Early America
Articles of Confederation (1777)
Background:
Drafted during the early stages of the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution of the United States. It reflected the colonies' desire for a decentralized government after their experience with British tyranny and desire for a change bringing into the creation of the United States, formed bt it’s 13 colonies.
Structure:
The Articles created a national government centered on the legislative branch, which consisted of a single house. There was no separate executive branch or judicial branch. The delegates in Congress voted by state—with each state receiving one vote, regardless of its population
Representation and Passage of Laws: Major decisions, such as amendments, required unanimous approval, making it difficult to pass significant laws.
Powers Granted:
Declaration of War: The Confederation Congress could declare war in other nations if voted but states could not declare war between themselves.
Treaties: The national government(Congress) could negotiate treaties with foreign powers.
Native American Affairs: The government had the authority to regulate relations with Native American tribes.
Levy Taxes: The national government could not levy taxes directly but had to request funds from the states, which often did not comply.
Weaknesses: The inability to enforce laws, collect taxes, or regulate interstate commerce left the national government weak and didn’t help the resolution of international affairs as United States representatives were confusing and confused themselves as they were both representing 13 and 1 nation/s.
Significance of the articles:
The Articles demonstrated the difficulties of governing a nation with a weak central authority, ultimately leading to the drafting of the Constitution by the Federalist.
End of the American Revolutionary War (1781–1782)
Battle of Yorktown (1781):
Supported by the French army and navy, Washington's forces defeated Lord Charles Cornwallis' veteran army dug in at Yorktown, Virginia. Victory at Yorktown led directly to the peace negotiations that ended the war in 1783 and gave America its independence.
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cornwallis (1738-1805):
He served as a general in the British Army during the American War for Independence. Cornwallis held commands in the colonies throughout the duration of the war and was frequently George Washington's battlefield counterpart.
Treaty of Paris (1783):
The Treaty of Paris was signed by U.S. and British Representatives on September 3, 1783, ending the War of the American Revolution. Based on a1782 preliminary treaty, the agreement recognized U.S. independence and granted the U.S. the land east of the Mississippi River, north of present-day Florida, and south of present-day Canada.
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Purpose: a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and passed by Congress (April 23, 1784), divided the territory into a handful of self-governing districts. It stipulated that each district could send one representative to Congress upon its attaining a population of 20,000, and it would become eligible for statehood when its population equaled that of the least-populous existing state.
Key Provisions: Under the ordinance, slavery was forever outlawed from the lands of the Northwest Territory, freedom of religion and other civil liberties were guaranteed, the resident Indians were promised decent treatment, and education was provided for.
Significance: It established a framework for governing the Northwest Territory, admitting new states, and protecting the civil liberties of settlers. It also banned slavery in the new territories.
Shay’s Rebellion (1786–1787)
Background:
A violent insurrection in the Massachusetts countryside during 1786 and 1787, Shays' Rebellion was brought about by a monetary debt crisis at the end of the American Revolutionary War. Although Massachusetts was the focal point of the crisis, other states experienced similar economic hardships.
Impact:
The rebellion set the stage for George Washington's return to political life and highlighted weaknesses inherent within the Articles of Confederation. The United States emerged after Shays' Rebellion a stronger nation, with a new Constitution and George Washington as its first President.
Constitutional Convention (1787)
Purpose:
To revise the Articles of Confederation, though it led to the drafting of a new Constitution.
Major Compromises:
Great Compromise(1787): was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution: bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation).
Three-Fifths Compromise: Three-fifths compromise, compromise agreement between delegates from the Northern and the Southern states at the United States Constitutional Convention (1787) that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.
Electoral College: The Founding Fathers established the Electoral College in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. However, the term “electoral college” does not appear in the Constitution.
Key Figures:
George Washington: President of the Convention.
James Madison: "Father of the Constitution" and advocate for a strong national government.
Alexander Hamilton: Favored a strong executive and national bank.
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Federalists supported the Constitution, while Anti-Federalists opposed it, fearing a too-powerful central government.
