8.1-8.6 + 8.17 APUSH American Pageant

How was the new government initially struggling?

Difficult to start new & new form of government

Disruptive forces stalked land (unreliable innovation), common cause gone and government desperately needed

Rock Bottom in 1786

British manufacturers damaged economy with cheap goods, war-baby industries suffered under ruthless competition

What were some hopeful signs in this early era?

13 sovereign states alike under government structure and function

Inherited full political control (had experience) and strong leaders + evolution of ideals (customs)

Continental Congress in 1776

Colonies drafted new constitutions (became states) ruled by the people

Many worked tirelessly to adopt republicanism ideas (except CT and RI)

Massachusetts Constitution Innovation

Called a convention to draft the constitution and submitted it to the people for ratification, only changed by another called convention

Inspired the drafting and ratification process of federal Constitution

What did the state constitutions share in common?

Americans went against traditional British constitution (laws and precedents),

Documents defined power of gov and power from the people (similarities = easy uniting)

Fundamental law (and information)

The Constitution was the supreme law, w/ Bill of Rights and requirements

No judicial or executive branch, annual election

What was a key danger within these governments?

The people were given sweeping powers, many Americans thought that it could cause oppression

Shift of power in state governments

Influence shifted from easter seaports to western districts, (capitals) due to the amount of people in these districts, reflected democratic character but had suspicions

Economic changes to the states

Seized many former crown lands, Loyalist holdings taken and cut up to broaden property

Stimulus in manufacturing due to lack of British help or control, caused many new mills to be ran

Economic drawbacks from independence

Commerce of Britain reserved for loyal parts, Americans barred from British territory harbors

Fisheries disrupted, bounties for ships’ stores ended but new freedom of the seas appreciated

How did new outlets compensate PARTIALLY for the loss of old ones

Free trade with foreign nations, ventured boldly and profitably to Baltic and China Seas, gaining wealth

Far from rosy economy, had demoralizing profiteers/speculators and immense debts + inflation that could not be avoided

Economic/social atmosphere

Unhealthy, profiteers conspicuous and some former wealthy people left destitute

Distaste for taxes and disrespect on the law sparked from Revolutionary War

Second Continental Congress

More than a conference, without authority and did what they “dared”, some control over military and foreign policy

13 states still sovereign (coined money, raised armies/navies, had tariff barriers)

Origin of Articles of Confederation

Committee appointed by Congress to draft the AOC, translated into French after Battle of Saratoga to convince France to join the American cause

Why were the western lands an issue?

Six states were jealous (Maryland & Pennsylvania) had no holdings beyond the Alleghenies while 7 (NY and Virginia) had enormous acreage from earlier charters

Jealous states argued that they also fought for the land and complained that they could easily pay off debt with lands, leaving other states in debt

What occurred with these disputes?

Maryland held out from the AOC until Virginia and New York offered to surrender their claims

Congress disposed these vast areas for the common benefit, created republican states to eventually become part of the community (anticolonial)

National land policy

Public lands transferred to the central government, states threw away heritage to reap benefit

Westward moving pioneers purchased farms from federal government, weakened local influence

Articles of Confederation (“Confusion”)

Provided a loose confederation where 13 independent states linked together to assist in common problems (foreign affairs)

Had a clumsy Congress with no executive branch and state judicial branch

States powers over Federal Government

Each state had a single vote (uneven proportions) bills required 9 state approval and amendments were impossible due to a requirement of unanimity

Purposely designed to be weak, states did not want to yield privileges

How was Congress “killing itself” economically?

No power to regulate commerce, states created different and conflicting tariff/navigation laws

Congress could not enforce tax-collection, had a VOLUNTARY quota that was not obeyed often

Congress powers

Had the power to advise, advocate, and appeal but not control or command

Couldn’t act on citizens or protect itself, (owed soldiers went to Philadelphia and Congress had to flee and beg state for protection)

How were the Articles a landmark in government?

Showed what a loose confederation and an upgrade from European governments

Stepping stone toward Constitution by displaying powers needed for central government (treaties or postal service) and kept states united + influenced the strong Constitution

What was a major topic that Americans agreed on?

New nation built upon Indian lands, Articles granted Congress rights to trade with Natives but states still had power and took all their land

Congress wanted good relations

Old Northwest (congress involvement)

Despite Congress not having too much power, Congress made laws about this new land

Northwest of Ohio River, East of Mississippi River and south of Great Lakes

Land Ordinance of 1785

Acreage of Old Northwest sold to pay off national debt, area was planned out beforehand causing confusion and lawsuits

Divided into townships 6 miles square with 36 sections of one mile each, 16th section of each town had public school benefit 

Northwest Ordinance of 178

Decided the problem of how a nation should deal with its colonies, same issue with king and Parliament in London

Solution: First there would be two evolutionary territorial stages (area subordinate to federal gov), then it could become a state (without slavery)

Why did this movement deserve praise?

Permanent subordination could cause an American Revolution, solved a difficult problem to be reused to other frontier areas.

How was equality spread everywhere?

States reduced property requirements, social democracy fueled by artisans and titles changed (women men and employers → mrs mr and boss)

Servants released in NY due to violation of democratic ideals and citizens sawed off medieval inheritance laws

Society of Cincinnati

Exclusive hereditary order of Continental Army, lordly assertions ridiculed by Americans

Church vs government separation

Congregational Church established but Anglican Church started to vanish and reform as Protestant Episcopal Church

Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: Thomas Jefferson and reformers won complete victory

How did these egalitarian matters challenge slavery?

Philadelphia had first antislavery society, many northern states abolished slavery or had a phased elimination

Middle south states had masters who personally freed their slaves

Why was the slave sentiment incomplete

Domestic trade of slave grew dramatically (despite lack of imports) and became a financial boon for South states during the tobacco decline

Emancipation laws kept many slaves in chains until end of Civil War, no states below Pennsylvania abolished slavery

Blacks treatment

Freed blacks and enslaved blacks discriminated harshly, barred from property jobs and education

Laws against interracial marriage

Why did the abolition movement not go further?

Founding Fathers sacrificed idealism for political advantage, fighting over slavery would damage the unity of the union

Women treatment after independence

Some women served in the military and NJ granted women’s rights to vote

After a while, civil rights did not change

Republican ideology

Centralized around civic virtue, unselfish commitment of citizens

Republican motherhood

Proper model of republican behavior, taught family about citizenry and republican beliefs

Educational opportunities expanded to cultivate virtues in the family