Framing a New Government Objectives To understand why

Framing a New Government • Objectives: – To understand why the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised. – To Understand the different debates that formed over the issue of states’ representation. – To understand the different arguments of Federalists and Anti. Federalists. • Do Now: – Get with a partner and go over the answers from your homework over the weekend. • Homework: – Framing a New Government pg. 160 – Text pg. 164 -165 “Debating the Past” in notebook.

Advocates of Centralization • Confederation had averted the danger of remote and tyrannical authority, but during 1780 s powerful groups began to want a national government capable of dealing with nation’s problems mainly economic that affected themselves Artisans wanted a single high national duty merchants wanted a single, national commercial policy, people who owed money wanted states to stop issuing paper money and causing inflation – land owners wanted protection from mobs – – • Reformers led by Alexander Hamilton called for convention. • George Washington’s support of new convention in Philadelphia 1787 gave it credibility, feared disorders like Shay’s Rebellion spreading

A Divided Convention 55 delegates from all but RI, mainly young, educated, and propertied Washington chosen as presiding officer, sessions closed to public and press Virginia delegation led by James Madison, had plan drafted. Edmund Randolph proposed a new national government with executive, judiciary, legislature • Virginia Plan • • – called for 2 house legislature with lower house based on population and upper house elected by lower house – Proposal opposed by Delaware, NJ, other small states. • New Jersey Plan – Proposal by William Paterson of NJ would reform Confederation + give it power to tax. • Virginia Plan supporters realized concessions to small states needed for agreement – conceded upper house be elected by state legislatures – each state at least 1 rep • Questions of equal representation in upper house, of slaves counted in states population but feared would be taxed if states taxed based on population

Compromise • In July grand committee established with Franklin as head, produced basis of “Great Compromise” – lower house would be based on populating • each slave counted as 3/5 of a person in representation and direct taxation – upper house each state had 2 reps – July 16, 1787 compromise accepted • Representatives agreed legislature forbidden to tax exports because of Southern fear of interfering with cotton economy • slave trade couldn’t be stopped for 20 years • Constitution provided no: – definition of citizenship – list of individual rights that would restrain powers of national government

The Constitution of 1787 • James Madison created VA Plan, helped resolve question of sovereignty and of limiting power • Sovereignty at all levels, national and state, came from people. • States and national government both had sovereignty from people – therefore Constitution could distribute powers between federal government and states- but Constitution was “supreme law” • Federal government had power to – – tax regulate commerce control currency pass laws

The Constitution of 1787 • Leaders frightened of creating a tyrannical government, – believed small nation needed to stop corruption. – Madison convinced others that large nation would produce less tyranny b/c many factions would check one from being too powerful • Separation of powers + checks and balances – forced branches to compete, – federal structure divided power between states and nation • Fear of despotism, but also fear of the “mob” and “excess of democracy” – only House of Reps elected directly by people • Constitution signed on September 17, 1787

Federalists and Antifederalists • Delegates decided that Constitution would come into existence when 9 of 13 states had ratified it thru conventions instead of unanimous state legislature approval required by Articles • Supporters of Constitution – well organized, supported by Washington and Franklin, – called themselves Federalists – Had best political philosophers in Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay. – Wrote Federalist Papers

Federalists and Antifederalists • Antifederalists • believed Constitution would betray principles of Revolution by establish a strong, potentially tyrannical central government that would increase taxes, obliterate states, favor the “well born”. – Biggest complaint was that Constitution lacked a bill of rights, – any government with central authority could not be trusted to protect citizens’ liberties, – therefore natural rights had to be enumerated in order to be preserved • Federalists feared disorder, anarchy, power of masses • Antifederalists feared the state more than they did the people, feared concentrated power • Delaware first to ratify • New Hampshire 9 th state in June 1788. • New government could not flourish w/o participation of VA and NY. – VA, NY, MA ratified on assumption that bill of rights would be added

Completing the Structure • First elections took place 1789, – George Washington elected first president unanimously, – John Adams became VP- inauguration April 30, 1789 • First Congress passed bill of rights 1789, – 10 ratified by states by end of 1791. – Nine forbid Congress from infringing basic rights, – 10 th reserved powers to states unless specifically withheld from them or delegated to fed government • Judiciary Act of 1789 – created 6 member Supreme court, 13 district courts, 3 courts of appeal, Sup Court had final decision in constitutionality of state laws • Congress created departments of executive- State led by Jefferson, Treasury by Hamilton, War by Henry Knox, attorney general Edmund Randolph