Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation was the initial government established by the Continental Congress.
• It preceded the U.S. Constitution and was in effect until 1788.
• It was considered a weak framework for a national government.
• Described as a "firm league of friendship" among the states.
• Consisted of a one-house body of delegates with each state having a single vote.
• There was no president nor a judiciary branch.
• Decisions required 9 out of 13 congressional votes.
• Congress was limited in its powers – could declare war, conduct foreign affairs, and coin money.
• It could not collect taxes; this was left to the states.
• Amendments required a unanimous vote, resulting in zero amendments being passed.
• The government was deliberately weak due to fears of tyrannical governments.
• It did achieve victory in the war and developed rules for dealing with the Northwest Territory (Ohio).
• It established rules with the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to create five new states between the Ohio and Mississippi rivers.
• The ordinance acknowledged American Indian land claims and outlawed slavery in the new states.
• A major downfall was the inability to collect taxes.
• States individually imposed tariffs, leading to international trade issues.
• Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts, an uprising of indebted farmers, highlighted the government's weakness.

Shays' Rebellion

• Shays' Rebellion was an uprising in Massachusetts (1786-1787) led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shays.
• Farmers closed the courts to prevent them from foreclosing upon their debt-encumbered farms.
• The state militia quelled the uprising, but it signaled the Articles government's ineffectiveness.
• Thomas Jefferson favored the rebellion.
• Elites viewed it as a threat to private property due to excessive democratic liberty among the lower classes.
• Government bondholders were concerned about not getting paid back due to lack of tax revenue.

Constitutional Convention

• An Annapolis meeting in 1786 aimed to regulate international trade led to the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
• Delegates met in Philadelphia in 1787 to "revise" the Articles of Confederation but instead created a new Constitution.
• The 55 men were mostly wealthy and well-educated.
• They desired a stronger national government with executive, legislative, and judicial branches.
• The government should be republican, with representatives instead of direct democracy.
• Alexander Hamilton proposed life terms for the President and Senate, but this was rejected.
• The goal was to protect against tyranny by both the government and the people.
• Presidents are technically elected by the Electoral College, not directly by regular people.

Key Conflicts and Compromises

• A conflict arose between states with large populations and those with small populations.
• Large states supported the Virginia Plan proposing a two-house legislature with proportional representation.
• Smaller states supported the New Jersey Plan with a single legislative house and equal representation for each state.
• The Great Compromise, brokered by Roger Sherman of Connecticut, created a House of Representatives (proportional representation) and a Senate (two members per state).
• House members (Congressmen) served two-year terms, while Senators served six-year terms (1/3 up for election every 2 years).
• The 3/5ths Compromise determined that for population purposes, the total number of white people plus 3/5ths the population of "other persons" (slaves) would be counted.
• The Constitution also contained a fugitive slave clause, requiring escaped slaves to be returned to their masters.

Principles of the Constitution

• To avoid tyranny, the Constitution embraced separation of powers and federalism.
• The government was divided into three branches: legislative, executive, and judiciary.
• Checks and balances were incorporated to limit the power of each branch.
• The legislature can make laws, but the president can veto them.
• The judiciary can declare laws void (a power they granted themselves).
• Federalism is the idea that governmental authority rests both in the national and state governments.
• As an American, one is a citizen of both the United States and of their state.
• The national government is limited in scope to certain enumerated powers.
• Most other powers, especially the protection of health, safety, and morals, are left to the states.

Safeguards Against Radicalism

• The framers worried about the people voting for politicians in favor of redistributing property.
• Senators were elected by the states, typically by state legislatures.
• The Electoral College served as another hedge against too much democracy.
• Electors were supposed to be prominent, educated men of property.

Ratification and the Federalist Papers

• 9 out of the 13 states were required to ratify the Constitution in special conventions.
• Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, and John Jay wrote 85 essays known as the Federalist Papers to convince delegates to vote for it.
• The essays argued for a strong national government that wouldn't threaten people's liberty.

Anti-Federalists

• Anti-Federalists were supported by common people and small farmers.
• They saw less need for a strong national government to foster trade and protect creditors.
• They feared a strong government, especially one dominated by the wealthy.
• They believed that smaller, more local governments were more responsive to the people and better able to protect their rights.
• They preferred state governments.