Experimental Government and the Birth of the U.S.

Plan for Today Homework check

Review of the reading

John Green – Crash Course US History

Articles of Confederation Primary Source Analysis – Strengths and Weaknesses

If we have time, you can work on homework for Monday – Sections 2 and 3 of Chapter 5.

Where are we? The Revolution is over, and now the Continental

Congress must decide what’s next.

“A new government is the whole purpose of this present controversy.”

Thomas Jefferson, re: the Revolution

The newly liberated states need a functioning government in order to have a working economy.

Happy Friday! The plan for today:

Free write: How much government is too much government?

Review of the Articles of Confederation

Introduction to the Federalist and Anti-Federalist Papers

Primary Source Analysis

Freedom!

HOMEWORK: Read Chapters 5.2 and 5.3 – Answer questions 1,4, 5, and 6 at the end of each chapter.

Articles of Confederation Problems and Shays’ Rebellion

Debt The U.S. government owes people, countries, and

banks.

The country’s broke

Congress cannot levy taxes and must borrow money from the states.

As a result: Harsh taxes imposed by the states

Simmering discontent among the poor

Widespread feeling that the Revolution was in vain.

Before the Rebellion: Many farmers cannot pay taxes; Hancock (first

governor) refuses to prosecute on delinquent taxes.

Bowdoin elected – begins to prosecute farmers.

"I have been greatly abused, have been obliged to do more than my part in the war, been loaded with class rates, town rates, province rates, Continental rates and all rates ... been pulled and hauled by sheriffs, constables and collectors, and had my cattle sold for less than they were worth ... The great men are going to get all we have and I think it is time for us to rise and put a stop to it, and have no more courts, nor sheriffs, nor collectors nor lawyers.“ – Plough Jogger

Governor Bowdoin

Shays’ Rebellion! Massachusetts upholds its difficult debt laws through the

1780’s.

Fall, 1786: Daniel Shays organizes an armed resistance to the Massachusetts government under Governor Bowdoin.

Bowdoin organizes a military force to counter the resistance using funding from eastern merchants, fearing the collapse of the agricultural economy.

Now it’s merchants vs. farmers

Rebellion fueled by the inability of the U.S. gov’t to deal with internal crisis.

Mass. gov’t suspends habeas corpus. Sam Adams thinks it’s the British. Pushes for execution of rebels.

Shays’ Rebellion accelerates the need to come up with a functioning government in order to alleviate the debt of farmers and create a working economy for the U.S.

“The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure.” – Thomas Jefferson, Psycho

Debates over the Constitution In 1787, delegates from across the U.S. gather in

Philadelphia to begin drafting what would ultimately become the U.S. Constitution. Their gathering would come to be known as the Constitutional Convention.

During the deliberation, a series of anonymous essays began to crop up in New York newspapers in defense of the Constitution. Written by James Madison and Alexander Hamilton, the Federalist Papers attempted to justify the tenets of the new document.

At the same time, essays decrying and criticizing the Constitution, the lack of a Bill of Rights, and the absence of a voice of rural America. These are now known as the Anti-Federalist Papers.

Activity for Today Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist Primary Source

Analysis

Once in groups, have each member analyze a source on either the Federalist or Anti-Federalist side of the argument depending on what you have been assigned.

Then, have each group member summarize the arguments of the author, the context to which they were responding, and whether they made an effective argument or not.

Once complete, we will gather as a class and fill out each side of the T chart.

But first… Take out a piece of paper. Answer the following questions. You will then turn

in the paper.

What were the names of the initial plans proposed for the government of the U.S.?

What major piece of the Constitution did the Antifederalists push for during the debates over ratification?

Plan for Today We will continue our Federalist/Antifederalist analysis.

Once finished, get together with another group from a different party and compare notes.

Once you’ve completed your T-chart, we will discuss as a class.

Then, we’ll talk parties.

The Rise of the Two Party System The debates that began with Federalists

and Antifederalists continues.

Antifederalists become Democratic-Republicans

Federalists remain Federalists

Alexander Hamilton remains the figurehead of the Federalist movement, while Thomas Jefferson takes charge of the Democratic-Republicans.

At the time, Hamilton is the Secretary of the Treasury while Jefferson is Secretary of State.

Alexander Hamilton Thomas Jefferson

Democratic-Republicans Anti-Federalist becomes Anti-Administration, which

then becomes Democratic-Republican

Jay Treaty of 1795: drawn up by Alexander Hamilton and John Jay, then supported by George Washington, keeps the US out of war with Great Britain.

Secretary of State Jefferson and James Madison opposed the treaty due to Jefferson’s support of France in their ongoing conflict with Great Britain.

To Jefferson, Hamilton’s support of the British shows a trend towards centralized government

Two Parties

Federalists Favored a strong central government

Supported the British in foreign affairs, and preferred a British style of governance.

