“This Critical Period”

Political Revolution • How to run a nation?

– Familiar model • British model – sought balance – Monarchy, aristocracy, & Common people – Americans have none of the above » How do we promote sovereignty?

– Americans adopted what they knew – » contract theory, separation of powers, natural rights of man • Republican style of gov – revolutionary – American were on cutting edge – Promoting classical (Greek, Roman) republicanism » Rule of the people » Society placed as the heart of the gov » Trust placed in people to participate (public virtue)

Political Revolution • The Beginning 1781

– No infrastructure • All loyalists were kicked out (Most public officials) • States devised their own constitutions – Differing interpretations of gov – Increased changing of how gov operated • Most sought limits of gov – State legislatures stronger than governor – Limit the power of single officials • Safeguard individual rights of – – Speech; trial by jury; freedom of self-incrimination

• Spirit of equality

• Participation in the war in sensed people to equality – Loss of infrastructure lead to increased opportunities in gov – Harder to deny people the opportunities to participate

Articles of Confederation

• Continental Congress’s creation 1776 - 1777 • Meant to be temporary; provide power/authority; no legality – Delegates Fearful of abuse; » Solution: create a weak government – 1777 Congress approved the Articles of Confederation • Outline of AoC: – National government had no control over people in the states » State laws were supreme to national law – National gov’t no power to levy taxes » States asked for contributions – Power of collective plural executive – 9 of 13 states needed for ratification of any action by congress • The Central Government; given some power – Declare War; Conduct Foreign Affairs, Coin Money, Postal System, Army of State Militia

Article of Confederation • Had few success

• Western lands – source of profit – Lands point of dispute between states – overlapping claims – Land ceded – AoC converted into states » Western ceded lands – can be states (Land ordinance of 1785) » Congress created surveys of land – created expansion – Northwest ordinance of 1787 further opens lands for development » Colonial stage – Follow colonial rule from congress » Territories with 5,000 adults – self gov.

» Governor be provided to further statehood – New territories were to be ultimately states – not colonies (breaks with European tradition) – Indians continuously removed from land due to land ordinances

Articles of Confederation

• Problems with AoC – Protecting & promoting American goods – Britain excluded American goods in British markets – America retaliated by placing tariffs on British goods • States are inconsistent in protecting/buying American goods • No power to tax – U.S. had 40 million in debt • State trade wars – Massachusetts banned English goods; give new business a chance to establish – Neighboring colonies imported goods and shipped them to Mass. (No gov’t to monitor the commerce) – Mass. Retaliated by banning importation of good from other states – Farmers hit hard • Huge profits during revolution – Squeezed by depressing crop prices – Limited markets • Banks & merchants demanded hard money (stabilize the market = increase prices)

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Articles of Confederation

Problems with AoC • States printed own money – Printing press’s printed money to pay off debt (huge sums) » Created inflation • 1786 Shay’s Rebellion – High levied land taxes and polls on farmers » Taxes used to pay off debt of revolution – Debt of farmers held by well to do elite » Bank owners – 1786 Mass. Congress convened giving no relief to farmers » Farmers/laborers/merchants attack Boston Mass Arsenal. – Captain Daniel Shay » Shay met by Boston militia » On volley round scattered Shay’s men; left 4 dead – Shay’s rebellion lead Mass congress to reduced agricultural crisis • Shay’s rebellion convinced many political leaders that government was not working

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New Plans of Government

Feb. 1787 Framing Constitution • Delegates sent to revise the articles of confederation • Virginia Plan proposed by Virginia Gov. Randolph – Representation based on population (size) – Three branches of government – Bi-cameral legislature » All power to make states obey and follow the government – President, National Court System, & Supremacy over states • Smaller states feared the plan – large states too much control New Jersey Plan • Simple revision of AoC; keep basic principles (one state – one vote) – Retain unicameral congress (all states represented) – Limited Congressional powers » Only add – powers to tax & regulate trade – Executive branch with several executives – Main division – how representation in congress would be handled

New Plans of Government

• Connecticut Compromise (Roger Sherman) – Government is about compromise (largest compromise) – *Keep all the Virginia plan has to offer » Give concessions on basing representation in the House of Reps on population (Lower house of Legislature) » Senate (Upper house) equal 2 senate basis » President chosen by electoral college – The Compromise passed Congress by a narrow margin • Ratification of Constitution – Special ratification conventions were held to pass constitution » General public never voted on the Constitution – Many state legislatures ratified the constitution – Considered a social contract (John Locke) » People give up freedoms to protect the common good (Tragedy of the Commons) – According to the theory – government derives power from the people; people define the powers of government

Constitution • Contract of ruling elites?

• Shay’s rebellion – mass’s rise up against the elite • Constitution is a fulfillment of elites taking control – State legislatures ratified the Constitution; not the common people – Constitution framed by politicians asserting power » Motives of the framers hard to ascertain » Constitution is political compromise (Connecticut Compromise) – The constitution is not just a holy document; but it isn’t a hedonistic doc. Either » Constitution & framers must be examined as is: » A document that traded, compromised, and bargained to make a functional government » Created out of necessity; less idealistic creation • Many historians argue that popular vote would have stopped the ratification of constitution

Legacy of Constitution • What are the legacies?

• Representative Democracy – Citizens vote for individuals – represent interests • Created federalism – power shared among Nation, State, Local • Separation of powers - powers divided between branches of government

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