The Pursuit of Equality-- background

Constitution Making in the States

Economic Crosscurrents

A Shaky Start Toward Union

Creating a Confederation-- background Second Continental Congress 13 sovereign states Committee to create constitution Need to ratify treaty with France Articles of Confederation 1777 Western Lands States ceded new land to central government New states would have = rights

Creating a Confederation westward land

The Articles of Confederation: America s First Constitution Firm league of friendship No executive branch Unanimous ratification & amendment process No power to regulate commerce No power to enforce taxation Significant step towards The Constitution

Landmarks in Land Laws Land Ordinance of 1785 Old northwest sold to pay national debts Divided into townships 6 miles square Thirty-six sections (1 sq. mile each) 16 th section sold for public school Orderly settlement in northwest

Landmarks in Land Laws Northwest Ordinance-- 1787 New territories added in stages 1 st --area subordinate to federal government, then 60,000 people it became state Same rights as older states Forbade slavery in Northwest territory

The World s Ugly Duckling

Or the world is just a mean ole The World s Ugly Duckling bully!!! Britain No diplomatic minister to U.S. Navigation Laws Frontier trading posts & fur trade Closed West Indies for trade Spain Controlled mouth of Mississippi Closed river to U.S. commerce Claimed large area north of Gulf of Mexico (including Florida granted to U.S. by British) Antagonized resentful Indians France Demanded repayment for war loans Restricted trade with West Indies Pirates Pey of Algiers Enslaved Yankee Sailors U.S. too weak to fight to poor to bribe

The Horrid Specter of Anarchy Shays Rebellion 1786 MA backcountry farmers in debt Wanted: lighten taxes, print paper $, suspend property takeovers Several small skirmishes Shay s followers crushed MA did pass debtor-relief laws The fear of mobocracy & democratic despotism Stronger confederation needed

And now for some entertainment

And now for something less entertaining but actually about the Constitutional Convention

A Convention of Demigods

Patriots in Philadelphia Notable: George Washington, James Madison ( Father of Constitution), Alexander Hamilton Missing: Thomas Jefferson, John Adams, Thomas Paine, Samuel Adams, John Hancock Delegates Conservative, wealthy, educated, young, experienced, & nationalists

Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises Virginia Plan Large-state plan Bi-cameral (two houses) Based on population Large states advantage New Jersey Plan Small state plan Unicameral Equal representation

Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises The Great Compromise Bicameral (two houses) Upper House (Senate) equal representation Lower House (House of Representatives) based on population Tax & revenue bills must originate in the house

Hammering Out a Bundle of Compromises Sectional jealousy South wanted slaves to count for representation, but not taxation North wanted slaves to count for taxation, but not for representation 3/5 Compromise Slaves count as 3/5 of a person for taxation & representation International slave trade would end in 1807

Safeguards 3 Branches of Government Executive Legislative Judicial

Safeguards Executive Veto power Appoint judgeships Wage War Indirect election Electoral College

How on earth does that Electoral College Work?

Safeguards Legislative Write law House elected directly Senate elected indirectly through state legislatures Power to declare war

Safeguards Judicial Least developed branch in the constitution Federal judges appointed for life by executive

Safeguards

How a Bill Becomes a Law

Clash of Federalists & Anti- Federalists

Ratification