Shaping a New Nation The United States after the Revolutionary War

F.O.A. (Bellwork) What’s happening in this photo?

F.O.A. (Bellwork) What would happen if the government could not tax us? What would happen if the government could not tax us? What if states could not be forced to provide soldiers for our protection? What if states could not be forced to provide soldiers for our protection? What if there was no president? What if there was no president?

Remember...

The Treaty of Paris had officially ended the Revolutionary War, and Britain was SUPPOSED to leave the new United States territories... The Treaty of Paris had officially ended the Revolutionary War, and Britain was SUPPOSED to leave the new United States territories... But because of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the new U.S. government was unstable and weak. But because of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, the new U.S. government was unstable and weak.

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses Most power held by the states Most power held by the states Only one branch of government Only one branch of government The one legislative branch had very few powers The one legislative branch had very few powers No judicial branch (Supreme Court) No judicial branch (Supreme Court) No executive branch (President) No executive branch (President) No system of checks and balances No system of checks and balances Could not force states to provide soldiers for a national military Could not force states to provide soldiers for a national military Could not tax (this was the states’ right) Could not tax (this was the states’ right)

Weakness Chart

Because the U.S. government was so weak... It couldn’t force British troops to leave the U.S. It couldn’t force British troops to leave the U.S. Britain began passing tariffs (taxes on imports or exports) that the U.S. was forced to pay in order to trade Britain began passing tariffs (taxes on imports or exports) that the U.S. was forced to pay in order to trade Britain and Spain both closed trade routes that the U.S. depended on Britain and Spain both closed trade routes that the U.S. depended on

Assignment Read Chapter 5, Section 1 (pages ). Read Chapter 5, Section 1 (pages ). Answer 1-4 all parts on page 155. Answer 1-4 all parts on page 155.

Because of the closed trade routes and high tariffs, many states began printing large amounts of money Because of the closed trade routes and high tariffs, many states began printing large amounts of money Created inflation (money value decreases, prices of goods increase) Created inflation (money value decreases, prices of goods increase)

Depression Period of low economic activity and high unemployment Period of low economic activity and high unemployment Makes some people crazy and desperate Makes some people crazy and desperate

Shays’s Rebellion

MA farmers were losing their farms because they couldn’t pay their taxes MA farmers were losing their farms because they couldn’t pay their taxes Daniel Shays and other farmers rebelled in order to save their farms Daniel Shays and other farmers rebelled in order to save their farms Rebellion went on for a long time because the national government had no army to put it down Rebellion went on for a long time because the national government had no army to put it down Proved to many people that the U.S. needed a stronger national government Proved to many people that the U.S. needed a stronger national government

Constitutional Convention Most Americans agreed that the national government under the Articles of Confederation was way too weak Delegates arrived in Philadelphia in May, 1787 to discuss how to solve these issues INDEPENDENCE HALL

The Major Issues Every delegate thought changes needed to happen; just didn’t agree on how much Representation in Congress Slavery How strong the new national government should be

Representation in Congress How would representatives be chosen? Would larger states be allowed more representatives? Should everyone get the same amount of votes? Was there any way to compromise?

Large States Liked... Edmund Randolph’s Virginia Plan Bicameral legislature (House and Senate) Representation in both houses based on population

Small States Liked... William Patterson’s New Jersey Plan Unicameral Congress (one house) Each state got the same number of votes

The Great Compromise

Idea put forth by Roger Sherman of CT Bicameral legislature (House and Senate) Number of Representatives for each state based on population Each state got two Senators New Jersey Plan - Unicameral - Equal Rep. Virginia Plan -Bicameral - Rep. based on pop. Great Compromise - Bicameral - Representatives based on population - Equal number of senators

Slavery In order to increase their representation, Southern states wanted to count slaves in their populations. Northern states disagreed; they did not want to count slaves in the population, but they did think that the South should have to pay taxes on them.

Three-Fifths Compromise Slaves would count as 3/5 of a regular person. Taxes would be paid on all slaves. The writers of the Constitution were very careful to not speak bad about slavery (this would’ve upset the South).

Other Ideas Found in the Constitution...

Popular Sovereignty Sovereignty – The ability to rule Popular sovereignty means that political rule belongs to the people!

Federalism The sharing of power between states and the federal government

Checks and Balances Keeps any of the three branches of government from becoming too powerful

Federalists vs. Antifederalists & The Bill of Rights

A Little More Compromise... First: Great Compromise Second: Three-Fifths Compromise New Question: Just how strong is this new national government going to be? OR

Federalists Wanted a strong, powerful national gov’t Defended their views in a series of articles called The Federalist Papers

WASHINGTON MADISON FRANKLIN HAMILTON

Anti-Federalists Were opposed to the Constitution for several different reasons: Didn’t want a new gov’t (just a better one) Thought new gov’t had way too much power No section in the Const. that guaranteed certain rights

GEORGE MASONPATRICK HENRY JEFFERSONSAM ADAMS

More Compromise, Please! Both the Federalists and the Anti- Federalists published articles trying to persuade the American people Each state voted on whether or not to ratify (pass) the Constitution Only 9 states needed to ratify it; but in order for it to really be effective, all 13 states needed to ratify it

“The First State” Dec. 7, 1787 – Delaware becomes the first state to ratify the Constitution

Compromise Made Several states only agree to ratify the Constitution if a “Bill of Rights” were created to protect individual freedoms

Bill of Rights 1 st 10 amendments (official changes) to the Constitution Set a clear example of how to adjust or change the Constitution to reflect the wishes of the people

Remember... What role did compromise play in the writing of the United States Constitution? Representation – Great Compromise Slave Population – Three-Fifths Compromise Strong/Weak Government – Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists Protecting Freedoms – Bill of Rights