The Impact of the American Revolution on American

The Impact of the American Revolution on American Society

Benjamin Banneker & Phillis Wheatley

Postponing Full Liberty n The Revolution was limited in its extension of rights & failed to abolish slavery, grant universal male suffrage, or apply equality to women; But… n …it introduced the ideal of freedom and equality that future generations would use to make these ideals a reality

New State & National Governments

Forming New Governments n When independence was declared from England in 1776, colonists considered themselves a new nation & needed a new gov’t: –Colonies became individually sovereign states governed by written state constitutions –A national gov’t needed to be adopted to provide basic services like treaties & a military

States Constitutions n In 1776, the new states created written constitutions which: –Clearly defined the citizens’ rights & the limits of government –Guaranteed natural rights; Eight states had bills of rights –Almost all states reduced the powers of the governor & kept most power in the hands of the people via state legislatures

The United States, 1783

Defining Republican Culture n But, creating a national gov’t that met everyone’s needs was hard: – How to balance individual liberty with maintaining order? order – How to balance property rights with equality? equality – How to create a centralized gov’t without creating a new tyrannical authority? authority

Defining Civic. Republican virtue is now Culture a necessity n Americans set out to create a republican form of government after independence was declared: –Gov’t with no king or aristocracy –With power held by the citizens n Even though all previous republics had failed, Americans were optimistic this would be an “uncompromising commitment to liberty & equality”

The Articles of Confederation n In 1775, three committees were formed to sever ties with England: –Thomas Jefferson headed the committee to draft a declaration of independence –John Adams headed committee to establish foreign alliances –John Dickinson headed a committee to draft a new central government

Articles of Confederation n The Articles of Confederation was adopted as America’s 1 st national gov’t in 1777 (but ratified in 1781) –The Articles established an Each states was treated intentionally weak central gov’t as a pseudo-nation` in order to protect state power –The confederation-style gov’t gave all 13 states 1 vote in a Too similar to a monarch unicameral congress –There was no national president

The Articles were created to The Articles of Confederation n The loosely tie the states together only powers granted to the national government were to –Negotiate treaties, handle Indian affairs, oversee an military n It could not tax citizens or states; could only request contributions n Laws required 9 of the 13 states n Amending the gov’t required agreement by all 13 states

“A firm league of friendship” The colonies were loosely joined to address common problems "each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence, and every power. . . which is not. . . expressly delegated to the United States. …"

n The Western Lands West presented a problem: –Many states had overlapping land claims in the West –Some “landless” states (MD, NJ, DE) wanted part of West & refused to ratify the Articles without this issue resolved –The US gov’t negotiated treaties with Indians to gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky

Western Lands n Virginia took the lead to solve the “West problem” by ceding its western claims to the national gov’t –Other states, especially NY, Withceded the newtheir gov’twestern finally ratified 1781, landsintoo Congress created the Departments of –By 1781, Congress (not the War, Foreign Affairs, & Finance states) gained control over all lands west of the Appalachians n With dispute over, Maryland was the last state to ratify the Articles

Don’t forget Indian lands too Indian Land Cessions: 1768 -1799 Western Land Claims Ceded by the States

The Land Ordinance of 1785 n The U. S. gov’t was eager to sell off Western lands to settlers to gain revenue (since the gov’t did not have the power to tax) –The Land Ordinance of 1785 established an orderly process for laying out western townships –Section 16 of the each township was dedicated to public schools

The Northwest Ordinance n The Northwest Ordinance (1787) gave structure to the NW territory: –Created new territories, ruled by a governor, & whose citizens were protected by a bill of rights –Residents could create a legislative assembly when the population reached 5, 000 –Residents could apply for statehood with 60, 000 people –Slavery outlawed in NW lands

Because of. United the 1785 & 17871783 Prospectors into. States, Kentucky & Tennessee Thepoured ordinances, the Northwest territories Bywere 1790, well the region was& plagued organized orderlyby land claims & counterclaims that generated lawsuits for years The USA in 1787 Territories south of the Ohio River received less attention from Congress

Congress did not Merchants in MA hired Constitutional Reform have the tax funds their own mercenary n Byan 1787, fatal to flaws of uprising the to send army themilitia end the Articles of Confed were exposed: –Shays’ Rebellion broke out among desperate MA farmers who faced losing their farms or being sent to debtor’s prison –Congress called for a meeting in Shays’ Rebellion nationalists like In May, Jamesgave Madison led the Philadelphia to discuss revising Washington, Madison, Hamilton the Annapolis Convention to discuss theimproving strengthening the urgency to. Articles call for American a&stronger national gov’t trade national gov’t

The Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, 1787

The Philadelphia Convention n Shay’s Rebellion led to increased support for a stronger central They did NOT intendattendance to government & more at replace the Articles the Philadelphia Convention n In May 1787, 55 delegates from all states (except RI) met to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation, but it soon became apparent that something more serious was needed

The Philadelphia Is this a government. Convention of the people? n The Philadelphia Convention delegates in. To Philadelphia madeall 3 amend the Articles, 13 statesdecisions: had to agree important (& illegal) –The Articles of Confederation were to be completely replaced –Nothing from the meeting was to be printed or spoken to the public –Every state got 1 vote but all decisions needed a majority vote (not 9 of 13 states) to pass

Inventing a Federal Republic n Delegates incorporated 4 major principles into this new gov’t: –Limited gov’t—even though a gov’t stronger gov’t was being created, citizens’ liberty is protected –Republicanism—the people vote Republicanism for their leaders –Separation of powers—three powers branches with defined powers –Federalism—the national gov’t Federalism shares power with state gov’ts

Inventing a Federal Republic Madison n William Paterson presented the Virginia Plan: Plan Small. New states. Jersey objected. Plan: to –Congress given –Bicameral this large-state dominance power to tax legislature –Each state had –Larger states The large states one vote in a had more listened politely then unicameral representatives overwhelmingly voted against it legislature –Create a chief –But Articles executive mostly appointed by untouched Congress n James

known as the The. Also Great Compromise “Connecticut” Compromise” n Roger Sherman helped resolve Victory for the small the differences between the states large & small states Victorybyforproposing large states the Great Compromise Only the House of Reps –Congresscould would be a bicameral introduce tax bills legislature (House & Senate) –Each state was given 2 delegates in the Senate –House of Representatives was determined by state population

Three Branches of Government

What did Congress look like after the Great Compromise?

Federalism—state gov’ts & Federalism the national gov’t both have power The supremacy clause establishes the Constitution (not the states) as the "the supreme law of the land" A state law cannot contradict a national law

Federalism

The 3/5 Compromise n Problems still remained between the northern & southern states regarding how to count population size (do slaves count? ) n The Three-Fifths Compromise settled the issue: –Three-fifths of the slave population could be counted toward representation in the House of Representatives

Compromising with Slavery n Despite the contradiction slavery posed, Southerners threatened to leave the USA anytime the slave question was discussed n As a compromise for the South, the slave trade could continue to 1808 & runaway slaves returned “Great as the evil is, a dismemberment of the Union would be worse. ” —James Madison

The Last Details Including ideas tyrannical: n In 1787, a once finalconsidered draft included: tyrannical Presidential power to appoint judges & – Electoral College to vote for the presidential veto power over Congress president to “filter the masses” –System of checks & balances among the 3 branches of gov’t –President would serve for 4 years rather than for life n Delegates decided against a Bill of Rights because most state constitutions already had them

James Madison helped broker many of the compromises that made the Constitution possible & is referred to as the “father of the Constitution”

Only Congress can of make Key Ideas thelaws, Constitution declare war, create taxes The “elastic clause” gives Congress implied powers to make laws seen as “necessary & proper” The Senate ratifies treaties & confirms judicial appointments

Key Ideas of the Constitution The president can only recommend legislation to Congress but can veto bills The president oversees the bureaucracy

Key Ideas of the Constitution The only court mentioned in the Constitution is the Supreme Court

The Struggle for Ratification

The Struggle for Ratification n The delegates in Philadelphia knew that ratification of the new Constitution would not be easy: –They had no authority to change the Articles of Confederation –They did not inform the public of their ongoing decisions –They fundamentally altered the relationships between the states & the central government

Federalists & Anti-Federalists n Supported n Against ratification of the – Distrusted of a Constitution Authored by that Madison, gov’t n Were well. Hamilton, & Jay removed power Anti-Federalists argued organized & for more protection of from the hands educated individual liberties of the people n Used Federalist –Claimed the new Papers to argue “The Constitution is for ratification itself. Constitution a Bill of Rights” favored the n Had the support upper class of the media

Ratification of the Constitution

Adding the Bill of Rights n To win ratification, Federalists If 1776 was the 1 st the American agreed to addwas a Bill Revolution… 1787 the of 2 nd. Rights revolution – With this protection of citizens’ liberty, all 13 states agreed to ratify the Constitution – Constitution became the official the law of the land in 1789 n After bitter fight, most Americans chose to support the Constitution