The Federalist Papers (1787–1788)
Purpose:
The essays were published anonymously, under the pen name "Publius," in various New York state newspapers of the time. The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.
Authors:
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.
Key Themes:
Together these essays, often referred to as The Federalist Papers, form one of the great classics of government, the principal themes of which are federalism, checks and balances, separated powers, pluralism, and popular representation. Yet they explained how the government would be made in order to separate the powers and prevent tyranny, and also argued in favor of this more complex government which would also uphold power greater than all the states
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution (1788)
Reason for Change in Ratification Requirements: Unlike the Articles of Confederation, which required unanimous approval for amendments, the Constitution only needed ratification by 9 of the 13 states. This was as a preventive measure, in the case of 12/13 states agreeing to ratify something and one state having the power to overrule that decision was unfair and slowed about all decisions on congress, which led to this change in ratification requirements
Significance: It replaced the Articles of Confederation and created a stronger national government stipulated in the federal Constitution.
The Bill of Rights (1791)
Background: Written in response to concerns that the Constitution did not protect individual liberties.
Purpose: To safeguard fundamental rights and limit government power.
Amendments 1 to 10:
1st: Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
2nd: Right to bear arms.
3rd: No quartering of soldiers.
4th: Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
5th: Right to due process and protection from self-incrimination.
6th: Right to a speedy and public trial.
7th: Right to trial by jury in civil cases.
8th: Protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
9th: The listing of certain rights does not deny others retained by the people.
10th: Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.
Significance: It protects our freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and due process of law. But also highlights the responsibilities of the individuals expected of the governments and vice versa.
Early America
Articles of Confederation (1777)
Background:
Drafted during the early stages of the American Revolution, the Articles of Confederation served as the first constitution of the United States. It reflected the colonies' desire for a decentralized government after their experience with British tyranny and desire for a change bringing into the creation of the United States, formed bt it’s 13 colonies.
Structure:
The Articles created a national government centered on the legislative branch, which consisted of a single house. There was no separate executive branch or judicial branch. The delegates in Congress voted by state—with each state receiving one vote, regardless of its population
Representation and Passage of Laws: Major decisions, such as amendments, required unanimous approval, making it difficult to pass significant laws.
Powers Granted:
Declaration of War: The Confederation Congress could declare war in other nations if voted but states could not declare war between themselves.
Treaties: The national government(Congress) could negotiate treaties with foreign powers.
Native American Affairs: The government had the authority to regulate relations with Native American tribes.
Levy Taxes: The national government could not levy taxes directly but had to request funds from the states, which often did not comply.
Weaknesses: The inability to enforce laws, collect taxes, or regulate interstate commerce left the national government weak and didn’t help the resolution of international affairs as United States representatives were confusing and confused themselves as they were both representing 13 and 1 nation/s.
Significance of the articles:
The Articles demonstrated the difficulties of governing a nation with a weak central authority, ultimately leading to the drafting of the Constitution by the Federalist.
End of the American Revolutionary War (1781–1782)
Battle of Yorktown (1781):
Supported by the French army and navy, Washington's forces defeated Lord Charles Cornwallis' veteran army dug in at Yorktown, Virginia. Victory at Yorktown led directly to the peace negotiations that ended the war in 1783 and gave America its independence.
Charles Cornwallis, 1st Marquess and 2nd Earl Cornwallis (1738-1805):
He served as a general in the British Army during the American War for Independence. Cornwallis held commands in the colonies throughout the duration of the war and was frequently George Washington's battlefield counterpart.
Treaty of Paris (1783):
The Treaty of Paris was signed by U.S. and British Representatives on September 3, 1783, ending the War of the American Revolution. Based on a1782 preliminary treaty, the agreement recognized U.S. independence and granted the U.S. the land east of the Mississippi River, north of present-day Florida, and south of present-day Canada.
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Purpose: a government for the Northwest Territory, provided a method for admitting new states to the Union from the territory, and listed a bill of rights guaranteed in the territory. It was drafted by Thomas Jefferson and passed by Congress (April 23, 1784), divided the territory into a handful of self-governing districts. It stipulated that each district could send one representative to Congress upon its attaining a population of 20,000, and it would become eligible for statehood when its population equaled that of the least-populous existing state.
