New Ideas of Government and
the Creation of the United States
13 Original Colonies
• New England:
Massachusetts, New
Hampshire,
Connecticut, Rhode
Island
• Middle Colonies: New
York, Delaware, New
Jersey, Pennsylvania
• Southern Colonies:
Virginia, Maryland, S.
Carolina, N. Carolina,
Georgia
Common Sense
• Common Sense, a pamphlet written by Thomas
Paine, was an important document during the
Revolution. Paine wrote about the importance of
armed struggle against the British Empire and about
the ideological importance of American
independence.
• The pamphlet, written in a simple, direct style,
appealed to the American people. Common Sense
convinced many readers, including many who had
favored a peaceful settlement with the British
government, to support a complete—and likely
violent—break with Britain.
Second Continental Congress
• Common Sense appeared at the same time as the
meeting of the Second Continental Congress in
Philadelphia. This Congress met less than a month
after the Battles of Lexington and Concord, and it
continued to meet throughout the Revolution.
The Declaration of Independence
• The Congress sent an Olive Branch Petition to King
George III of England. This petition, written by
moderates, expressed the colonists’ loyalty to the
king and requested a halt in fighting until a solution
could be found. The king refused the petition.
June 1776
• In June 1776, after more than a year of war, Congress
decided it was time for the colonies to cut ties with
Britain. They prepared a statement of the reasons for
separation - a Declaration of Independence. Drafted
by Thomas Jefferson.
Social Contract Theory (1651)
• Thomas Hobbes described a relationship
whereas people gave up some of their rights
to the government in exchange for protection
Natural Rights (1690)
• John Locke stated that governments exist for
the purpose of preserving people’s natural
rights. If the government fails than the people
have a responsibility to rebel.
Drafting a Declaration
• Thomas Jefferson’s political ideas were influenced by the Enlightenment, an
eighteenth-century European movement that emphasized science and
reason as keys to improving society.
• Jefferson divided the Declaration into four sections:
– The preamble, or introduction, explained the Declaration’s purpose.
– In the declaration of rights, Jefferson drew heavily on the writings of John
Locke. People have natural rights—rights that belong to them simply
because they are human. Jefferson called these unalienable rights.
– In the complaints against the king, Jefferson wrote that public officials
must make decisions based on the law, not on their own personal wishes.
He called this a rule of law.
– The resolution, in declaring the colonies free and independent states,
concluded the Declaration.
• Jefferson’s document not only declared the nation’s independence, it also
defined the basic principles on which American government and society
would rest.
• Congressional delegates voted to approve the Declaration on July 4, 1776.
The Declaration of Independence
IN CONGRESS, July 4, 1776.
The unanimous Declaration of the thirteen united States of America,
When in the Course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve
the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among
the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the Laws of Nature
and of Nature's God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind
requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.
We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are
endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life,
Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.--That to secure these rights, Governments are
instituted among Men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed, -That whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the
Right of the People to alter or to abolish it, and to institute new Government
The Foundations of Democracy
1. In the Declaration, who do we declare
independence from?
2. What are “unalienable rights?”
3. Where do these rights come from?
4. Where does the consent to govern come
from?
5. Thinking back to World Civ., the English
crown was head of the state and what other
institution? In other words, the colonists
were looking for political and
_____________ independence.
A New Government
From Colonists to Country
1777-1820
Articles of Confederation
•Continental Congress, 1777
•Instituted to address problems left in the power vacuum following the
Revolutionary War
Problem: Fear of Strong Nat.
Gov’t
Solution: Create a Weak Nat.
Gov’t
• People viewed own states
as country
• All voters had a voice
• Closely involved in gov’t
• Representation
• Believed a republican gov’t
could only work in small
communities
• Central legislature w/no
executive or judicial
branches
• States retain sovereignty
• Left most gov’t power with
the states
• National gov’t had no
authority over citizens, to
collect taxes, regulate trade
Problems Addressed, cont.
Problem: Fear that some states would
have more power in Nat. Gov’t than others
• How would states vote in
congress?
