Transcript The Constitution
The Early Republic and the Constitution
Growth of a National Spirit
What are the border and trade problems?
• How does the economy respond?
• • •
Why are these events significant…?
Mt Vernon Meeting of MD and VA delegates 1785 Annapolis Convention Sept 1786 Shay’s Rebellion June-Dec 1786 … Review docs • The Mad Cry of the Mob - Abigail Adams • A Little Rebellion Now and Then – T. Jefferson
The Articles of Confederation strengths? weaknesses?
It helped win the revolutionary war!
Got those critical Land (’85) and Northwest Ordinances (‘87) passed!!!!
What were they?
1787: Is a stronger central govt. needed? If so, HOW?
• • • • • • • Under Articles Loose confederation of states; 1 vote/state 2/3 vote 9 votes in Congress Laws executed by committees of Congress No power to levy taxes (asks for voluntary donations) No federal courts Unanimity for amendments reqd.
No authority over individuals • • • • • • • • Under Federal Constitution A firm union of people 2 votes in Senate/Representation by pop in house Simple majority subject to veto Laws executed by exec. Branch Congress regulates interstate and int’l commerce Extensive power to raise taxes Fed courts, with Supreme Court Power to coerce individuals and states
Philadelphia Statehouse, Sept, 1787
Evolution of a Central Union
• • • • • • • • • Attempts at Union Participants 1686-1689 Dominion of New England 1754 1765 Albany Plan of Union Stamp Act Congress 1772-76 Committees of Correspondence 1774 1 st Continental Congress 1775-1871 2 nd Continental Congress 1781-1789 Articles of Confederation 1789 Federal Constitution 1790 Federal Constitution 7 colonies 7 colonies 9 colonies 13 colonies 12 colonies 13 colonies 13 states 12 states 13 states
Key Influences on the Founders
• British Model of government • English Common Law • Judeo-Christian ethics • Old and New Testaments • Enlightenment beliefs • Ancient Roman govt • Ancient Greek experiment
It’s a Bundle of Compromises…
• • • • • • • 55 delegates, 88 Sessions, 569 votes taken… Great Compromise Slave Trade Compromise 3/5 Compromise Commerce Compromise President is commander in chief, but Congress declares war President serves 4 year terms and may be reelected for as many terms as people want… President is elected by electors, who were themselves elected in a way each state decided best
1787: Going over the heads of the Continental Congress that called the Convention! • • • The Articles is still in effect until ratification.
• Congress meekly accepts Convention’s proposal… Constitution’s framers stipulated 2/3 of states to ratify it Each state formulates and holds its own ratifying convention.
• Several small states are quick to ratify…
Ratification…2 laggard states…
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Delaware Penn.
NJ Georgia CT Mass.
MD SC NH VA NY NC RI Dec 7, 87 Dec 12, 87 Dec 18, 87 Jan 2, 88 Jan 9, 88 Feb 7, 88 April 28, 88 May 23, 88 June 21, 88 June 26, 88 July 26, 88 Nov 21, 89 May 29, 90 Unanimous 46-23 Unanimous Unanimous 128-40 187-168 63-11 149-73 57-46 89-79 30-27 195-77 34-32 59,096 433,611 184,139 82, 548 237,655 475, 199 319,728 249,073 141,899 747,610 340,241 395,055 69,112
To ratify?
or Not to ratify?
What evidence is there for the following assertion?
“The basic principles of the Constitution were firmly grounded in the political and religious experience of America’s colonial and revolutionary period.”
Was the ratification of the Constitution a triumph of conservative concerns?
• Yes • No ?
Classical Greco-Roman Influence
Justice Fortitude Temperance Plato and Aristotle Wisdom All 4 of these in architectural balance:
Excavations of the Ruins of Italian Cities
Pompeii in 1748 Herculaneum in 1738
Overview of Neo-Classicism
1. Art and architecture produced in Europe and North America from the mid-18c to the early 19c.
•
Neo=new, or revived 2. More than just an antique revival
aristocratic Baroque a reaction against 3. Revived study of ancient literature in original 4. Linked to political events: Revolutions established republics in France and in America
The “Federal Style”
• •
1780 – 1820 Thomas Jefferson’s influence Virginia Statehouse University of VA Monticello U. S. Capitol
Virgil 70-19BC
The Great Seal on the US Dollar
Washington’s presidency (1789-97) Strengths Weaknesses Whiskey Rebellion?
Jay’s Treaty?
Pinkney’s Treaty?
Battle of Fallen Timbers?
What Classical symbols do you see in Stuart’s portrait?
George Washington (Lansdowne portrait) by Gilbert Stuart, oil on canvas, 1796
National Portrait Gallery, Smithsonian Institution.
* This was originally a gift from Senator Bingham of Pennsylvania to the Marquis of Landsdowne, an English lord who had supported the American Revolution.
http://georgewashington.si.edu/portrait/index.html
Historiography Time!
Charles Beard An Economic
Interpretation of the Constitution of the
US (1913) His Thesis: Constitution’s creation was a reactionary phase by conservative property owners to preserve their wealth by curtailing democratic excesses of the Revolution.
Consensus on this today ?
? Does a republican govt. rest more on the virtue of its citizenry , or on the proper structure of the government?
“We are not forming plans for a Day, Month, Year or Age, but for Eternity. Let us endeavour with united Councils to establish a Government that not only may render our Nation great, respectable, free, and happy, but also VIRTUOUS. Let us try to combine political Establishments with moral Virtue...”
