Chapter 7: Founding a Nation

articles of confederation: what was the articles of confederation

• it was the first frame of govt for the united states

• provided for a central weak authority

articles of confederation: what did the govt have power to? what did they lack?

• they had power to declare war, conduct foreign affairs, and make treaties w/ other govts

• they lacked the ability to levy taxes or regulate commerce

articles of confederation: what was the articles of confederation replaced with

the us constitution

congress in the west: what was the peace conference at Fort Stanwix, NY (1784) & Fort McIntosh, PA (1785)

it was where American representatives demanded and received large surrenders of Indian land north of the Ohio Valley River

congress in the west: many leaders believed what was essential to the new Republic?

expanding westward and securing lands for settlement

settlers and the west: there became rapid settlements in the frontier areas, leading many leaders to view frontier settlers as

disordering and lacking in proper respect for authority

land ordinances: what was the ordinance of 1874?

regulated land ownership and defined the terms by which western land would be marketed and settled; established stages of self-govt for the west. 1st Congress would govern a territory; then the territory would be admitted to the Union as a full state

land ordinances: what was the ordinance of 1875?

it was a law that regulated land sales in the old northwest. it promised to control and concentrate settlement and raise money for Congress but settlers violated the rules

land ordinance: what was the homestead act of 1862

offered free land in the public domain

land ordinance: what was the northwest ordinance?

law that

• established northwest territory

• established conditions for self-govt and statehood

• established Bill of Rights

• permanently prohibited slavery

land ordinance: why was the northwest ordinance important towards indians

it was the first official recognition that Indians continued to own their land

confederation’s weakness: how was the economy during this time period and why?

it was very unstable and faced significant difficulties

• during the war of independence, Congress had borrowed large-sums of money to finance the war in promise they’d pay it back; however, they lacked a secure source of revenue, so they were unable to pay interest/debt

• america cut ties w/ Britain and was also barred from trading w/ west indies and major imported goods

confederation's weakness: why did states adopt new economic policies? and what were these policies

• they adopted new economic policies due to congress’ inability to act

• states implemented

  • tariffs from imported goods abroad

  • printing of large sums of paper money to make it easier for people to pay debts

  • postponing debt collection

Shay’s Rebellion

a group of farmers led by daniel shays tried to rebel in massachusetts (1786–1787). they wanted the government to help them with debt by printing more money and lowering taxes, so the courts wouldn’t take their farms away

Shay’s Rebellion: what did shay’s rebellion demonstrate?

it convinced many important americans that the national government needed to be stronger so it could create consistent economic rules and protect property owners from unfair actions by local governments

nationalist of the 1780s: who were the two nation builders? who were nationalists

• hamilton and madison

• nationalists were prominent figures advocating for a stronger national government, promoting the Constitution during the ratification debates

nationalist of the 1780s: what was the Annapolis convention? what was the outcome?

delegates from 6 states met in Annapolis, MD to improve regulations on interstate and international commerce → delegates proposed another convention in Philly to amend articles of Confederation

nationalist of the 1780s: why did Shay’s rebellion lead to the creation of the constitution

because shay’s rebellion highlighted the weakness of the articles of confederation, so there needed to be a stronger federal govt to prevent either anarchy or monarchy

nationalist of the 1780s: what was the Philly convention

• all states except Rhose Island sent delegates

• delegates decided to abandon the Articles of Confederation and instead draft a new constitution

a new constitution: who were people that attended constitutional convention

prominent men from wealth

structure of govt: what did the disputes between balance of power between federal and state govt lead to? describe it?

VA plan— two-house legislature with state population determining its representations in such

a new constitution: due to the fear that MA, VA, and PA would dominate the new govt, what was created? describe it

New Jersey Plan— single-house Congress in which each state cast one vote

a new constitution: what was the compromise between the VA plan and NJ plan

Connecticut Compromise—established a two-house legislature with equal representation in the Senate and proportional representation in the House of Representatives

limits of democracy: why was the new structure of government considered less democratic?