– Decisions made by majority
vote
– Representation by population
or 1 per state?
Solution: Give each state only
one vote
• Equalizes the states power
in congress.
• Does it give a fair
representation of what the
population wants?
• On important matters you
need 9 of 13 votes
Weaknesses of the Articles
•
•
•
•
•
No power and no money to get it
No power over state gov’t or their citizens
Unenforceable trade agreements
Unfair competition among states
Threats to citizen’s rights to property
Shay’s Rebellion
• People who loaned states money to fight the war
were calling in their debts
– Mass. Levies taxes to raise money
– Poor farmers couldn’t pay so states begin to confiscate
property
– Daniel Shay leads angry farmer (most veterans of the
Rev. War) and raid arsenal to get arms
– Congress was helpless. States finally send a militia to
stop it and are successful
– Caused fear of other rebellions
– Shows need for stronger National Gov’t
Effect of the Articles
• “We are either a unified people or we are not.
If the former, let us act as a nation. If we are
not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending
to it.” --George Washington
• Accomplishments
– Secured recognition of American Independence
– Northwest Ordinance of 1787 (north of Ohio River,
east of Mississippi). Process for territories to
become states.
Attempts to Solve the Problems
• Annapolis Convention (1786)
– Only 5 sent delegates
• Philadelphia Convention (Const. Convention)
– May 1787
– Delegates only authorized to amend Articles not
create a new gov’t
– 55 delegates, average age 42
• Prominent citizens, some wealthy, most not
Constitutional Convention
• Attendees
– George Washington
– James Madison
– Others
• What happened?
– Almost immediately decided to start new
– Kept what was said secret to promote openness
– Each state had 1 vote
– Made nothing final until final draft was voted on
Ratifying the Constitution
Federalists
• Favored the constitution
• Wanted a strong national
gov’t
• Supported by Washington,
Hamilton, Madison
• The Federalist Papers
– Between Oct. ‘87-Aug ‘88
– Written by Hamilton,
Madison, and John Jay
– 85 essays to persuade N.Y. to
ratify the Constitution
Antifederalist
• Opposed the Constitution
• Supported by Patrick Henry
• Feared the President would
just be another king
• Opposed a federal court
system
• Feared a loss of local and
state power
The Constitution
• Federalists
– Tried to relieve the fear
of factions
– Argued that feds only
supreme in designated
powers
– “Feared the people more
than the government”
• Anti-Federalists
– Feared that it posed a
threat to state gov. and
individual rights
– Saw Constitution as
betrayal of Revolution
– Feared the “government
more than the people”
Ratifying the Constitution
• Why the Federalists won
– Flaws in the Articles of Confederation
– United around a specific plan—antifederalists
were united only in their opposition to the Const.
– Well organized national group
– Federalist had George Washington
– By June 1788 9 of the 13 colonies had ratified the
Const. This was all that was needed. By May 1790
all the states had ratified, R.I. being the last
Bill of Rights
• Dec. 15, 1791
• Amendment 1-10
• Added to gain support from the larger states such
as Mass., Vir., & N.Y.
• Federalists felt they were unnecessary
• Jefferson wanted the “unalienable rights”
guaranteed in writing
• Federalists were willing to compromise to get the
Constitution passed
Bill of Rights
• Federalists
– Argued against because
most states had their
own
– Constitution, they
believe, was a
government of, for, and
by the people
• Anti-Federalists
– Argued for the Bill as a
way to check federal
powers
– Thomas Jefferson was
for constitution AND for
the Bill of Rights
New Leadership
• April 30, 1789 George Washington sworn into
office
– Won by a unanimous vote
– John Adams V.P.
