Chapter 9 The Confederation and the Constitution

Pursuit for Equality Revolution idealism primogeniture Beginning of separation of Church and State  Anglican Church reform Antislavery movement- not far enough Lack of women’s rights focus on “civic virtue” Republican Motherhood

Economic Problems Loyalist/royal land= cheap, available American manufacturing  competition with British after war Speculation, profiteering= inflation Similarities to hold shaking country together?

Creating a Confederation Continental Congress= no constitutional authority 13 sovereign states Articles of Confederation 1777, ratified 1781 Western land dilemma= common benefit!

The Articles of Confederation 1 st government  loose link of independent states to deal with common problems 1 house legislature, 1 state=1 vote No executive, only state courts 9 states for bills Unanimous ratification for amendments Reasons?

The Articles of Confederation Congress couldn’t regulate trade Ask for tax contribution No control over states/citizens 1783 Congress fled Philadelphia Stepping stone

Land Laws 2 important pieces of legislation For Northwest Territory Land Ordinance of 1785 Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Anarchy No money= no international credit Tariffs from other states, depreciated paper money Shays’ Rebellion 1786 Wealthy property owners vs. debtor class “mobocracy”  rein in disorder States rights vs. strong federal government?

Constitutional Convention Participants Interstate commerce problems= Annapolis Convention Articles needed revision! 55 delegates meet in Philadelphia May 25, 1787 (no Rhode Island) Secrecy “Demigods” Upper class, 19 owned slaves, focus on preserving US  protect property rights Protect republican experiment, tariff enforcement, stop “mobocracy”

Constitutional Compromises Virginia Plan (large states) New Jersey Plan (small states) Great Compromise Strong executive branch Electoral College  House of Representatives if no majority 3/5 Compromise Abolish slave trade after 1807

Fear of The Mob Delegates had more in common Strong money, protection of property Strong central government, 3 branches Feared “the mob” Safeguards against the people Appointment of federal judges for life Indirect election of President and Senators Property requirements for voting for House of Reps Still founded on republicanism

Federalist vs. Antifederalist No unanimous ratification necessary Antifederalists Wealthy class stealing power, bill of rights? Federalists= power and influence Federalist Papers (Hamilton, Jay, Madison) Federalist #10

This mottled map shows that federalist support tended to cluster around the coastal areas, which had enjoyed profitable commerce with the outside world, including the export of grain and tobacco. Impoverished frontiersmen, suspicious of a powerful new central government under the Constitution, were generally antifederalists.