Early Republic until Mocks 1783 - 1796 (around 87)

Republicanism

New political philosophy developing after independence

government by the consent of the governed

Thomas paines definition of a republic

the public good or the good of the whole

popular sovereignty

A belief that ultimate power resides in the people.

virginia declaration of rights words about popular sovereignty

'all power is vested in, and consequently derived from, the people'

between 1776 and 1780 the colonies changed what

their constitutions to those based on popular sovereignty

elitists

believed that while govts should maintain liberty, they should also maintain order

what did elitists think abut democracy

- they said too much democracy leads to anarchy

therefore, what type of system did elitists want to happen in america

people choose best men to govern, and then stand aside

roughly based on old colonial system:

limited franchise on property qualification

high property qual on standing for office

right to vote exercised infrequently

bicameral legislature - one the people and one the elite

governors to have wide powers

what system did the democrats want

broad franchise

no or low property qual for office holding

frequent elections

unicameral legislature - no need for aristocratic 2nd chamber

weak executive

state constitutions similarities

all agreed with separation of powers

popular sovereignty

property qual/taxes to vote

qualifications for office same as in colonial times

single executive head usually - all given little power

bicameral legislature usually

state constitutions differences

bicameral legislature everywhere except penn and georgia

penn did not have executive head

powers given to governors

10 states set 1 year terms - most figureheads

how many could vote

2/3 of men white adult

bills of rights usual rights

freedom of expression, right to trial, worship and assembly,

stat about colonial legislature 1775 - 1783

46% to 22% of old elite men in legislature

divisions in american times

elites v new men

cosmopolitans v locals

cospolitans

north they came from commercial areas, south they were large property oweners

- connections in towns and with large scale commerce

- welcomed activist govt and supported conservative monetary policy

- wealthy

localists

localists rural, small properties, remote interior areas

politics: in the states or on national level

each state controlled their own finances, trade and econ so therefore politics centred in states

congress had litrle power

new state 1777

Vermont

where did vermont form from

New York

major problem of 1780s economically

huge inflation

why did inflation happen in 1780s

lots of paper money created for financing war effort

was freedom of religion prioritised, and how

yes

1786 Jeffersons Act for Establishing Religious Freedom passed

terms of jeffersons act

- no state intv in religious affairs

- no church could have privelages denied to others

- no man disadvantaged bc of religion

articles of confederation terms

- congress central govt - 1 body in which each state had one vote. congressmen elected annually and limited to 3 terms in 6 years

- no provision for national executive or judiciary

- congress could declare war, raise army/navy, borrow/issue money, conclude treaties/alliances, apportion the common expenses amongst the states, settle disputes between states, regulate native american affairs, request money from the states (and men in war), establish/regulate post offices

- important measures needed at least 9 states approval

- articles could not be amended w/o all 13 states approval

powers the articles of confederation did not give congress (notable)

could not levy taxes

could not regulate trade or enforce financial requests

what did the limited powers of the congress show

the distrust of central authority

ratification

Formal approval

how did congress govern during the war

via committees, like the committees of safety

interesting fact about treaty of paris ratification

struggled and just got enough people for minimum number needed for ratification

how did congress try to pay for the war

issuing paper money (continentals)

leaning on the states to provide money, they usually did not

by 1783, biggest problems of the articles

- established by states, not by popular election

- war had been great unifier, in peace little was tying them together

effect of loyalist emigration on america

- once thought it created levelling effects, promoting equality - new land etc

- now realisation loyalists were not just rich, so did not decapitate america economically

- great landowning families swallowed up old loyalist land

how many loyalists left america after revolution

80,000

shift about nobility after revolution

most americans opposed hereditary privilege, in all forms

2 states forbade creation of nobility titles

many states prohibited hereditary office holdings

shift in social makeup of legislatures after revolution

new men of lower social status set in state legislature - challenged social and political supremacy of old elite

demanded their interests be considered

shift in military after revolution

many ordinary americans became officers in both cont. army and militias because of merit not status

shift away from british law culture after revolution

less ceremony in law courts

judges no longer wore wigs and scarlet robes

what did land expansion allow for

landless americans acquired farrmland

landless americans acquired farrmland meaning, what did it do

create more egalitarian and equal society

what happened w slavery

abolished in some states

what happened to indentured servitude after war

virtually dissapeared

what does this all show

a more equal society

what did american leaders think about class

that strong distinctions were natural and inevitable - no effort to redistribute wealth or promote social equality

did social classes change

no - old colonial aristocracy survived

what was happening to indentured servitude b4 the war

already decreasing

what was one of washington's first acts as leader of cont. army

to ban black people from service

with black people banned from service, which side did they support

british

What was Lord Dunmore's Proclamation?

