Topic 4
John Dickinson
(1732-1808) worked as an attorney in Philadelphia before becoming involved in politics and devoting himself to the Patriot cause. In 1765, he served as Pennsylvania's representative to the Stamp Act Congress and wrote its declaration of rights and grievances. Later, he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1776-1777, he helped draft the Articles of Confederation. In 1787, he served as a delegate from Delaware to the Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles.
James Madison
(1751-1836) was a Patriot who represented Virginia in the Continental Congress. In 1787, he participated in the Constitutional Convention and was a leading voice in replacing the Articles of Confederation with a new plan for government. For his part in winning passage of the 1787 Constitution, he became known as the Father of the Constitution. Madison went on to serve as Thomas Jefferson's secretary of state and then to become the fourth president of the United States.
Alexander Hamilton
(1755/57-1804) was born in the British West Indies and went to New York to pursue his studies. There, he became involved in the Patriot cause and wrote three pamphlets supporting the Continental Congress's position on British trade policies. Hamilton fought during the American Revolution and served with George Washington. After the war, he studied law and went on to serve as a Pennsylvania delegate to the Constitutional Convention. Later, he became the first Secretary of the Treasury of the United States.
What was special about the group of men that met at the Constitutional Convention?
- all white males - many were wealthy - more than half were lawyers - 7 had been state governors - 21 had fought in the American Revolution - 8 signed the Declaration of Independence
Did the Great Compromise draw more from the Virginia Plan or the New Jersey Plan? Cite evidence to explain your answer.
- congress have 2 houses - equal representation (2 senators) in the Senate - House of Representatives (representation is based on population) - bicameral legislature more from the Virginia Plan
Open the website listed above to help you. Identify the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
- temporary government = 1 district but divided into 2 districts - stated how estates would be divided if owner dies - no less than 3 and greater than 5 states are formed in territory - no slavery/ involuntary servitude in territory
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was an important piece of legislature that had a significant impact on the development of the United States. Give three details that support this main idea.
1. citizens enjoyed freedom of religion, trial by jury, the rights of common law (including habeas corpus) 2. the 5 new states would enter the Union as free states rather than slave states 3. territory had 5,000 men - territory could establish an elected assembly territory had 60,000 - could request admissions to the Union as a state on equal terms with the original 13 states
Identify the five (5) provisions of the Land Ordinance of 1785.
1. dispensing/ distributing public lands 2. divided land into hundred of townships 3. subdivided each township into 36 sections 4. sold sections $1 per acre 5. ordinary farmers had to buy from the favored speculators
Would an Antifederalist likely support a narrow or a broad interpretation of the Constitution? Explain your answer.
? Broad
In what ways did the Constitution "insulate" the government from the people? Explain.
? The way the representenatives were elected were very selective from the people.
Compare and Contrast the views of Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.
Alexander Hamilton - conservative principles - disliked democracy - praised British constitution - insisted that a balanced government should have aristocracy, monarchy, republicism - government should have real power to command citizens and impress foreign empires James Madison - only a strong nation could rescue the states from their own democratic excesses - favored republicism - government = strong and republican - insisted that a large republic with diverse interests would best preserve the common good
How did the ratified Constitution reflect the views of both Federalists and Antifederalists?
Antifederalists - Bill of Rights Federalists - new government
John Jay
As a Federalist, he wrote five of the essays included in The Federalist , under the pen name Publius. He was appointed the first Chief Justice of the U.S. Supreme Court by George Washington.
What chain of events led to America's near bankruptcy in the years after the Revolutionary War?
Congress couldn't establish a common currency and couldn't regulate interstate commerce. They also relied on the contributions of the states.
Most delegates to the Constitutional Convention agreed that
Congress should have the power to tax
Summarize the important arguments from the Federalists and Antifederalists. Include information about how both sides convinced state ratifying committees to support or oppose the Constitution.
Federalists: - favored the ratification of the Constitution - stressed the weakness of the Articles - argued that only a new government based on the proposed Constitution could overcome the difficulties facing the new nation Antifederalists: - opposed the ratification of the Constitution - disliked that the Constitution lacked a bill of rights to protect basic liberties from the powers of the government - also said that the Constitution greatly increased the powers of the Central government + provided a more elitist government by concentrating power in relatively few hands at a great distance from voters - believed that liberty couldn't survive unless the federal government remained weak = most power goes to the democratic state governments
Reread the quote in "The Struggle Over Ratification" by James Lincoln from South Carolina. What was his main idea? What language did he use to support this idea?