Support base in New England

Supported a national bank

Headed by Alexander Hamilton

Called for a broad interpretation of the Constitution

Democratic-Republicans Favored strong, independent state

governments

Opposed relations with Britain; called for better relations with France

Political base in the South and West

Denounced the national bank as unconstitutional

Headed by Thomas Jefferson

Today We’ll talk Jefferson

Crash Course US History: Thomas Jefferson & His Democracy

The Second Revolution

Jefferson’s Inaugural Address

The Election of 1800 Adams and Jefferson are at odds; each

believes election of the other will ruin the fledgling nation.

Aaron Burr runs alongside Thomas Jefferson but, due to a fluke, ends up with the same number of votes for President. The tie must be settled in the House of Representatives.

Hamilton prefers Jefferson, lobbies his Federalist allies, and secures his election.

Election cements D-R power for years to come, spells the end of Federalism.

Life with Jefferson For his inauguration, he arrives without

escort on his own horse in plain clothes.

Immediately begins rolling back Adams’ Federalist policies Eliminates the whiskey tax

Cuts taxes across the board

Eliminates huge parts of the Navy

Tries dismantling the national bank

Jefferson reduces the national debt over time through his elimination of unnecessary government offices.

The Louisiana Purchase Jefferson believes that in order to best

achieve the ideal republic, every man must own a parcel of land to farm.

When he calculates the amount of land required, he sends delegates to Napoleon to negotiate the purchase of Louisiana. Napoleon agrees, and Jefferson buys the territory for $15 million.

Not within the bounds of the Constitution

Jefferson sends Lewis and Clark on an expedition to explore the West.

Tuesday We’ll be taking a look at Thomas

Jefferson’s Inaugural Address in 1801.

With a partner, or in groups, you will be responsible for answering the three questions on the reverse side of your Jefferson worksheet.

Please answer the questions on a separate sheet of notebook paper.

The assignment should take up at least one sheet of paper.

Once complete, your homework for Thursday is Chapter 6.4, questions 1, 4, 5, and 6.

Hump Day!

Today we’ll be looking at the War of 1812 and how great Canada is.

www.vchistory.weebly.com

For tonight: 6.4, 1, 4, 5, and 6

First, let’s go over the Jefferson assignment.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=M-bC2TWTGyQ

Article handout

Lead-up to War Embargo of 1807: Jefferson places an embargo on goods

shipped to Europe in order to force GB and France to honor U.S. neutrality. Backfires.

Increasing skirmishes with Indian nations.

War-like atmosphere on the Atlantic as British continue to impress American sailors.

America clearly wants to expand westward, remove the threat of Indian attacks, and access trade in New Orleans, per the Louisiana Purchase.

The war divides Federalist New England and D-R South and West.

War hawks, like Henry Clay, wanted to prove American honor by defeating the British once again.

Lead up to War (cont.) By 1808, Jefferson’s legacy is largely tarnished. He

leaves office unpopular.

A Second War of Independence? Or a footnote in British history?

A little of both: Americans saw continued infringement on their honor by

the British on the high seas

British and Americans engage in numerous skirmishes at sea. The Chesapeake-Leopard Affair illustrated both British naval dominance and American weakness.

Britain prevents American trade with France due to the Napoleonic Wars – continues to impress American sailors because it desperately needs manpower.

Britain also fears American expansion in to Canadian territory.

The “Press Gang.” Impressment of U.S. citizens into the British Navy.

War Breaks Out June 1, 1812: James Madison asks

for Congressional approval of war.

War formally declared on June 18, 1812.

Takes place in three theaters: On the Atlantic

Along the Great Lakes

Southern states and the Gulf Coast

Lowest point in war comes when the British burn Washington.

Bombardment of Fort McHenry. Public Domain

Burning of Washington. Public Domain.

The defeat of the Guerriere. Public Domain.

Tecumseh and Tenskwatawa.

Both British and Americans are tired of war.

Sides meet in Ghent, Belgium in 1814. A treaty is negotiated by the end of December that halts the war.

BUT, no one tells Andrew Jackson, because news of the treaty does not reach America until months later. The Battle of New Orleans breaks out on January 8, 1815. The casualties:

British: 2,459

American: 333

The battle propels Jackson to national fame, eventually leads to his presidency.

War Comes to a Close

Battle of New Orleans. Edward Percy Moran – Library of Congress, 1910.

The Place of the U.S. in the 19th Century

Where do we stand? Country still bitterly divided along

party/regional lines.

Questions of westward expansion, foreign policy, and domestic security still unanswered.

Simultaneous rise of sectionalism and nationalism following the War of 1812.

The decline of Federalism

The following century will be defined by expansion, partisan politics, and, most of all, slavery.

Enduring paradox remains: liberty, equality, and slavery.