1. Chapter Five – Shaping a New Nation

2. Section One – Experimenting with Confederation
Americans Debate Republicanism
a. Colonies Become States
i. People consider self-governing colonies basic political unit
1. colonists give their allegiance to colony
2. idea persists when colonies become states
3. reluctant to unite
b. Unity Through a Republic
i. Colonists believe democracy gives too much power to uneducated
1. Prefer republic—citizens rule through elected representatives
ii. Views of republicanism, government based on consent of people:
1. John Dickinson: put nation’s good above self
2. Adam Smith and followers: pursue own interests

3. c. State Constitutions
i. Many states limit powers of government leaders
ii. Guarantee specific rights to citizens; stress liberty, not equality
iii Only white males can vote; in some states must own property
d. Political Precedents
i. Previous republican governments cannot be adapted to U.S. needs:
1. none balanced concerns of state and national governments
ii. Ancient Greece, Rome, Italian city-states did not last

4. II. The Continental Congress Debates
a. Representation by Population or by State?
i. Size, population varies; represent people or states in Congress?
ii. Congress believes it represents states; every state gets one vote
b. Supreme Power: Can it be Divided?
i. Confederation or alliance: national government, states share powers
ii. Articles of Confederation—laws assigning national, state powers
iii. National government handles war, treaties, weights, measures, mail iv. No executive or court system established to enforce, interpret laws

5. c. Western Lands: Who Gets Them
i. By 1779, 12 states approve Articles of Confederation
ii. Maryland approves when western land claims given to U.S.
iii. Articles of Confederation go into effect March 1781
d. Governing the Western Lands
i. Land Ordinance of 1785 creates plan for surveying western lands
ii. Northwest Ordinance of 1787—plan for creating territories, statehood

6. III. The Confederation Encounters Problems
a. Political and Economic Problems
i. Confederation lacks unity; states pursue own interests
ii. Congress amasses huge debt during Revolutionary War
iii. Rhode Island rejects tariff on imports; foreign debt cannot be paid
b. Borrowers Versus Lenders
i. Creditors favor high taxes so they will be paid back
ii. Taxes put farmers in debt; many lose land and livestock
iii. Debtors want large supply paper money; creditors want small supply

7. c. Foreign-Relations Problems
i. U.S. does not pay debts to British merchants or compensate Loyalists
ii. In retaliation, Britain refuses to evacuate forts on Great Lakes
iii. In 1784, Spain closes Mississippi River to American navigation
iv. Westerners unable to ship crops east through New Orleans
v. Congress unable to resolve problems with foreign nations

8. Section Two – Drafting the Constitution
Nationalists Strengthen the Government
a. Shay’s Rebellion
i. 1786–87 armed farmers demand closing of courts to avoid losing farms
ii. Shays Rebellion—state militia defeats farmers led by Daniel Shays
iii. Many leaders fear rebellion will spread through country
iv. George Washington calls for stronger national government

9. b. Call for Convention
i. Five states send delegates to meeting on interstate trade (1786)
ii. Shays’s Rebellion leads 12 states to join Constitutional Convention
iii. James Madison of Virginia known as “Father of the Constitution”
c. Convention Highlights
i. In 1787, 55 delegates meet at Pennsylvania State House
ii. Windows kept shut to prevent eavesdropping on discussions
iii. Washington unanimously elected presiding officer

10. II. Conflict Leads to Compromise
a. Big States vs. Small States
i. Delegates recognize need to strengthen central government
1. decide to form new government
ii. Madison’s Virginia Plan: bicameral legislature based on population
iii. William Paterson’s New Jersey Plan: single house, one vote per state
iv. Roger Sherman, delegate from Connecticut, proposes Great Compromise:
1. Senate has equal representation, elected by state legislatures
2. House of Reps, based on population, elected by people

11. b. Slavery-Related Issues
i. South wants slaves in population count for House, not for taxes
ii. North wants slaves in population count for taxes, not for House
iii. Three-Fifths Compromise allows 3/5 of state’s slaves to be counted
iv. Congress given power to regulate foreign trade
v. Cannot interfere with slave trade for 20 years

12. III. Creating a New Government
a. Division of Powers
i. Federalism—division of power between national and state governments
ii. National government has delegated or enumerated powers
iii. Nation handles foreign affairs, defense, interstate trade, money
iv. Powers kept by states are called reserved powers
v. States handle education, marriage laws, trade within state
vi. Shared powers include right to tax, borrow money, establish courts

13. b. Separation of Powers
i. Legislative branch makes laws
ii. Executive branch carries out laws
iii. Judicial branch interprets laws
iv. Checks and balances prevent one branch from dominating the others
v. Electoral college—electors chosen by states to vote for president
c. Creating the Constitution
i. Constitution can be changed through amendment process

14. Section Three – Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists and Antifederalists
a. Controversies Over the Constitution
i. Ratification (official approval) requires support of nine states
ii. Voters elect delegates to vote on ratification at state convention
iii. Process bypasses state legislatures, who are likely to oppose
iv. Federalists favor balance between state, national governments
v. Antifederalists oppose strong central government:
1. may serve interests of privileged minority
2. unlikely to manage a large country well
3. Constitution does not protect individual rights

15. b. The Opposing Forces
i. Urban centers Federalist; merchants, workers favor trade regulations
ii. Small or weak states want protection of strong government
iii. Rural areas Antifederalist; farmers fear additional taxes
iv. Large or strong states fear loss of freedom to strong government
v. The Federalist—essays that defend, explain, analyze Constitution
vi. Antifederalists read Letters from the Federal Farmer:
1. lists rights they want protected

16. II. The Bill of Rights Leads to Ratification
a. People Demand a Bill of Rights
i. Antifederalists demand written guarantee of people’s rights
ii. Federalists promise bill of rights if states ratify Constitution
b. Ratification of the Constitution
i. December 1787–June 1788, nine states ratify Constitution
ii. Federalists need support of large states Virginia and New York
iii. After opposition and debate, Virginia and New York ratify by 1788
iv. The new government becomes a reality in 1789

17. c. Adoption of a Bill of Rights
i. 1791, Bill of Rights, or first ten amendments, ratified by states
ii. First Amendment—freedom of religion, speech, press, politics
iii. Second, Third—right to bear arms, no quartering of soldiers
iv. Fourth through Eighth—fair treatment for persons accused of crimes
v. Ninth—people’s rights not limited to those mentioned in Constitution
vi. Tenth—people, states have all rights not specifically assigned