Key Provisions: Under the ordinance, slavery was forever outlawed from the lands of the Northwest Territory, freedom of religion and other civil liberties were guaranteed, the resident Indians were promised decent treatment, and education was provided for.
Significance: It established a framework for governing the Northwest Territory, admitting new states, and protecting the civil liberties of settlers. It also banned slavery in the new territories.
Shay’s Rebellion (1786–1787)
Background:
A violent insurrection in the Massachusetts countryside during 1786 and 1787, Shays' Rebellion was brought about by a monetary debt crisis at the end of the American Revolutionary War. Although Massachusetts was the focal point of the crisis, other states experienced similar economic hardships.
Impact:
The rebellion set the stage for George Washington's return to political life and highlighted weaknesses inherent within the Articles of Confederation. The United States emerged after Shays' Rebellion a stronger nation, with a new Constitution and George Washington as its first President.
Constitutional Convention (1787)
Purpose:
To revise the Articles of Confederation, though it led to the drafting of a new Constitution.
Major Compromises:
Great Compromise(1787): was an agreement reached during the Constitutional Convention of 1787 that in part defined the legislative structure and representation each state would have under the United States Constitution: bicameral legislature with the House of Representatives (based on population) and the Senate (equal representation).
Three-Fifths Compromise: Three-fifths compromise, compromise agreement between delegates from the Northern and the Southern states at the United States Constitutional Convention (1787) that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for determining direct taxation and representation in the House of Representatives.
Electoral College: The Founding Fathers established the Electoral College in the Constitution, in part, as a compromise between the election of the President by a vote in Congress and election of the President by a popular vote of qualified citizens. However, the term “electoral college” does not appear in the Constitution.
Key Figures:
George Washington: President of the Convention.
James Madison: "Father of the Constitution" and advocate for a strong national government.
Alexander Hamilton: Favored a strong executive and national bank.
Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists: Federalists supported the Constitution, while Anti-Federalists opposed it, fearing a too-powerful central government.
The Federalist Papers (1787–1788)
Purpose:
The essays were published anonymously, under the pen name "Publius," in various New York state newspapers of the time. The Federalist Papers were written and published to urge New Yorkers to ratify the proposed United States Constitution, which was drafted in Philadelphia in the summer of 1787.
Authors:
Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay.
Key Themes:
Together these essays, often referred to as The Federalist Papers, form one of the great classics of government, the principal themes of which are federalism, checks and balances, separated powers, pluralism, and popular representation. Yet they explained how the government would be made in order to separate the powers and prevent tyranny, and also argued in favor of this more complex government which would also uphold power greater than all the states
Ratification of the U.S. Constitution (1788)
Reason for Change in Ratification Requirements: Unlike the Articles of Confederation, which required unanimous approval for amendments, the Constitution only needed ratification by 9 of the 13 states. This was as a preventive measure, in the case of 12/13 states agreeing to ratify something and one state having the power to overrule that decision was unfair and slowed about all decisions on congress, which led to this change in ratification requirements
Significance: It replaced the Articles of Confederation and created a stronger national government stipulated in the federal Constitution.
The Bill of Rights (1791)
Background: Written in response to concerns that the Constitution did not protect individual liberties.
Purpose: To safeguard fundamental rights and limit government power.
Amendments 1 to 10:
1st: Freedom of speech, religion, press, assembly, and petition.
2nd: Right to bear arms.
3rd: No quartering of soldiers.
4th: Protection against unreasonable searches and seizures.
5th: Right to due process and protection from self-incrimination.
6th: Right to a speedy and public trial.
7th: Right to trial by jury in civil cases.
8th: Protection against cruel and unusual punishment.
9th: The listing of certain rights does not deny others retained by the people.
10th: Powers not delegated to the federal government are reserved to the states.
Significance: It protects our freedom of speech, religion, assembly, and due process of law. But also highlights the responsibilities of the individuals expected of the governments and vice versa.