– Immediately appointed cabinet
•
•
•
•
Henry Knox—Sec. of War
Thomas Jefferson—Sec. of State
Alexander Hamilton—Sec. of Treasury
Edmund Randolph—Attorney General
Washington Presidency
• Setting precedent
– Title
– Cabinet
– Gov’t interaction
– Appearance
– 2 terms
– 1792 won a unanimous reelection, reluctantly
accepted
Capitol City
• 1790 moved from N.Y. to Philadelphia
• Residence Act of 1790 made Washington D.C.
the capitol although they remained in Philly
while D.C. was being built (10 years)
Origin & Evolution of American
Politics
Origins of American Politics
• Hamilton’s Programs
– Supporter of strong national power
– Debt plan
• Fed gov’t to take on war debt
• Move capitol to the banks of Potomac
– Hamilton’s strategy
Compromise to
appease the
South
• Lenders would support a gov’t that owes them $$$$
• More concerned with U.S. not just states
• Set up payment plan
– Taxes on imports and whiskey
Hamilton’s Opponents
•
•
•
•
Objected to Fed. Gov’t interference
Viewed as the same Gov’t as England
1793, Jefferson resigns from cabinet
French Revolution
– Reign of Terror
• Jefferson supported, Hamilton didn’t
– France v. Great Britain
• Washington and the Proclamation of Neutrality
Washington’s 2nd Term
• Whiskey Rebellion
– West frontiers (Penn. ) refuse to pay whiskey tax
• 1794 Washington sends 12,000 troops to stop it
• Jay’s Treaty
– Decided to side with Britain
– Expands trade
– Sell out to revolutionary ideals? Many thought so
• Jeffersonian Republicans
– 1796 election, V.P. John Adams v. Thomas Jefferson
“New” Parties
• Federalists
– Party of Hamilton and
Washington
– Still in favor of strong
federal government
• Democratic-Republicans
– NOT the modern
republican party
– Party of Jefferson
– Focused on state
sovereignty but
accepted the
constitution
– Ancestor to the modern
Democratic party
Modern Parties
• Republicans
– Formed in the 1850s
– Traditionally for smaller
federal government,
strong national security
and conservative fiscal
policy
– Party of business – more
business friendly
– Notable Presidents
• Lincoln, Nixon, Reagan,
Bush
• Democrats
– Traditionally for large
federal government and
more liberal fiscal policy
– Social Services (Welfare,
Medicaid, Medicare)
– Party of the people –
protects the people from
unfair business practices
– Notable Presidents
• FDR, JFK, LBJ, Clinton
Evolution of Political Parties
• Republicans
– Not always the party of
business and states rights
– Slow shift that began with
the elected of Truman
– Party of Lincoln – the
Union during the Civil War
and later stood against
slavery
• During the Civil War
supported a stronger
federal government (to
reign in the rebellious
states) and generally for
the abolition of slavery
• Democrats
– Became the party of the
“common (white) man
(who owned property)”
with Andrew Jackson
– Party shifted with FDR
• Focus on Government
programs as a response to
the depression
– Shifted again with Truman
• Became the party of civil
rights, alienated “old”
democrats
• Especially under Kennedy
• LBJ wanted to follow in
FDR’s footsteps with his
War on Poverty
Gov’t Takes a New Course
Post George Washington Changes
John Adams as President
• XYZ Affair
– French demand bribe ($250,000 cash & $10m
loan)
– Undeclared war w/France on high seas
• Alien and Sedition Acts
– Imprison or deport aliens
– Curbed free speech against the gov’t w/o proof
Virginia & Kentucky Resolutions
• Jefferson & Madison oppose the Alien &
Sedition Acts declaring them unconstitutional
• Felt it was up to the states to determine
constitutionality of laws
– If the state found it unconstitutional the law
would be null and void in that state.
