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The New Nation

Dr. Kathryn H. Braund

Auburn University

Summer Academy 2006

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3 Areas of Discussion Debate over the adoption of the

Constitution

The establishment of the government

Efforts to foster a new “national” identity

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Focus Areas Web Resources

Content based web sites Primary sources on-line

Use of Primary Sources Dissecting a document

Making History Relevant The more things change….

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Why Primary Documents? Prompt students to ask questions Encourage students to acknowledge

various points of view Allow students to discover evidence Allow students to see cause-and-effect

relationships Encourage students to compare and

contrast

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Primary Documents. . . Help students understand continuity and

change over time. Force students to consider and recognize

bias Drive students to determine the validity and

reliability of sources Enable students to realize the impt. of

referencing multiple sources of information

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The War of the Revolution Overthrew monarchy Created a republic

Republic: gov’t by elected representatives Fear democracy = “tyranny of the mob”

Actually: 14 new governments!

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New Governments Guiding Principles

Ideas of the Enlightenment (Montesquieu) Separation of Powers “Balanced Government”

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New Governments Guiding Principles

British legacy British common law civil liberties trial by jury subordination of military to civilian power restrictions on search warrants freedom of speech & press

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New Governments Guiding Principles

Colonial experience Written charters

as opposed to unwritten British constitution defined structure and powers of government

Legislation Establishment of precedent via practice

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1775-1776 Royal governors flee rebels New states called conventions to

establish new “constitutions” or fundamental law

Authority of Government: from the “people”

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New State Governments Great variety

one vs. two house legislatures various requirements for voters

One common principle Separation of powers

Governor can’t dissolve an assembly Independent judiciary Lower house more powerful than upper house

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New State Governments Common Trend

increased participation by “lower orders” loosening of property qualifications for

voting idea that the elected representatives

represent the voters

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Continental Congres Central government

no formal authority but acted as the “central gov’t”

declared independence encouraged states to write constitutions est. foreign relations committees created continental army, navy printed money

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Articles of Confederation Drawn up in fall 1777; adopted 1781 Weak central government

no power to tax internally each state has one vote (regardless of size

or population)

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Why so long? Troubles over western land

“landless” states fear potential power of “landed” states with no western boundaries

Solution “Landed” states cede western lands

(Ohio Valle) to the central government

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Confederation Successes Laid foundation for a unified, federal

government Established a federal bureaucracy Managed to finance the war Est. a national land policy

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

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The Northwest Territory

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Northwest Ordinance Create 3-5 states (Ohio R. to Great

Lakes) New states equal (not colonies)

specific process for est. of gov’t as population grew

No slavery Freedom of religion

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Northwest Ordinance Blueprint for the Expansion of the

United States Best ideas of the Revolutionary era

republican government rights of citizens religious toleration no slavery

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Northwest Ordinance Blueprint for the Expansion of the

United States Worst aspects of the Revolutionary Era

Dispossession of Indian tribes who own the land

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Despite some success. . . Confederation Gov’t “weak”

No power to raise money to pay debts Can’t deal with post-war economic crisis

Shay’s Rebellion in Mass. Fear of “mob rule” Fear of European powers

British hold posts; Spain closes Miss. R.; European markets closed

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Plan emerges…. Strengthen central government

create balance of power btn. state and central government

provide central government with adequate powers

idea: revise Articles

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Constitutional Convention Called to order in late May Conducted in secret (why?) Voting

each state gets one vote majority required for adoption of a measure

(compare with unanimous vote under Articles)

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Important Issues Relationship between states and federal

government Mixed system

John Dickinson: “the one, the few, the many” (federal, states, the people)

The people: actually represented at federal level (not just the states)

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Important Issues Separation of Powers

3 branches of government (not merely one) further division of powers in legislative

branch checks and balances protection of rights (large vs. small states)

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Theoretical Framework “the one, the few and the many” Connecticut (Great )Compromise

Two house legislature House (People)

