• John Dickinson drafted the plan to protect the power of the
states
• Adopted by Congress 1777, last ratified March 1781
• War was won
• Land Ordinance
1785
• Northwest
Ordinance 1787
• 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
• 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
• Local manuf. just starting out-needed states to give preference
to American goods
• Currency shortage-new paper money was divisive (debtors vs.
creditors)
• 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
• 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
• 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.
• 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
• 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
• Proceedings were to be conducted in secret
• Each state was allowed one vote (Rhode Island was not presentdistrustful 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
•
•
•
•
•
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.
• 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 legislatureequal in Senate, House depends on state
population
• 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
• 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)
• 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
• 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?
• After months of debate,
the delegates approved
the Constitution
• Sept. 1787, 39
delegates sign the
Constitution
• 3 refused to signforeshadow of debate
to come
• 9/13 must still approve
• Federalists vs. AntiFederalists
• 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
• 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
• 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.”