8.7-8.16 American Pageant APUSH

British relations after Confederation

Britain resented the stab from the back, refused to send ministers to America

Did not want to make commercial treaty or repeal Navigation Laws, closed West Indies for trade but some smuggled illegally

British agents on the frontier

Intrigued with Allen brothers of Vermont to annex the area back to Britain

Had chain of trading posts for fur trade with Indians (& gather defense against future attacks), excused by American failure to comply with debt and Loyalist request (peaceful payments)

What did some citizens demand against Britain

To impose restrictions on British imports into America, Congress could not control commerce and states didn’t want to adopt a uniform tariff policy

“easy states” lowered tariffs to attract trade

Spain’s dilemma with Confederacy

Controlled Mississippi where pioneers in Tennesse and Kentucky forced to float produce

Spain closed river, threatening West and claimed a large area north of Gulf of Mexico + West Florida, area granted to US by Britain

Indians usage of European nations against confederacy

Land policies of Georgia and NC made Native American groups allies of Spanish

Britain and Spain radiated influence among resentful Indians to prevent America from claiming total territories

France’s desires of the confederacy

Cooled off, demanded repayment of money loaned and restricted trade with West Indies and other ports

Pirates of North Africa

Included Dey of Algiers, ravaged American Mediterranean commerce and enslaved sailors

Americans used to be protected by British, now USA was too weak and poor to defend itself (some shippers slid past through forged British protection papers

Why was John Jay satisfied?

As the secretary for foreign affairs, he hoped it would influence the Americans into creating a government to command respect abroad.

How did economic storms continue to loom?

Requisition system of raising money from states for federal gov. breaking down, some states refused to pay and complained of “King Congress”

Public debt piled up, nation’s credit evaporated abroad

Individual state chaos

There were quarrels over boundaries (causing battles)

States levied duties on goods from neighbors (NY taxed firewood from Connecticut)

Shays’s Rebellion

Flared up in MA in 1786, caused by war veterans in the backcountry losing farms through mortgage foreclosures and tax delinquencies

Daniel Shays + followers demanded paper money, light taxes, and to suspend property takeovers and attempted to enforce demands via their muskets

How did Massachusetts authorities respond to this rebellion?

Drastic action, with support from wealthy citizens they raised a small army to battle against Shaysites where people died and were wounded, ending the movement

Aftermath of the Rebellion

Threat of armed revolt lingered, MA legislature passed debtor relief laws

Conveyed democratic despotism, struck fear in property class of a mobocracy

What did many elite think?

Unbridled republicanism created a huge appetite for freedom and greed (civic virtue not enough)

Antidote was a strong central government, some suggested another monarch

Thoughts of the Confederation

Many (friends/critics) believed it needed work

Differences arose over ways to achieve this goal and states rights vs central government rights, impossible to amend (due to unanimity rule) causing new draft

Nationwide picture before Constitution

Paper currency not being enforced much, monetary “black sheep” began returning to sound money fold

Prosperity emerged as shipping regained its place, causing less people to believe in scrapping the government

Virginia’s Convention

Immense commerce issues triggered this, 9 states appointed delegate but 5 attended

Laughable meeting, Alexander Hamilton planned a new Congress in Philadelphia to bolster AOC as a whole, states desperately gathered delegates except RI

Double distillations (leaders)

Leaders appointed by state legislatures and elected by voters who qualified as property holders

Brought together propertied men to shape Constitution, one denounced major property rule for electing national leader

Philadelphia Convention

55 emissaries from 12 states attended in complete secrecy to hide bickering

High caliber, many lawyers or constitution-makers attended (no poor people, wanted to strengthen Republic)

Roles in the Convention

Washington served to quiet heated tempers “sword”

Ben Franklin was an elder but talkative, had to be “babysat” to keep his mouth shut

James Madison “Father of the Constitution” and Alexander Hamilton wordy but eloquent and supporting central gov

Absent Leaders

Jefferson, Adams, and Paine were in Europe, Sam Adams and John Hancock were not elected by MA and Patrick Henry declined as he smelled "a rat”

What did the delegates of the convention WANT to do?

They wanted to solidify their idealism into a political government with power abroad for treaties

Dignified and respected government with republicanism

What was a big issue within the people?