A proclamation made by Lord Dunmore that stated that any slave who worked for him in the war was to be set free

total number of slaves in 1790

700k

where did britain send its black loyalists after the war

most west indies, some in gb army, some in nova scotia free

how many were let free in nova scotia

3k

general clinton's proclamation

1779. Slaves in service of Patriots to be sold if captured; slaves who sought refuge with British protected. Fugitive slaves often became plunder of war for both sides

how many black loyalists shipped out of usa

20k

which states ended the slave trade, and when

massachusetts in 1771, rhode island and connecticut in 1774,

which states did NOT ban slavery in the north until much later

New York and New Jersey

what did vermont declare in its constitution

ban of slavery

when did vermont ban slavery

1777

how much % of slaves lived in the south

90%

changes to slave system in the south, and when

1783, liberalisation of manumission laws

manumission laws

Laws allowing owners to free slaves.

how were manumission laws used

some planters freed slaves

most used them to free their children who were born from slave women

rise in free black people stat in virginia from when to when

2000 to 30k, from 1782 to 1810

what did virginia and maryland do with slave trade, and why

banned it, but this was because they wanted to keep the value of their slaves, and not devalue

when did virginia ban slave trade

1778

what brought lots of slaves into america

cotton trade

major fact about cotton and slavery

increased demand - between 1790 and 1807 more slaves impoirted than any comparable time

how many free black people in america by 1790

60,000

why was abolition of slavery in the north so gradual

it allowed slaveholders to sell their slaves to the south

how many women served with military forces

20k

in what capacity were women in the military

cooks, cleaners, prozzies

how did war impact domestic life

- expected to read newspapers, discuss politics and ensure education for daughters

did society become less patriarchal

yes - just as they wanted to end royal paternalism, americans came to believe family should be founded on mutual trust and respect

what still remained for women

still in a massive patriarchal society

could not vote etc

could not work similar jobs, expected to be housewives

how was the war for the native americans

disastrous

Treaty of Fort Stanwix

Treaty signed by the United States and the pro-British Iroquois granting Ohio country to the Americans.

when were native treaties signed

1784

Treaty of Hopewell

signed in 1785 to confirm Cherokee boundaries, which were not to include South Carolina, and only very small portions of mountainous North Carolina, Kentucky, and Virginia

did natives get citizenship

nope

how did the natives get weapons after the war

armed by british

What was one negative economic impact of the war related to property?

Property destroyed or stolen on either side.

What happened to American merchant ships during the war?

American merchant ships were seized.

How was American trade affected by Great Britain's actions during the war?

American trade was devastated by the Great Britain blockade and the end to mercantilism.

What was the impact of the war on the fishing industry?

The fishing industry was temporarily destroyed.

What economic issue did the war cause in terms of currency?

Hyperinflation occurred.

What military action affected transportation during the war?

Military seizing of wagons took place.

How did the war affect plantation economies?

Plantation economies were disrupted by 20,000 black people leaving.

what happened to tobacco productyion post war stat

reduced to 1/3 of original

What was one positive economic effect of the war related to trade regulations?

No more navigation acts

What was a benefit of the war for American exports?

Could export directly to Europe

What economic activity was profitable but risky

Privateering

Which American industries flourished due to end of reliance on gb?

American iron, textile, paper, pottery, and shoe making

How did military demand impact domestic production during the war?

Boosted production of uniforms, munitions, and guns

What was a source of income for Americans during the war?

Selling food to armies

Which American city experienced economic growth due to British-held areas?

New York City

privateering

a system in the colonial era by which privately-owned and operated vessels were used to raid enemy shipping

why did congress move from philadelphia and when

1783, escaping angry soldiers demanding pay

problems with congress under articles of confederation

not a true national govt

kept moving - princeton, annapolis and trenton then NYC

main problems with confederation govt

confederation gave it no coercive power over states or individuals

fter independence states became attached to their own affairs and not unity

did not care about congress

most ambitious politicians wanted to serve in states, not congress