State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation

1. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Differing Opinions Elite republicans – welcomed hierarchical rule, not based on heredity. Feared democracy as mob rule. Working & poor people - worried that propertied elites prospered at their expense Rural Colonist – emphasized decentralization of power as much as possible

2. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation From Colonies to States Emphasis of State Governments during Revolutionary War Intensification of prewar struggle between more radical democratic elements and elites who would minimize popular participation New states continued to retain colonial precedents that favored the wealthiest elites

3. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation From Colonies to States Colonial Practices in New State Constitutions 11 had bicameral legislatures Few questioned property requirements for voters and elected officials Representatives should use independent judgment (not just vote the will of the people) Candidates campaigned on basis of personal reputation and fitness for office not policies. 1770’s & 1780”s equal distribution of legislative seats between cities and counties

4. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation From Colonies to States Colonial Practices in New State Constitutions (checks on Power) Colonist changed – previously British constitutions were body of customary arrangements and practices Colonists now saw Constitution – as written compacts that defined and limited the powers of rulers Constitutions were adopted by popular ratification and could only be changed if voters decided to amend.

5. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation From Colonies to States Colonial Practices in New State Constitutions (checks on Power) Revolutionary Constitutions spelled out citizens’ fundamental rights as final check on government 1784 all states included Bill of Rights in state constitutions

6. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation From Colonies to States After newness of Revolution Wealthier landowners, bankers, merchants, and lawyers, reasserted their desires for centralized authority and political prerogatives of wealth. Apportionment according to property values Governor with powers to appoint and vetoing legislation 1790 Georgia and Pennsylvania substituted unicameral legislature Other states raise property qualifications Making room for “Wisdom, remarkable integrity”

7. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation From Colonies to States After newness of Revolution Thomas Paine – 1782 The American Revolution was intended to ring in “a new era and give a new turn to human affairs.”

8. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation 1776 John Dickinson drafted a proposal for the national Constitution Congress adopted a weakened version of his proposal

9. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Ratified by all thirteen states in 1777, reserved to each state “its sovereignty, freedom and independence” and was a very weak and ineffectual government. Americans were citizens of state first and nation second 1776 Whigs never considered consolidating this vast continent under one National Government Confederacy of States, each must have a separate government

10. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Structure of Government Executive – there was none Congressional Committees oversaw financial, diplomatic, and military affairs Judicial – there was none No system to compel allegiance to its laws Legislative – all authority held by Congress

11. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Structure of Government Legislative – all authority held by Congress Unicameral congress One vote per state (regardless of the number of delegates sent by each state or population) No power to tax (without every state’s approval), had to request money from states No power to regulate interstate or foreign commerce

12. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation War-related political issues Funding the military Establishing military alliance with France Negotiating a Treaty

13. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Robert Morris – U. S. Superintendent of Finance U.S. had borrowed funds form abroad and printed paper money (continentals) Lack of faith in government destroyed value – 98% loss 1776-1781 Attempted passage of the Import Duty of 1782 – Rhodes Island voted against State versus national control of war debt debate (and the need to establish financial credit, attract capital, and establish a strong national government)

14. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Newburgh Conspiracy – 1783 – Robert Morris and Alexander Hamilton Persuaded army officers, to threaten a coup d’etat unless the treasury obtain the taxation authority needed to raise their pay George Washington stopped the plot 1783 war ends and contributions from states decreasing Late 1780’s states 80% behind requested funds to operate and honor national debt

15. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Economic Depression 1784 North East hit the hardest – poor land for farming, high taxes, and tightening credit Mid-Atlantic ship farm goods to Europe (famine) Southern Planters switch crops (hemp) 1770 2/3 of exports originated in the South 1790 less than ½ came form the South British Trade restrictions – Confederation could not pry trade concessions from Great Britain Before war 60% of Northern exports went to West Indies Half of all American exports went to Great Britain or its colonies Great Britain had halted trade during the war

16. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Western territories – Northwest Territories states surrendered claims to more that 160 million acres north of the Ohio River, 1780-1786 Ordinance of 1785 – Congress established uniform procedures for surveying this land Law established a township six miles square as a basic unit of settlement. Etc. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – congress defined the steps to become a state it forbade slavery while a territory, but after becoming a state it could be legalized These two ordinances laid procedures for territory farther west

17. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Indian Affairs – Dec of Ind. Described the natives as “merciless Indian savages” Most available land from Appalachians to Mississippi River was occupied by Native Americans 1789 divided into more than 80 tribes – 150,000 people Confederation commissioners declared “You are a subdued people…we claim the country by conquest.”

18. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Indian Affairs – Northwestern Indians gave in under threats of continued warfare Iroquois lost about ½ of their land in NY and Pennsylvania in the second treaty of Fort Stanwix, 1784 Delaware & Shawnee leaders were forced to recognize American sovereignty over their lands at Fort McIntosh Treaty, 1785 and Fort Finny Treaty, 1786

19. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Indian Affairs – Most Indians reacted with outrage Repudiated Treaties Natives felt British still present in the west, would supply arms to resist Mohawk Joseph Brant Leader of Indian resistance Translated book of Mark and Anglican Prayers Became minor celebrity in London

20. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Shays’s Rebellion 1786 Jay – Gardoqui Treaty - opened up valuable Spanish markets to eastern merchants Renounced Spanish claims to disputed southwestern lands Relinquished American export rights through New Orleans for another 20 years Treaty rejected by Americans

21. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation Postwar issues Shays’s Rebellion 1786 The depression of the 1780’s in New England – not fully recovered Competing political interests in the issue of national government powers: New England Farmers – taxes, etc Mid-Atlantic and southern farmers – open markets for goods, Massachusetts bankers – strong government for confidence Merchants and shippers – secure shipping abroad to ensure economic stability and America’s standing in Atlantic Econ Land speculators – more activist policy against Spain, Britain and Natives Western settlers – more activist policy against Spain, Britain, and Natives Urban artisans – Gov’t that would impose a uniformly high tariff as protection from foreign competition

22. State Constitutions & Articles of Confederation • Articles of Confederation • Postwar issues • Shays’s Rebellion 1786 • Daniel Shays and the farmers protest • Created fear of “mobocracy” vulnerability • Rumored threats by Spanish • Widespread public awareness of the weaknesses of the national government • The Annapolis Convention and the call for a convention to revise the Articles of Confederation