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 IndependenceIN 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 Country1777-1820

Articles of Confederation

Problem: Fear of Strong 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

Solution: Create a Weak Nat. Gov’t

• 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

•Continental Congress, 1777• Instituted to address problems left in the power vacuum following the

Revolutionary War

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• 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

Compromise to appease the South

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?