Money bills Senate (States)

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Two Other Significant Compromises How to Elect the Executive

Electoral College satisfied people, state legislatures, federal House

How to Ascertain Population for Purposes of Representation/Taxation Slavery swept under the rug: 3/5

Compromise

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Style Matters! Committee of Style

Gouverneur Morris Change in Preamble Signal change in

views of power “We the People” Little noticed

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Problem No Specific “Bill of Rights” Americans fear:

powerful executive concentration of power in federal gov’t weakening of states

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Constitution: Resources National Archives

“A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution” (essay)

“The Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention” (essay)

The Constitution (document) Bill of Rights (document) FAQs (Q & A)

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Constitution: Resources Library of Congress: American Memory

Timeline Brief Overview Lesson Plans

National Archives NARA Digital Classroom Constitution Day Ideas

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Writing is one thing. . . Once “signed” at the

convention, it went to the states for ratification

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The Ratification Debate Pro: Strong government would. . .

preserve U.S. from foreign threats & internal conflict

protect rights of citizens Con: Strong government would. . .

trample the rights of citizens destroy the states

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Bernstein essay Launched shared political discourse Created a national political community Created political component to national

identity Resource: The Federalist Papers

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Ratification What were the issues? The Ratification Project

Slavery Model Edition

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Analyzing a Written Document How do you use primary source

documents in the classroom? Ideas from the NARA

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Analyzing a Written Document 1. Describe the document. Is this a letter, a

will, a bill of sale or some other kind of document?

2. What does the document describe/relate/report? (give a brief summary)

3. What is the date of the document? Is there more than one date? Why?

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Analyzing a Written Document 4. Who is the author of the document? Do you

believe that the author of this document is credible? Is this document written as a requirement of the author's occupation or is this a personal document?

5. For what audience was this document written? Why was it written?

6. List three (3) points that the author made that you believe are important.

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Analyzing a Written Document 7. Can you discern the writer's point of view? How

does the author interpret the facts presented? Does the writer's POV effect the way in which the facts are presented?

8. What can you learn about the _________ from the document.

9. Write one (1) question to the author that is unanswered by the document.

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Using Primary Sources Analysis Worksheets from the NARA

Artifacts Cartoons Documents Maps Photographs Posters Sound

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The New Government The First Federal Congress Project

Mini-Edition Web Site

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A New People

Establishing an American Identity

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Identity: A Shared Past Heroes: Symbols of

New Nation Commemoration

Art Public celebrations Books, etc.

Emmanuel Leutze, Crossing the Delaware

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Identity: A Shared Past Commemoration of

Heroes Celebration of

Public “Virtue”

John Trumbull,

George Washington Resigns his Commission

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Identity: A Shared Past Commemoration of

Heroes Ideal of Sacrifice for

Public “Good”

John Trumbull,

The Death of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill

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Identity: A Shared Past Commemoration of

Heroes Military success

John Trumbull, Surrender of General Burgoyne

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American National Identity Naming the country: transform the land

to “American” land (from Indian land) Lexington, Kentucky Washington, D. C. Montgomery, Alabama

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American National Identity

New Literature Noah Webster, American Spelling Book Jedediah Morse, American Gazetteer William Bartram, Travels

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American National Identity Art

John Trumbull Charles Wilson

Peale Gilbert Stuart Ezra Ames (portrait of

Gouverneur Morris)

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American National Identity

Architecture Classical (as

opposed to Georgian)

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American National Identity

Symbols Great Seal (1782)

Eagle Latin mottos Symbolic 13

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The Lansdowne Portrait Gilbert Stuart, 1796

http://www.georgewashington.si.edu/portrait/index.html

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The Republic of Science

William Bartram note flower

(botanical discovery)

David Rittenhouse telescope banyan

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“A” is for American Language holds

people together Common identity National unity

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Additional Reading

Carol Berkin

A Brilliant Solution: Inventing the American Constitution