R

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