Chapter 7

Give Me Liberty!An American History

byEric Foner

North America in 1783

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I. Articles of ConfederationA. A treaty for mutual defense

1. Origins 1777

a. Drafting

b. Ratification

2. Structure-federal government was an agent of the state

3. Extent and limits of powerswar, foreign policy, make treaties

B. Disposition of the West

1. Competing agendas

a. Indians

b. Settlers

c. Land companies and speculators

FEDERALISM defined:

relationship

John Jay treaty with Spain over ports

I. Articles of ConfederationB. Disposition of the West—MOST important accomplishment

2. Congressional measuresa. Acquisition of Indian lands

i. Northernii. Southern

b. Ordinance of 1784-stages of self-governmentc. Ordinance of 1785-regualted land sales;

educationd. Sale of frontier lands to private groupse. Northwest Ordinance of 1787

i. Plan for future 3-5 statesii. Recognition of Indian claim to landiii. Prohibition of slavery in region

Western Land Cessions, 1782-1802

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The Northwest Territory and the Rectangular Survey

Land Ordinance of 1785

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I. Articles of ConfederationC. Confederation lacked the authority to discharge debt

1. Points of controversy (no resources, power to tax, amend)

a. Unredeemed wartime bonds

b. Glut of imported goods

c. State tariffs

d. State debt relief measures

e. State issuance of paper money

2. Shays’ Rebellion (Mass.)

a. Objectives and spirit

b. Suppression

c. Upper-class alarm

3. Newburgh Conspiracy

I. Articles of ConfederationC. Confederation government under fire

3. Nationalist impulsea. Concerns

i. Lack of national economic policyii. Popular infringement on property rightsiii. Social disorder

b. Leading figuresi. James Madisonii. Alexander Hamilton

c. Main sources of supporti. Bondholdersii. Large landholdersiii. Merchantsiv. Urban artisans

d. Initial mobilization

1786-Annapolis Convention

II. A new constitutionA. Delegates to Constitutional Convention-1787

1. Elite backgrounds-55 men

2. Shared experience in struggle for independence

3. Shared aims

a. Stronger national authority

b. Curbs on “excesses of democracy”

c. Address nation’s problems

II. A new constitutionB. Structure of government

1. Points of agreementa. Creation of legislative, executive, and judicial branchesb. Congressional power to raise revenuec. Protection of property rights from state infringementd. Middle ground between excessive central power and

excessive democracy

2. Debate over structure of Congressa. Underlying issues

i. Balance between state and federal powerii. Balance between large and small state interests

b. Competing proposalsi. Virginia plan (bicameral, lower elected house, appointed

executive and judicial)ii. New Jersey plan (one house, equal representation,

expanded Congressional powers)

c. Solution: “GREAT COMPROMISE”

II. A new constitutionC. Extent and limits of democracy

1. Expansions of democracy

a. Popular election of House of Representatives

b. Absence of property qualifications for voting

2. Limits of democracy

a. Small size of House of Representatives (65)

b. Indirect election of Senate

c. Indirect election of president and vice-president

d. Life appointments to Supreme Court

II. A new constitution (cont’d)

D. Division of powers

federalism:

1. Expanded national authority

a. Presidential powers

b. Congressional powers

c. Supremacy of national over state legislation

2. Remaining areas of state power

E. Separation of powers; checks and balances

II. A new constitution (cont’d)

F. The slavery question

1. Controversy over

2. Outcomes

a. Absence of mention in constitution

b. Slave trade clause-1808

c. Fugitive slave clause

d. Three-fifths clause

G. Conclusion of Constitutional Convention

1. Approval of final draft

2. Transmission to states for ratification

Ratification of Constitution

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Web

III. Ratification was NOT certainA. Federalists

1. Mobilization

a. Leadership of Madison, Hamilton, Jay; The Federalist

b. Support among urban and commercial agricultural interests

2. Positions

a. Strong national government as guarantor of liberty

b. Urgency of balancing democracy and property rights

c. Securing rights by “extending the sphere”

d. “Liberal” self-interest over “republican” virtue

III. Ratification debate

B. Anti-Federalists1. Mobilization

a. Diffuse leadershipb. Support among small farmers, state politicians

2. Positionsa. Strong national government as threat to liberty

i. Specter of domination by elite interestsii. Specter of denial of rights

b. Locally based democracy over “extended sphere”

C. Ratification: By 1788, 9 states had ratified

III. Bill of RightsD. Impetus behind

1. Key provisions

1. 6.

2. 7.

3. 8.

4. 9.

5. 10.

“unalienable rights”

2. Significance and legacy

IV. National identity-“We the People”

A. Ethnic vs. civil criteriaB. Indians in the new nation

1. Conflicting approaches of white Americansa. Exclusionb. Incorporation

2. Early national policiesa. Marginalization of Indians in constitutionb. Appropriation of Indian lands under treaty systemc. Ohio Valley conflicts and Treaty of Greenville

i. Indian relinquishment of Ohio and Indiana landsii. Establishment of “annuity system”

d. Program to encourage American-style agriculturei. Prescriptions for “male” and “female” laborii. Widespread rejection by tribes

IV. National identityC. Blacks in the new nation

1. Access to rights of citizenshipa. Ambiguous status of free blacksb. Unambiguous exclusion of enslaved

blacksc. Explicit denial of black eligibility for

naturalization2. Growing view of blacks as inassimilable

a. Hector St. John Crèvecoeur’s Letters from an American Farmer-melting pot,1/5 black

b. Thomas Jefferson’s Notes on the State of Virginia

Discussion Questions

• Analyze the Articles of Confederation. What issues did they fail to address?

• Examine the causes and consequences of Shay’s Rebellion.

• How did the Northwest Ordinance affect the lives of natives and Americans?

• Compare the plans presented at the Constitutional Convention. What compromise was finally adapted?