2.3: The Constitution and Post-Revolutionary America

The Constitution and Post-Revolutionary America

articles of confederation

• loose agreement of the states to work together - created a "firm league of friendship"

• states - still sovereign/supreme

• final authority

• formed a weak central government

• a "unicameral" congress

• congress → each state = one delegate = one vote

• no executive branch, no judicial system

• revision due to

• foreign affairs

• economic policies

• political obstacles

• shay's rebellion → "mobocracy"

• debtors v creditors

land ordinance of 1785

• 36 sections - all used to pay off debts except for #16 (used to fund public education)

• township + range system

• gives rural areas tie to federal government

northwest ordinance of 1787

• statehood achieved in three stages:

1. congress appointed 3 judges and a governor to govern the territory
2. when population reached 5,000 male landowners → elect territorial legislature
3. when population reached 60,000 → elect delegates to a constitutional convention

• write a state constitution

• approved by congress → statehood

• no slavery in these states (only in NW ordinance, not included in land ordinance)

shay's rebellion: 1786-1787

• want congress to forgive all debts

• farmers happy, creditors furious

• congress had created a huge mess

Philadelphia Convention 1787

• after the Annapolis convention (as a result - only 5 states represented, the main agreement reached was that they would reconvene in Philadelphia - following year?)
• "constitutional convention"
• key individuals:

1. George Washington

• ringleader

1. Ben Franklin

• compromiser

1. Alexander Hamilton

• saw promise of nation, irritated by smaller conflicts → visionary, financial genius

1. James Madison

• "father of the constitution"

• took notes

• areas of agreement

1. strong central government
2. republican form of government
3. equality between groups + regions

• areas of disagreement

1. representation in congress
2. north/south issues (slavery)
3. commerce + trade policies
4. regulation of the slave trade

constitution → document of compromises

1. representation → "great compromise"

• nj plan (equal #) vs. va plan (population-based)

1. president → electoral college
2. counting slaves → 3/5 compromise

• representation
• taxes

1. slave trade

• 20 years - 1807 - end of trade

ratification of the constitution

• federalists - strong central government

• anti-federalists - states' rights

• of 59 delegates, only 39 signed

• article 7: needed 9 states to ratify - wanted all 13, esp ny + va