notes 3/13/25

The Divide Over Slavery

• Differences between North and South regarding slavery.

  • Black populations in the South remained enslaved.

  • Black populations in the North often gained freedom.

• This division led to growing tensions over slavery issues between the two regions.

Overview of the Constitution

• The Constitution: A critical document for American citizens.

• Discussion of slavery's implications in the Constitution without explicitly mentioning the term.

Articles of Confederation

• Background: Document used during the Revolutionary War.

  • Known for its weaknesses, which became evident post-war.

• Key weaknesses include:

  • Lack of common currency.

  • No federal taxation – only state taxes.

  • Inability to establish a federal army.

  • No regulation of trade within states or internationally.

• Consequences of these weaknesses:

  • Highlighted the need for more government regulation (e.g., of food and drugs).

  • Reference to the historical use of cocaine in products like Coca-Cola to emphasize lack of regulations.

Shay's Rebellion

• Occurred from 1786 to 1787 in Massachusetts, predominantly involving former Continental Army members.

• Caused by:

  • Inability of farmers to pay taxes leading to foreclosure of farms.

  • Lack of a federal banking system created economic hardship.

• Farmers rebelled against the Massachusetts government; the rebellion ended with intervention from the state militia.

• The rebellion raised alarms among landowners, igniting discussions about government reform.

Emergence of Federalists and Anti-Federalists

• Federalists:

  • Advocated for a strong federal government.

  • Examples include Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

• Anti-Federalists:

  • Favored rights for individual states and proposed amendments to the Articles rather than a complete overhaul.

  • Thomas Jefferson is a well-known Anti-Federalist leader.

The Constitutional Convention

• Response to the chaos following Shays' Rebellion and other minor uprisings.

• Led to drafting of a new government framework—the Constitution.

• The Constitution introduced a new concept of a "contract government."

  • Aimed to create a system based on clear contracts rather than emotional or prejudiced governance.

Constitution's Structure

• Divided into three branches:

  • Legislative Branch (Article I)

  • Executive Branch (Article II)

  • Judicial Branch (Article III)

• Importance of law:

  • Laws should be the basis of governance rather than emotions.

  • Emphasis on legislative processes and the role of checks and balances:

    • A law must pass both the House of Representatives and the Senate.

    • The Executive Branch (President) can veto or enact laws.

    • The Judicial Branch interprets laws to ensure they are constitutional.

Constitutional Protections

• Scholarly debate on the effectiveness of checks and balances in enforcing Supreme Court decisions and legislation.

• Historical note on Andrew Jackson’s disregard for some Supreme Court rulings.

• Discussion on the power balance intended by the framers to prioritize the Legislative Branch.

• Overall legacy of the Constitution reflecting the conflicts and compromises regarding slavery and governance.