Articles Time Period &Constitutional Convention

A of C• John Dickinson drafted the plan to protect the

power of the states• Adopted by Congress 1777, last ratified March

1781

A of C Time PeriodAccomplishments• War was won • Land

Ordinance 1785

• Northwest Ordinance 1787

A of C Time PeriodProblems

• Continued British occupation of forts in Ohio Valley and along Canadian border-Americans had not repaid pre-war debts; British also suspected of stirring up Indian attacks

• Confiscated Loyalist property-some fled to Canada or Britain, persecutions, even lynchings; others resumed lives okay

A of C Time PeriodProblems• With Spanish-southern boundary and navigation

rights along the Miss. River• Economic troubles-merchants cut from the British

mercantile system; agric. trade with foreign markets suffered a downturn

• Lack of uniformity on tariffs/trade restrictions-est. a commercial war between states

A of C Time PeriodProblems• Local manuf. just starting out-needed states to

give preference to American goods• Currency shortage-new paper money was divisive

(debtors vs. creditors)

A of C Time PeriodProblems-Shays’ Rebellion• 1786• Shays, a MA. farmer and Rev. war vet, led an

uprising vs. taxes (angry with govt. in Boston)• Economic issues (slowdown in market, debt to

Britain, debt to wealthy, etc.) forced many states to pass high taxes: MA. had one of the highest

• Farmers in debt, facing imprisonment and foreclosure, took up arms

A of C Time PeriodProblems-Shays’ Rebellion• Shays led about 1000 farmers to seize weapons at

Springfield (arsenal)-free debtors• MA. raised an army of about 4400 to suppress the

rebellion, went in with cannons and scattered the debtor army with cannon volley, killing 4

A of C Time PeriodProblems-Shays’ Rebellion• Rumors exaggerated the event-fear of other

insurgencies for this young govt. arose• Tyranny can come from other areas, including the

common people• Calls for a strong central govt.

Questions• Started with the states and questions over navig.

Rights on the Potomac and Chesapeake Bay• Decided to invite all 13 states to a discussion on

interstate cooperation/commercial problems• Annapolis Convention-1786-only 5 appeared (no

NE states, Carolinas nor GA): Hamilton presented to meet again the following year in Philly

Constitutional Convention• 1787-Congress endorsed a convention “for the

sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation”

• May, June…arrive• One of the hottest recorded summers

Constitutional Convention-Rules

• Proceedings were to be conducted in secret• Each state was allowed one vote (Rhode Island was

not present-distrustful of fed. govt.)• Poll was often taken to see where people stood on

issues-not to be recorded• Each delegate could speak only twice on each issue

until everyone else had been given the opportunity to speak

• Everyone was expected to pay strict attention• All remarks were to be addressed to the president of

the convention and not members

Convention

• 55 attended one time or another-spotty attendance• Most delegates were young-42 was avg. age• All jobs, but mostly prominent lawyers, planters and

merchants• President-G. Washington; secretary-James Madison• Ben Franklin (oldest at 81); A. Hamilton from NY

(absent a good deal)• John Adams and Thomas Jefferson away on diplomatic

missions• Patrick Henry refused to attend-fear of central govt.• After debate, agree to scrap the Articles; draft Constit.

Debates• Representation in Congress

-VA Plan-bicameral (2-house) legislature determined by size/pop.

-NJ Plan-single house with equal 1 vote-CT, or Great Comp.-bicameral legislature-equal in Senate, House depends on state population

Debates• Counting slaves within pop. to determine

representation• 3/5 Compromise: each slave would be counted as 3/5 of a

person for purposes of representation and taxation• Slavery itself was mentioned by name as little as possible-

afraid it might set off a confrontation and wreck any chance of agreement

Debates• Granting Congress the power to regulate foreign

and interstate trade (including slave trade): Congress could regulate foreign commerce but not interfere with the slave trade for 20 years, until 1808 + tax of $10/slave; also forbidden to tax a state’s exports (only imports)

Other issues• Madison and Randolph of VA urged a govt. structure

divided into 3 parts variously elected and appointed• 60 different votes were needed for a single

President with a legislative veto that Congress could override

• Checks and balances-agreed to• Electoral college-too much democracy might lead to

mob rule• Limited years of President in office, not terms• No formal discussion of women• Immigration-little said, other than President cannot

be an immigrant

Lost Hope?• Months of debate, many

feared a consensus would never be reached

• Franklin motioned for a minister to be invited and serve as chaplain/offer daily prayers-didn’t pass as they required payment for their prayers and the Convention had no money

• Franklin’s noting of the sun: rising or setting?

Ratification• After months of

debate, the delegates approved the Constitution

• Sept. 1787, 39 delegates sign the Constitution

• 3 refused to sign-foreshadow of debate to come

• 9/13 must still approve

• Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

Ratification• Federalist arguments: strong national govt. was

needed to provide order and protect the rights of people; a bill of rights was unnecessary because the new govt.’s powers were limited by the Constitution

• Anti-Federalist arguments: wanted a weak national govt. so as not to threaten the rights of people or powers of the states; wanted to add a bill of rights to protect the people vs. abuses of power

Ratification• By June 1788, 9 states had

given their approval, but didn’t include VA or NY-the success of the new govt. depended upon acceptance of these two key states

• Madison led the fight in VA. Against P. Henry; VA approved by 10 votes but with amendments suggested

• Fight was in NY-Federalist Papers-ratification by 3 votes

New Govt.• Sept. 1787-Constitution completed• Sept. 1788-Ratified; NY city-seat of

govt.• Oct. 1788-Confed. Congress

concluded its last business• March 1789-New govt.

inaugurated• 1791-Bill of Rights added

• Franklin: “Everything promises it will last…but in this world, nothing is certain but death and taxes.”

• Washington: “I didn’t expect it to last for more than 20 years.”