- John Dickinson
, DEL Delegate
A Prerequisite of Republicanism
"The preservation of liberty rested on the ability of the people to maintain effective checks on wielders of power and hence in the last analysis rested on the vigilance and moral stamina of the people...." • - Historian Bernard Bailyn
The Indispensable Character of George Washington
And why it still matters “Nothing but harmony, honesty, industry and frugality are necessary to make us a great and happy people.” Washington to Marquis de Lafayette, Mount Vernon, January 29, 1789
Who is a “person of character”?
1.
How would you define that?
2.
What qualities would he/she have?*
A firm and seasoned substance of the soul… • “What I mean by character is
the soul
resolve.” •
a firm and seasoned substance of
. I mean such qualities as intelligence, thoughtfulness, conscientiousness, right mindedness, patience, fortitude, long-suffering, and unconquerable Major General Joshua Lawrence Chamberlain (qtd in Palmer 391) Anyone read The Killer Angels by Michael Shaara?
• • • • • • • • • •
An Overview of Washington’s Character and Virtues
Visionary Honest Courageous Temperate Ambitious Personally Responsible Determined Strong Work Ethic Faithful Wise • • Good Judgment Learns from Mistakes • Educates himself (Adapted from Rees, James. George Washington’s Leadership Lessons. Wiley & Sons, 2007.)
• The Houdon Life Mask, 1784, made at Mt Vernon
Houdon Sculpture at the Louvre
Richmond Statehouse
Classical Influences
Self Control
• Explosive temper kept publicly under control • Rules of Civility, a Jesuit book of 110 rules, copied and memorized as a boy.
Self Control
1 st . Every Action done in Company, ought to be with Some Sign of Respect, to those that are Present.
2 nd . When in Company, put not your Hands to any Part of the Body, not usually Discovered.
3 rd . Shew Nothing to your Freind that may affright him.
4rd. In the Presence of Others Sing not to yourself with a humming Noise, nor Drum with your Fingers or Feet.
Courage: Political and otherwise..
• Washington-Mason Resolutions in VA House protest Intolerable Acts • He called for First Continental Congress ’74 “If you speak of solid information and sound judgment, Colonel Washington is unquestionably the greatest man on that floor.” - P. Henry 1774
Revolutionary Battle Flag, "Resistance to Tyrants is Obedience to God," 1776
Wisdom: Good Judgment • The first “Team of Rivals” • Creates a cabinet of best/brightest, not yes men • Who was in his Cabinet?
• Hamilton • Jefferson • Knox • Randolph He wore a brown suit made in Hartford to his inaugural.
Why?
Grant Wood’s Parson Weems Fable, 1939
Honesty
• Parson Weems’ cherry tree story contained a seed of truth • General Washington demanded his army foragers and his quartermaster pay for all goods, not seize them.
Horatio Greenough’s controversial sculpture, commissioned 1832, centennial of GW’s birth and delivered in 1841.
This now sits in the Smithsonian Museum of American History
Washington’s Farewell Speech (1796) • Let’s Soapstones this orally in class… • • • • • • • S S O A P S Tone
Mount Vernon: The House Washington’s Tomb (top L) 2 friends dedicating wreath Slave Memorial (lower R) • Washington’s death Dec., 1799 • Wait 3 days before entombment • Manumission of his slaves
Foreign and Domestic Affairs by George !
• Proclamation of Neutrality 1793 • Citizen Edmond “Genet Affair” 1793 • Attacks on neutral countries’ shipping • Jay’s Treaty 1795 - effigies • Pinckney’s Treaty 1795 • WEST Whiskey Rebellion 1794 - Hamilton • Battle of Fallen Timbers 1794 – L’l Turtle &L’l Wayne Washington’ Farewell 1796
Hamilton WANTS his Plan…$$$
• • • • • What was it?
(Hints)
Report on Public Credit Report on Manufactures
WANT : 4 Parts • • • • War Bonds and Securities: Pay in full to individuals; not discrimination Assumption: Take on state debts National Bank • Necessary and Proper Clause: 1.8.18 in Constitution Tariffs promote manufacturing and commerce
Let’s Get Ready to Rumble!!!
Hamilton-Jefferson 1790s Debate
In small groups: Compare and Contrast Washington’s and Adam’s Presidencies
Remember the ladies, John… • • Did you know? New Jersey temporarily gave property-owning women the right to vote in 1776 (for 30 years) when their new state constitution vaguely worded the criteria for citizenship. How many voted is not known.
• • Also, women temporarily voted but then lost the right in • 1777 in NY, 1780 in Mass., and 1784 in NH Those permissive Puritans!
• Lydia Taft was the first woman to vote legally in America from 1756-68 at the Town Meeting of Uxbridge, Mass…
John Adams’ Presidency 1797-1801 • "People and nations are forged in the fires of adversity." – John Adams • • • • Election of 1796 and Hamilton’s intrigues Pinkney Jefferson Partisanship intensifies Foreign affairs dictate much of what happens…
Foreign Affairs and JA
• The Quasi-War • XYZ Affair 1798 • Alien and Sedition Acts 1798 • Naturalization Act • Alien Enemies Act • Alien Act • Sedition Act • Internal matters: VA and KY resolutions
American Delegation 5-Headed Directory and…
Q: Assess the conduct of American diplomacy in the 1790s. How important was it to the course of domestic politics? Let’s look at GW thru Adams presidencies.