• gave less power to regular people

• set up checks and balances to limit control

• used the electoral college to choose the president

• let state leaders (not voters) pick senators

division and separation: what did the constitution embody

• federalism: division of power between central govt and state

• checks and balances: separation of powers between three branches so that no national govt dominates the other two and endangers citizens’ liberties

debate over slavery: what was the 3/5 clause

3/5 of the slave population would be counted in determining each states representation in the HOR and its electoral votes for president

debates over slavery: why did SC want stricter limits on congress’ power to tax staes

they feared that Congress might one day try to tax enslaved people as property to raise money

debate over slavery: what did SC threaten that secured slave

they threatened the disunion if the Trans-Atlantic Slave Trade was prohibited → delegates chose SC side to secure national unity

slavery in the constitution: what happened on Jan 1, 1808

congress prohibited the further importation of slaves

slavery in the constitution: what was the fugitive slave clause

the condition of bondage remained attached to a person even if they escaped to a state where slavery had been abolished

slavery in the constitution: why did the 3/5 clause benefit white southerners

It allowed southern states to count 3/5 of their slave population for congressional representation, increasing their political power

final document: what did the final document aim to do

• strengthen the national government to support a national economic market

• reduced the powers of the states

• limit popular democracy by creating a system of checks and balances

the federalists: who were federalists

Federalists were supporters of the Constitution who advocated for a strong central government and promoted ratification during the late 1780s

“extend the sphere”: what did madison’s federalist n. 10 argue

argued that america’s large size and diversity would prevent any one group from controlling the government

“extend the sphere”: what was madison’s view on self-interest

• madison popularized the idea that people act out of self-interest

• he believed that the clash of interests would ultimately benefit society

anti-federalists: who were anti-federalists?

they were people who opposed the constitution because they saw it as a limitation on individual and states’ rights

anti-federalists: why did anti-federalist opposed the constitution

they viewed the Constitution as a threat to local, democratic institutions and were concerned about the lack of a Bill of Rights to protect freedoms like trial by jury and freedom of speech

anti-federalist: how did James Madison win support for the constitution?

he promised that the first Congress would add a bill of rights which helped secure support for ratification

bill of rights: what does the bill of rights do

protect individual freedoms and limits government power

national identity: what did the American revolution help to create?

the idea of the American people— who were meant to enjoy freedom as citizens in a new political community

national identity: what did American nationality combine

both civic (legal) and ethnic (cultural or racial) elements

national identity: throughout much of US history, American citizenship has been defined by what

heritage and loyalty to the nation

indians in the Norton: what was the main purpose of treaties between the u.s. and native american tribes?

to transfer native land to the federal government or states, often by pressuring whole tribes to accept treaties signed by only a few members

indians in the Norton: what did the 1794 battle of fallen timbers lead to?

u.s. troops defeated little turtle’s forces, leading to the treaty of greenville, which created the annuity system (yearly payments to tribes that justified u.s. interference in tribal affairs)

Indians in the Norton: how did congress and washington try to "civilize" native americans in the 1790s?

they gave tools and livestock to native men and spinning wheels to native women to encourage european-style farming and gender roles

Indians in the Norton: how did native americans and white americans differ in their views of freedom?

whites believed freedom meant adopting u.s. customs and roles, while natives saw freedom as keeping their tribal autonomy and identity

Indians in the Norton: what did the u.s. admit in 1794 about its treatment of native americans?

that u.s. actions had been more destructive to native populations than spanish actions in mexico and peru

blacks in the republic: what did the north's gradual emancipation acts assume about freed slaves?

that they would remain in the u.s., not be colonized or sent abroad

blacks in the republic: what did hector st. john de crèvecoeur promote in letters from an american farmer (1782)?

the idea of the u.s. as a "melting pot" — but it excluded people of color from assimilation

blacks in the republic: what did the naturalization act of 1790 do?

it defined american citizenship as only for “free white people,” excluding non-whites from naturalization for decades

jefferson, slavery, and race: what did jefferson argue in notes on the state of virginia (1785) about black people?

he questioned their natural capability and saw them as bitter from slavery, reflecting racist ideas of inferiority

jefferson, slavery, and race: who was benjamin banneker, and what did he do?

a highly educated black man skilled in math who pleaded with jefferson to end slavery

jefferson, slavery, and race: how did jefferson's actions contradict his views on slavery?

while he hoped no group was permanently inferior, he kept slaves until his death and allowed slave auctions that broke up families

principles of freedom

• race emerged as justifications for slavery

• Only white Americans held the principles or freedom