The Evolution of America's Government: From Rebellion to Ratification

1. Chapter 6

2. The Search for Stability • During Am. Rev. briefly after the US was under the Articles of Confederation • Weak central government- power with the states

3. Also set policy was set for how territory could become a state • Enter as equal state

4. Under the Articles, Congress lacked power • States acted as independent nations • Gov’t had no power to tax • Country was in debt • Lacked a sound currency

5. Crisis and Rebellion • Farmers protested/ financial difficulty • Gov. of Mass. Called out the militia to scatter the protestors • Daniel Shays & (1200 men) issued demands for help • Governor sent militia to defeat Shays • arrested men, (2 executed), granted amnesty to most

6. The Drift Toward a New Government • Imperfections of Articles led to “re-think” the government • Some were against a strong central government- Anti-Federalist (Sam Adams, Patrick Henry, etc.) • Some were for a strong central government- Federalist )James Madison, Alexander Hamilton)

7. ContinentalCongress • Called a new Congress to REWORK the Articles • BUT they decided on an entire new form of government • George Washington was the presiding officer of the Convention

8. Delegates were forced to compromise and concede • Issues between sections of country • Large states vs. small states

9. Great Compromise- • Two house legislature- one house based on population (House of Representatives) • One house- each state had equal power (Senate- 2 per state)

10. President to be chosen? • Compromise- Electoral College • Each state appoint electors- up to state how they were chosen

11. Conflict between North and South • South low or no tariffs • North wanted high or protective tariffs (because they produced goods) • Main way gov’t made revenue through tariff tax

12. $3.50 a roll $4.50 a roll

13. Slaves and Representation? • How would they be counted for representation purposes? For tax purposes? • Each section sought their own interests

14. 3/5’s Compromise • Slave trade prohibited after 1808 • 3/5s Compromise- for every 5 slaves, 3 would be counted for taxation and representation

15. States had to ratify the Constitution before it would become the law of the land • Supporters were Federalists- men or property, urban areas, & merchants- organized and led state campaigns • Opposition came from small farmers, & laborers- not organized

16. Federalist and Antifederalists • Hamilton, Madison, and Jay published a series of newspaper articles later called, The Federalist • Purpose was to convince the nation to pass the Constitution

17. Ratification of the Constitution • States moved to ratify the Constitution to grant a “more perfect union.” • Hold out states demanded 10 Amendments to guarantee popular government and individual freedom (Bill of Rights)

18. Launching a the Government • Electors chose George Washington as president • (the person who received second most votes was the Vice President)- John Adams

19. Congress created three departments- • State Dept. - led by Thomas Jefferson • Treasury Dept. - led by Alexander Hamilton • War Dept.- led by Henry KnoxJudiciary Act of 1789 created a Supreme Course and supporting courts

20. Federalist Finance • Hamilton wanted to gain confidence of business and financial groups • Hamilton wanted to federal gov’t to pay war debts • Southern states objected because they had paid most of their debts • And that is how the capital- Washington DC- came to be located in the South- near Virginia- per a deal struck with Jefferson

21. Jefferson and Hamilton disagreed on many things • Including the bank • And their view of government • Jefferson said the government could only do what the Constitution gave it the power to do- (Strict Interpretation) • Washington and Hamilton won out and the First Bank of the U.S. was created (Loose Interpretation)

22. The Whiskey Rebellion • Hamilton taxed whiskey to fund federal treasury • Farmers who grew grain rebelled • Washington acted quickly • Washington sent 15,000 troops to the area to put down the rebellion • Farmers scattered/ ringleaders were arrested

23. The French Revolution • The French Revolution began modeled after US but turned violent and bloody • King Louis XVI and his wife were executed by the French • When Britain and France went to war in 1793, Washington declared the US to be “fair and impartial”

24. Pinckney Treaty (with Spain) • Spain recognized 31 degrees N Latitude as US southern border • Gave US right to travel Mississippi and right to use New Orleans

25. Early Political Parties • The Emergence of Party Politics • Political differences were led by two camps- Jefferson and Hamilton • Hamilton had no confidence in the people in mass • Those with skill and talent (rich and wellborn) would serve in leadership best • Those supporting Washington and Hamilton’s views were the Federalists

26. Jefferson believed the majority of people could govern themselves • They needed no strong central government to lead themThose supporting Jefferson and his views were the AntiFederalists

27. The Election of 1796 • Washington did not want the presidency to grow into a monarchy and served only two terms • As a “gentlemen” he did not partake of political bickering • Washington set the tone of the presidential office

28. In his Farewell speech Washington warned of two things • He warned against political parties • He warned against entanglements with foreign nations

29. In the Election of 1796, Thomas Jefferson ran as Republican • John Adams as a Federalist won a slim majority and Jefferson by gaining second most votes became vice president

30. The Trial of John Adams • John Adams took the presidency, but the Federalist party experienced problems • Alexander Hamilton worked against Adams.

31. The Alien and Sedition Acts • 1798- Congress passed a series of Alien Acts against immigrants (who were inclined to vote Republican) • Gave the President the power to deport undesirable aliens, and imprison aliens in time of war • The Sedition Act- A citizen could be fined or imprisoned for writing, printing, or speaking against the President or Congress • Purpose to muzzle opposition

32. Republicans opposed because it violated free speech and free press in the Bill of Rights • Several states passed resolutions against the Alien and Sedition Acts • Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions said a state could nullify federal law

33. End Of Ch. 6