Chapter 7 Section 2- American Republic

Key Issues in the Network Plans

  • Debt: The primary problem was debt that could not be paid.

  • Poor Foreign Relations: This was a challenge because nobody would trade or give money because the U.S.A. was a new country and was already in a lot of debt.

Spanish Defiance

  • Convincing Native Americans:

    • Spanish convinced Native Americans that Americans would steal their land and encouraged them to attack western settlements.

  • Tariffs:

    • Spanish denied Americans their right to deposit by imposing high taxes, preventing them from storing goods at Spanish harbors.

Domestic Discontent

  • Legislative Elections:

    • Discontent arose from the election of legislators, as many believed only educated men should lead the government, rather than the random choices made in some areas.

  • High Taxes and Shay's Rebellion:

    • High taxes led to Shay's Rebellion, where 12,000 men marched on the capital, resulting in 4 deaths. This incident highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and urged the need for a new government.

Constitutional Convention

  • Origin of the Convention:

    • A plan for a convention emerged after a successful meeting at George Washington's house.

    • The first meeting in Annapolis failed, while the second meeting in Philadelphia succeeded.

  • Secrecy of the Meeting:

    • The convention was held secretly to avoid public interference or criticism, as delegates felt vulnerable due to their political positions.

Key Figures in the Convention

  • Prominent Leaders:

    • George Washington: Served as the convention chairman.

    • James Madison: Known as the "father of the constitution."

    • Alexander Hamilton: Played a significant role in the convention.

    • Additional notable figures included John Hancock, Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, and Thomas Paine.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

  • The Articles of Confederation provided some positives but had many weaknesses that resulted in poor foreign relations and domestic strife, prompting the need for a new government.