He believed that liberty could not survive unless the federal government remained weak, which means that most power would belong to the democratic state government. If they were to pass the COnstitution they would be giving the power away.
How did the Three-Fifths Compromise affect the institution of slavery in subsequent years?
It forbade Congress from blocking the importation of slaves for twenty years. By 1808, 100,000 slaves would be imported to Georgia and South Carolina.
Virginia Plan
James Madison's proposal for a bicameral legislature with representation based on population
Why did some political leaders oppose allowing all men to vote? Cite evidence to support your answer.
John Adams and others believed that allowing poor men to vote would "confound and destroy all distinctions, and prostate all ranks to the common level." (he opposed political equality as foolish/ unworkable)
Why did many farmers oppose the Constitution? What inferences can you make about American farmers in the 1780s?
Most farmers realized that the Constitution threatened the state debtor - relief laws that had rescued farmers from foreclosure - Common farmers also distrusted lawyers, merchants, and other wealthy men who promoted the Constitution
Why was the Constitutional Convention "shrouded in secrecy"?
So the delegates could speak freely and privately.
What is a stalemate? Why did the delegates want to prevent a stalemate in the Constitutional Convention?
Stalemate is a situation in which neither side in a n arguement or contest can win o r in which no progress is possible. If there was a stalemate then nothing would be accomplished.
How did the passage of the Northwest Ordinance affect relations with the American Indians?
The American Indians were expected to give up their land and relocate for America's freedom and opportunity. The American Indians resisted and federal government couldn't defeat them.
Explain how the British treated the American colonies after the Revolutionary War.
The British did not take the United States seriously. The British renewed their traditional mercantilism, which means that Americans could only trade with the British Empire under rules that favored British interests. Also, Britain's hold on the forts angered Americans, but they could do nothing because they could not afford to raise and keep an army.
In what ways did the Articles of Confederation limit the power of the federal government?
The Congress had no power to raise money through taxes. So it relied on contributions from the states.
Why didn't the Constitution say that all men were born free and equal?
The Constitution forbade Congress from blocking the importation of slaves for twenty years. The compromise known as the Three- Fifths counted each slave as three-fifths of a person to be added to a state's free population in allocating representatives to the House of Representatives and electoral college votes. The Constitutions committed all states to return fugitive slaves to their owners.
Find several details in the text to support this main idea: The Federalists were better organized than the Antifederalists.
The Federalists were more organized because they had published The Federalist Papers to explain their viewpoint and counter any arguments posed by the Antifederalists.
In what way was the Constitution an example of popular sovereignty?
The amendments in the Constitution which were about the rights kept by the people and power kept by the states and the people.
In what significant way did most state governments differ from the federal government under the Articles of Confederation?
The federal government did not have an executive branch.
Did the federal government under the Articles of Confederation have a bicameral or a unicameral legislature? Explain.
The government consisted of a unicameral legislature. The federal government did not have an executive branch.
What weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation did the Constitutional Convention hope to address?
The wanted the Congress to have more power to regulate interstate and international commerce. Also, for the Congress to tax the people.
What political actions did the Federalists take to ensure that the Constitution would be ratified?
They added a Bill of Rights and appealed to Hancock's vanity (hinting that he could become the first Vice President)
How do the Mount Vernon Conference, the Annapolis Convention, and Shays' Rebellion lead to a call for a convention to redo the existing Articles of Confederation?
They realize that the Articles of Confederation are weak and not useful so they decide to redo them.
Why did the Antifederalists want a Bill of Rights?
They wanted a bill of rights to protect basic liberties from the powers of the government.
Why was New Orleans an important city for Americans in the late 1700s?
To discourage settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, the Spanish to forbade American trade with New Orleans. American settlers expected to ship their produce the Mississippi River to market in Spanish-held New Orleans. The Congress lost support from western settlers when it almost accepted the closure on New Orleans in return for commercial agreements to benefit northeastern merchants. New Orleans has a major port so they can send it by water instead of the Appalachian Mountain. If Spain closes the port then they are unable to do that.
What aspect of the Constitution did the Federalists emphasize to address concerns that the federal government would be too powerful under the new Constitution?
checks and balances
Identify the key powers of each branch of the U.S. government.
legislative branch (Congress) - enacts laws executive branch (headed by the President) - carries out laws, negotiates treaties, commands armed forces judicial branch - interprets the Constitution, applies the law, established a Supreme Court, authorised Congress to establish other courts as needed.