• Neither Vir. or Kent. enforce the resolutions
“Revolution” of 1800
• Negative campaigns
– Adams accused of being a monarchist
– Jefferson accused of being godless
• Election
– Jefferson won Popular vote but no majority in the
electoral college
– Jefferson and Burr tie in the electoral college
– After 35 ballots Jefferson finally won in congress
• Peaceful transfer of power
Jefferson Administration
Reducing Gov’t
• Domestic Changes
–
–
–
–
Reduced taxes
Cut gov’t size
Cut army from 12,000 to 3,000
Won reelection in 1804
• Hamilton v. Burr (Jefferson’s greatest rivals)
– Burr (V.P.) killed Hamilton in a duel
– Burr lost all political power
• Judiciary Acts 1801
– Reduced # of Supreme Court justices and increased #
of federal judges
– Adams and the midnight judges
John Marshall (Chief Justice)
• Marbury v. Madison (1803)
– Madison wouldn’t give appointment papers to
Marbury
• Judicial Review
– Denied Marbury saying Supreme Court couldn’t
order the Executive Branch
– Declared part of the Judiciary Act of 1789
unconstitutional
– Judicial review not in the constitution
Louisiana Purchase
• Land Act of 1800
– Buy land on credit
• Napoleon and the French
– Monroe sent to buy N.O. for $10 mill. (1803)
– Napoleon would sell all or none
– Louisiana bought for $15 mill.
• Louis and Clark (1804)
– Reached pacific by 1805 & returned by 1806
Foreign Policy
• British and French aggression
– Jefferson fought back with embargoes
– Hurt Americans instead of G.B. & France
– This made Jefferson very unpopular
Native Resistance
War in the old North West
• Natives fight back and win in Indiana (1790)
w/help of G.B.
• 1794 Gen. Wayne led army to victory at Battle
of Fallen Timbers
• 1795 Natives in NW forced to accept Treaty of
Greenville
– Natives lost southern 2/3 of Ohio
– Ohio no longer a permanent boundary
Native American Reactions
• Accepting white culture
• Blending cultures
– Combines Indian tradition and American
settlement patterns
• Returning to traditions
– “The Prophet” (Chief Tecumseh) total rejection of
European values and assimilation
– Leaned more and more towards a warlike attitude
Taking Military Action
• Tecumseh unites tribes
• Treaty of Ft. Wayne
– Required all natives to sign to take over
– Only got a few and ignored the rest
• August 1810 Tecumseh and W.H. Harrison meet
– Tecumseh threatens war if gov’t buys more land
– The “Prophets” prophecy
– Harrison moves 1st w/1,000 soldiers
• November 7, 1811, Battle of Tippecanoe
– 179 of Harrison’s men killed
– Neither side won but it severely weakened the natives
War of 1812
War Breaks Out
• War Hawks-Henry Clay & John Calhoun
– They believed it was the British who were instigating
these attacks
• Anger toward Britain
– Pres. Madison to declare war on Britain
• Inciting Indians
• Interfering w/trade
• Impressing our citizens into their Navy
– Congress approves
• Not a wise move w/o support
War Breaks Out
• The land war
– Invade British Canada and loose
– Win a few battles against Natives
• Naval War
– At first won many battles
• Outnumbered 20-1
• USS Constitution (Old Ironsides)
• Privateers take over 1,000 British ships
– Battle on Lake Erie
– British Blockade
War of 1812
• Burning of Washington D.C.
– G.B. ended war with France & turned all resources
to U.S.
• 14,000 troops to U.S. repelled by small U.S. forces on
Canadian border
• Navy arrives at Chesapeake, 4,000 troops descend on
Washington unopposed
• Madison and Family flee
• Capitol burned
– Ft. McHenry @ Baltimore
• Star Spangled Banner
War Ends
• Treaty of Ghent, Dec. 24, 1814
– Nothing changed
• Battle of New Orleans 2 weeks later
– Dec. 23, 1814 11,000 British attack N.O.
– Jackson & 4,500 soldiers & 2 battalions of Blacks
– Jan. 8, 1815 British make final attack w/o any
cover
• Little over an hour 136 British casualties, 21 U.S
Post War Boom & Panic
• Monroe becomes President in 1816
• Created a 2nd U.S. Bank
– People began buying on credit
– Could get land easily so people moved west
• 1819 depression
– London banks demand money from U.S. banks
– To get money U.S. banks call in their loans from
the citizens
– This financially ruined many
Missouri Compromise
• NW Ordinance-outlawed any state NW of the
Ohio river from becoming a slave state
• Missouri wanted to be a slave state
• 1820 compromise reached
– Keep balance by making Maine
– North of 36’ 30’ free
– Jefferson-could this avoid the issue of slavery
forever?