American Revolution, Republics, Articles of Confederation, and Shay's Rebellion
Republic Definition
The definition of a republic can be confusing and depends on the context.
In the broadest sense, a republic is any political system involving representation.
Not all republics are democratic. Examples include China, Cuba, and North Korea.
A republic is defined by having a chief of state who is not a monarch.
Republics emphasize civic virtue and the rule of law.
American Revolution
The American Revolution was an attempt to do away with the ancient regime's political, social, and economic structure.
The revolution was sparked by increasing British control and taxation without representation.
It's considered a conservative revolution because the changes were limited.
The most significant change was the shift from monarchy to a republic.
American society and its basic structures remained relatively unchanged.
The revolution did not drastically alter the social hierarchy or economic system.
The American Revolution was less violent than other revolutions, such as the French Revolution.
The absence of entrenched power structures in America made the revolution simpler.
Thomas Paine played a role in both the American and French Revolutions.
The leaders simply needed to remove any remnants of the British Empire and British soldiers, after which the continent was theirs.
Key figures like George Washington and Thomas Jefferson provided leadership and vision.
Contrasting with the French Revolution
The French Revolution was more liberal and bloody because France had a deeply rooted monarchy, nobles, and aristocrats.
The French had to kill many nobles, eventually executing their king Louis XVI.
The Reign of Terror was a period of extreme violence and executions.
European kings and aristocrats intervened to restore the monarchy, leading to prolonged conflict.
The Napoleonic Wars were a direct result of the French Revolution.
The French Revolution's slogan was liberty, equality, fraternity.
The ideals of the revolution spread throughout Europe, influencing later movements.
Articles of Confederation
After winning against the British led under George Washington, the world was skeptical in watching the new nation. The question was if human nature was capable of self-government.
The victory at Yorktown secured American independence.
The Articles of Confederation was the first attempt at a republican government after the American Revolution.
The goal was to avoid creating another powerful, centralized government like the British Empire.
The states retained most of the power.
The national government under the Articles of Confederation lacked the power to tax.
This severely limited its ability to function effectively.
It also lacked the power to regulate commerce, allowing free trade.
The national government was responsible for maintaining the military.
The national government's inability to tax created a problem for funding the military.
State governments did not voluntarily fund the military.
Washington constantly complained that he never got enough funding and support from the state governments.
The military disbanded due to lack of funds.
This left the nation vulnerable to internal and external threats.
Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
The country was in heavy debt after the Revolutionary War.
European investors demanded repayment in gold and silver.
State governments taxed the people to pay back the debt.
The tax system disproportionately burdened the middle and working classes, who did not have gold and silver.
Many farmers and veterans were unable to pay these taxes.
People who could not pay their taxes lost their land.
Captain Daniel Shays, a veteran, lost his land and led an armed rebellion.
Rebels attacked courthouses to stop land confiscation.
The rebellion spread, and the state militia could not suppress it.
The rebellion was eventually put down by a privately paid force.
Many Europeans began to believe that self implosion of America was about to happen.
George Washington was disturbed by Shays' Rebellion, viewing it as lawless chaos.
He believed it threatened the stability of the new nation.
It prompted him to come out of retirement.
Thomas Jefferson had a different take, viewing a little rebellion now and then a good thing. He thought the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.
Participants in Shays' Rebellion were eventually pardoned.
Shays' Rebellion exposed problems such as the inability to deal with national debt and a lack of national defense.
The rebellion highlighted the urgent need for a stronger national government.
George Washington Quote
"They exhibit a melancholy proof of what our Transatlantic foe has predicted that mankind, when left to themselves, are unfit for their own government. I am mortified beyond expression when I view the clouds that have spread over the brightest morn that ever dawned upon any country. To be more exposed in the eyes of the world and more contemptible than we already are is hardly possible."
This quote reflects Washington's deep concern about the future of the nation.
Thomas Jefferson Quote
"I hope that a little revealing now and then is a good thing. Right? The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. What country can preserve its liberties if its rules are not worn from time to time that these people preserve the spirit of resistance? The remedy is to set them right as to facts, pardon, and pacify them here."
Jefferson's quote shows his belief in the necessity of occasional rebellion to maintain liberty.
Problems Exposed by the Articles of Confederation
State governments could not deal with the national debt.
There was a lack of national defense.
Merchants were being robbed internationally.
The government was unable to protect American shipping and trade.
State governments behaved like their own countries, striking trade deals independently.
State legislatures abused their power, forgiving debts and harming creditors.
This created economic instability and distrust.
Philadelphia Convention
The convention was called to address the problems of the Articles of Confederation.
The initial goal was to improve the Articles, but the participants created something entirely different.
The 55 men who gathered were the elites of their states.
These included lawyers, merchants, and landowners.
They saw the need for a stronger national government.
They aimed to create a national government that could effectively represent and protect the interests of the country as a whole. At the expense of the state governments.
This government would have the power to tax, provide national defense, and regulate commerce.
They wanted to prevent abuse by state governments.
The delegates sought to balance the power between the national and state governments.
Agreements at the Philadelphia Convention
Human Nature:- Recognized that human nature might have been given too much credit.
Realized the need for a stronger government.
"If men were angels, there would be no need for government."
The founders understood that a system of checks and balances was necessary to prevent tyranny.
Origin of Political Conflict:- James Madison identified the unequal distribution of property or wealth as the source of political conflict.
The conflict between the haves and have-nots is perpetual.
An effective government can moderate and deal with this problem.
The Articles of Confederation failed to do so.
Madison argued that factions are inevitable but can be controlled in a large republic.
Prioritized Object of Government:- To secure natural rights, especially the right to acquire and hold property.
This also includes the idea of equal opportunity.
The protection of property rights was seen as essential for economic stability and individual freedom.
Nature of Government:- Adopted Baron Montesquieu's idea of checks and balances and separation of powers.
The more powerful national government would engage in separation of powers to check itself.
They engaged in a very fruitful debates to come up with an effective political system.
The separation of powers was designed to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful.
Conclusion
The agreements laid the foundation for a new political structure.
The nation's history is a slow attempt to remedy shortcomings and contradictions.
The preamble of the Constitution reflects the goal to form a more perfect union.
The Constitution established a framework for a more stable and effective government.