffered from three fatal flaws. • (1) It didn’t allow the continental government the power of the purse – the power either to levy taxes directly or to compel the states to pay their fair share of the expenses of the government. • (2) It required unanimous approval of the state legislatures for any amendment to the Articles – including any amendment that might provide a remedy for the government’s inability to raise revenues independently. • (3) And it failed to provide for a chief executive capable of giving energy and direction to the new central government as it sought to carry out its essential tasks.

11. How bad was it? • War ended in 1783. During the war, (under Articles), states asked to pay troops. . .didn’t. • No blankets, provisions, pay, pensions. Soldiers ticked off. • In 1783, Major John Armstrong wrote letter arguing soldiers should march on Philadelphia and take by force what they deserved (The Newburg Conspiracy).

12. How bad was it? • At Newburg NY, Washington met with leaders. Angry. . .didn’t show him respect/deference of before. • Gave impassioned speech: Be patient with Congress. • Washington felt they were unmoved. • Took out a letter from a member of Congress to read to them, fumbled with his glasses.

13. How bad was it? • "Gentlemen, you will permit me to put on my spectacles, for I have not only grown gray but almost blind in the service of my country.“ • Men moved to tears, conspiracy collapsed. • Washington believed this “experiment” must be given a chance, but things were not good. • Wasn’t over: Weeks later, PN militia marched in Phil., forced Congress to flee to Princeton, N.J.

14. Shay’s Rebellion (1786-87) • Armed rebellion of farmers in western Massachusetts. • Issue? Debt and taxes. Farmers going out of business, being jailed for not paying off debts, interest, and then being taxed unfairly on top of it. • Much of it due to worthless money printed by states/feds. • Had enough: Marched on a federal arsenal. Repelled by private militia paid by Boston merchants. Fired into crowd killing four. • Disorganized defense by federal troops caused fear in Washington and others. Saw the need for a stronger federal government.

15. Discussion of a new government: • Began in May 1787 in Philadelphia (only to revise the Articles, not replace them). • Pretty soon, began talk of starting all over: making a much stronger national government based on the will of the people. • Some delegates alarmed-what about state’s power? The rights of the people? • Worried a strong central government would abuse states/people’s rights.

16. Constitutional Convention (1787) • Called at first to “modify” the Articles. • Still, many thought they needed to start all over. • James Madison: Prepared, brought a plan as a starting point (Virginia Plan). • Didn’t end up being the final plan, but it gave the delegates something to talk about.

17. Virginia Plan • Three branches instead of one (legislative, executive, judicial). • Two houses in legislature (House of Representatives (people elect), Senate (elected by House from lists nominated by legis of states). • Proportional representation in both houses.

18. Virginia Plan II • Legislative branch would have much more power than in Articles of Confederation. • Would be able to make laws to regulate trade, strike down state laws that violated the federal Constitution, call forth the armed forces against the states (really put states in their place). • Also would elect the executive and judicial branch members. • With proportional representation, this plan seemed to favor the big states (like, oh. . .say. . .Virginia. . .where Madison is from. . .hmmm).

19. New Jersey Plan • Smaller states nervous. . .seems they will be squashed by the larger states. • William Patterson (NJ) submitted plan of his own (The New Jersey Plan). • Plan like the Articles (all states get same number of representatives). • Added more powers to Congress (taxes, trade) and get more control over the states. • Executive branch would be made up of people selected by Congress. • Judicial branch: Members chosen by executive. • Was rejected (too much like Articles)

20. Great Compromise (CT) • Still, concerns from smaller states on number of representatives. • Compromise: • House of reps: Proportional representation (based on population) • Senate: Equal representation. • House: Given power to develop all tax bills. . .but Senate had to approve (CHECK!). • Taxes divvied out based on population (so bigger states paid more taxes because of size).

21. The Three-Fifths Compromise • In some of the slave states, like Virginia, more than half of the population were slaves • Slaves couldn’t vote • Slave states were worried the anti-slavery states would ban slavery • Slave states believed it wasn’t fair that they should be weaker in proportional representation “just because they had slaves”

22. Three-Fifths Compromise (cont.) • Solution: Add to the free population total, three-fifths of “all other persons” • Of course, they aren’t going to let them vote, not even 3/5ths of a vote • And they aren’t going to count “Indians not taxed” AT ALL!

23. ESSAY FOR TEST • Explain what the Articles of Confederation are and why it/they failed.