Following the American Revolution, Britain tried to retaliate against the United States through
mercantilist trade policies.
federal
national
Identify nine (9) weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
no power to draft soldiers no power to enforce treaties no power to collect taxes from the states no chief executive no national currency difficult to pass laws (2/3 vote; 9 states) difficult to amend (unanimous votes need to change articles)
arbitrary
not done according to the rules or for a clear reason
ambiguous
not expressed or understood clearly
ratification
official approval
Federalists
one who favored ratification of the Constitution
Antifederalists
one who opposed ratification of the Constitution
What major issue did the Great Compromise and the Three-Fifths Compromise both address?
representation
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 provided a plan for
statehood for territories.
Consider the men who gathered for the Constitutional Convention. What were the possible strengths and weaknesses of this group?
strengths - educated, some were state governors weaknesses - all came from the same class and lifestyle
After the Revolution, the national government lacked the funds it needed to repay its war debts because
the Articles failed to give Congress the power to tax.
Bill of Rights
the first ten amendments to the Constitution, protecting freedoms guaranteed to citizens by the government
Articles of Confederation
the original federal constitution drafted by the Continental Congress in 1777
How has the Constitution been able to adapt to changing circumstances in order to endure for more than 200 years?
through a process for amendments
What did Federalists promise in order to win ratification of the Constitution in Massachusetts and other key states?
to add a Bill of Rights
allay
to calm fears
disparage
to criticise or belittle; make less than
exceed
to go beyond the limit of
convene
to meet or assemble
Explain the difference between a unicameral and a bicameral legislature, including the advantages of each.
unicameral - lawmaking body of a single house - strong legislatures and weak governors - greater rights for the people bicameral - lawmaking body of two houses - conservative state constitutions and strong govenor - counterbalanced power of common voters in the House and power of wealthy, well-educated gentlemen in the Senate
Which form of state government was considered the most democratic and the least conservative?
unicameral legislature with weak governor
What did James Madison mean when he said, "Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as [by] the abuses of power." Cite at least one example that supports Madison's position.
When a single branch of government has all the power, they tend to abuse it. The liberty of the people are at risk when one branch has the the power.
New Jersey Plan
William Paterson's proposal for a unicameral legislature with each state having one vote
Great Compromise
a compromise between the Virginia and New Jersey plans for a bicameral legislature; each state would have equal representation in the Senate and varied representation, based on the state's population, in the House of Representatives
Three-Fifths Compromise
a compromise in which each enslaved person in a state would be counted as three fifths of a person for the purposes of legislative representation
Shays' Rebellion
a farmers' rebellion, led by Daniel Shays, against higher taxes in Massachusetts
republic
a form of government in which officials are elected by the people
electoral college
a group of persons chosen from each state to indirectly elect the president and the vice president
Land Ordinance of 1785
a law which designed a system for managing and settling lands in the Northwest Territory
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
a law which provided a basis for governing the Northwest Territory
unicameral legislature
a lawmaking body made up of a single house
bicameral legislature
a lawmaking body made up of two houses
federalism
a political system in which power is shared between the national government and state governments
popular sovereignty
a principle in which the people are the only source of government power
limited government
a principle stating that the government has only as much authority as the people give it and, therefore, its power is limited
separation of powers
a principle that divides power among the executive, legislative, and judicial branches of government
The Federalist
a series of 85 essays, written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, that explained and defended the Constitution
checks and balances
a system in which each branch of the government has the power to monitor and limit the actions of the other two
Northwest Territory
a vast territory north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania as far as the Mississippi River
Discuss the similarities and differences between the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan. Include information about who presented each plan and how the plan imagined the president, the legislature, and the power of the federal and state governments. Then, write a * by any part of either plan that has lasted until today.
Virginia Plan - James Madison - bicameral legislature with house of Representatives and Senate - represented based on population - 3 branches: legislature, executive, judicial, executive - national Congress would have power to veto any state law - strong President (office = 7 years but could not be reelected) - President would command the armed forces and manage foreign relations + appoint all executive/ judicial officers, subject only to approval by the Senate New Jersey Plan - William Paterson - unicameral legislature - each state has 1 vote - Congress has power to regulate commerce + tax but kept 3 chief principles of the Articles of Confederation - preserved executive committee rather than adopting a singular President - states remained sovereign except for those few powers specifically granted to the national government - U.S. would be a loose confederation similarities -