The continuing “mobocracy” seen in the uprisings, too much independence which needed a change

Plan for the Articles of Confederation

Completely scrap them and start with a new Constitution, despite plans to revise

Government plans

Virginia Plan: representation in a bicameral legislature based on population

NJ Plan: Equal representation in unicameral legislature (stronger unicameral)

Lead to angry debate and deadlock, near failure

The Great Compromise

House of Representatives had votes on population while Senate had equal representation

Every tax, bill, or measure had to originate in the House, compromise broke jam

Common law

Tradition Constitution grew out of, flexible guid to broad rules

Constitution had 7 articles and 10 printed pages

Civil law

Constitutions took elaborate legal codes, strikingly lengthy

Executive Branch

Now in the form of the restrained presidency, inspired by the Massachusetts governor suppressing Shays’ Rebellion

Has authority to domestic office, veto legislation, and wage war

Electoral College

Indirectly electing a president where the first round was based on popular voting (Senators and representatives in Congress)

Small states gain a voice in second round (House of Reps) where states got 1 vote each

Slave disputes

People wondered if slaves should be counted as population, South said yes but North said no because of their immense advantage

3/5 compromise created to appease both groups

Why was the word slave avoided?

Did not want to touch slave trade because of SC and Georgia protests

Compromise: Americans import slaves until end of 1807, then slave trade gone

How did members of the Constitutional see each other?

Eye-eye, needed sound money and protect private property

Wanted stronger governments but with checks and balances, did not want universal democracy

What government did the framers design?

Representative republic, safeguard against mobs

Judges appointed for life, president indirectly elected by EC and senators chosen by state legislatures

How did the government represent republicanism?

Consent of the governed limited powers

Virtue of people guaranteed liberty, justice and order

End of the Convention

42 original members remained, 3 refused to sign and returned to states

Adjourned to City Tavern to celebrate, not completely happy but compromise to adopt a good government

Nationwide acceptance

Would be very hard to obtain because of unanimous rule (+ absent Rhode Island)

2/3 law accepted

Why was the 2/3 rule good?

An appeal to the people, greater popular sanction to handiwork

Document submitted to the states without recommendation

American reaction to Constitution

Expected a fixed AOC but astonished

Split, some criticized strong government while others didn’t (antifeds vs feds)

Antifederalist Team

Had Samuel Adams, Patrick Henry, and Richard Henry Lee

Mostly backcountry dwellers and poor people who feared the wrath of a central government, wanted more rights and less aristocracy

Federalist team

George Washington and Benjamin Franklin, along the seaboard and were wealthier and more powerful

What did the Antifederalists dislike

Removal of annual elections and the creation strongholds, armies and the 2/3s rule

Constitution Election in States

Some were more serious than others, various states held these conventions and candidates were elected on basis of pledges for/against Constitution

Launch of Constitution in Elections

Some states quickly accepted, especially Pennsylvania who unfairly went against their antifed population to ratify

Massachusetts Election

Constitution depended on Massachusetts, and it had antifeds like Shaysites and Sam Adams

Assembly losing hope, wanted to start anew but realized there was no other option and assurances given to Massachusetts for rights

The Four Laggard States

After 3 states fell into line (including NH, antifed population), needed Virginia, NY, NC, Rhode Island to accept

Virginia State

Antifederalist oppposition (Patrick Henry), exciting debate and realization of reliance caused ratification

New York

Although a laggard state, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay, and James Madison worked to publish propaganda essays called the Federalist, influencing change

North Carolina and Rhode Island

NC adjourned and Rhode Island did not summon a meeting, two most individualistic states but eventually gave in

Race for Ratification

Quite indifferent but some places it was hostile, causing bickering and pressure

4 states ratified to not stick out of the texture

How was this another example of minority change?

Minority of conservatives overthrew AOC, only leaving 2 states remaining

How was this win influenced by safeguards?

It was only open to propertied people for electing delegates, universal voting would’ve caused some troubles

New approach to Republicanism

More cautious to avoid mobocracy, antifeds like Patrick Henry pushed aside

Country more stable and sensible to restore order

How was popular sovereignty changed

People represented in all 3 branches with a self limiting system of checks and balances

Elevated ideals but also restored liberty and order, conservatives and radicals championed republican revolution