The Confederation and Constitution 1776-1790

1. The Confederation and Constitution1776-1790 Chapter 9 AMH2010

2. Themes • Conditions that led to the Articles of Confederation. • Government under the articles. • Shay’s Rebellion • Constitutional Convention.

3. Changing Political Sentiments • “All men are created equal?” • Social democracy was stimulated by the growth of trade organizations for artisans laborers. • Protracted fight for separation of church and state. • Antislavery movement. • Huge concern for human rights! • However, No states south of Pennsylvania abolished slavery, and in the North and South, the law harshly discriminated against freed black and slaves. • Civic Virtue.

4. New State Constitutions • In the 1776, the Constitutional Congress called upon the colonies to draft new state constitutions. --Massachusetts set the standard for the fed. Convention. -- Written Fundamental Law. • Legislature as most democratic institution. • Capitals shift west.

6. Economic Troubles • Good news - Development of domestic industry. - Tory land sold. • Bad news - British trade boycott. - Runaway inflation. - Unsound currency.

7. Articles of Confederation • 1777– Articles adopted by Congress. • 1781– Articles ratified by all thirteen states. • IMPORTANT– 13 independent states cooperating on some things. - foreign policy - Strong legislative branch, but no executive or judiciary. • Weak government, but some successes. - outlined general powers of the central government. - making treaties - establishing a postal service

8. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Settled land Northwest of Ohio territory. • To be sold. • 60,000 people had to be in territory to be considered for statehood. • Slavery prohibited. • Basis for future expansion. • Proceeds were put toward the national debt.

10. Trouble in Paradise • 13 separate financial systems with tariffs and currency. • 2/3 approval for important measures. • Unanimous consent for amendments. • Articles are a joke to Europe.

11. Shay’s Rebellion 1786 • Revolutionary War vets losing their farms to foreclosures and tax seizures. • Got behind in payments due to their war service. • Demanded assistance from the state colonial governments. • Took up arms against Massachusetts, some small battles. • Rebellion was crushed. • Faith shaken, fear of anarchy. • Conservatives wanted to protect their property.

12. The Constitutional Convention • May 1787– Convention met in Philadelphia. • Conference of political giants: Washington, Hamilton, Franklin, and Madison. • All states were represented except Rhode island. • George Washington was appointed chairman unanimously. • Delegates were male, wealthy, nationalistic, and around 42 years old. • 19 out of the 55 in attendance owned slaves. • No poor social groups were represented. • Mobocracy

13. Compromises • Scrap the articles. • Representation, N.J. versus Virginia plans. • Great Compromise– every state gets 2 senators regardless of population, while House of Representatives was based on population. • Checks and balances - 3 branches of government. - Strong executive - National judiciary. • 3/5 compromise– slaves were 3/5 of a person.

14. Ratifying the Constitution • September 1787, Convention finished. • Only 42 of the original 55 remained. • Three of the 42 refused to sign the Constitution. • State ratifying conventions– ¼ males voted. • Must sell the idea to the states - Federalist Papers - Bill of Rights

15. The Constitution • June 21, 1788. • Nine states ratified. • Holdouts: VA, NY, NC, and RI. • North Carolina had a convention but didn’t even take a vote. • Rhode Island didn’t bother at all. • New government sworn in March 1789.