Constitutional Convention: US History

Constitutional Convention

• Held in Philadelphia in 1787 to revise the Articles of Confederation.
• Ended up creating a new, much stronger government.
• Rhode Island was the only state that did not send delegates.
• Notable figures present included James Madison, George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, and Alexander Hamilton.
• Key issues debated included representation in Congress, slavery, and the balance of power between the federal government and the states.
• The Great Compromise resolved the issue of representation by creating a bicameral legislature with the Senate having equal representation for each state and the House of Representatives having representation based on population.
• The Three-Fifths Compromise determined that three-fifths of the enslaved population would be counted for representation and taxation purposes.
• The Constitution established a system of checks and balances.
• Federalists supported the ratification of the Constitution, while Anti-Federalists opposed it, fearing a strong central government.
• The Bill of Rights was added.

Washington's Cabinet

• George Washington established the Cabinet by appointing leaders to advise him on policy matters.
• Key members included Secretary of State Thomas Jefferson, Secretary of the Treasury Alexander Hamilton, Secretary of War Henry Knox, and Attorney General Edmund Randolph.
• Hamilton's economic plan aimed to stabilize the American economy.
• It included establishing a national bank, assuming state debts, and imposing tariffs to promote domestic manufacturing.
• Jefferson opposed Hamilton's plan, favoring a more agrarian-based economy and limited government.
• The Whiskey Rebellion tested the authority of the federal government.
• It was sparked by opposition to Hamilton's whiskey tax.
• Washington responded forcefully by sending troops to suppress the rebellion, demonstrating the power of the new government.

Federalists vs. Republicans

• The Federalist Party, led by Alexander Hamilton, advocated for a strong central government, economic development, and close ties with Britain.
• The Republican Party, led by Thomas Jefferson, favored states' rights, an agrarian economy, and closer ties with France.
• Federalists found support among merchants, bankers, and manufacturers in the Northeast.
• Republicans found support among farmers, artisans, and planters in the South and West.
• The election of 1800 resulted in a tie between Thomas Jefferson and Aaron Burr, which was ultimately decided by the House of Representatives in favor of Jefferson.

Early Events and Dilemmas

• The French Revolution presented a challenge to the United States, as Americans debated whether to support the French revolutionaries or remain neutral.
• Washington declared a policy of neutrality.
• The Jay Treaty with Britain sought to resolve outstanding issues from the Revolutionary War.
• It was controversial due to concessions made to the British.
• Pinckney's Treaty with Spain granted the United States navigation rights on the Mississippi River and access to the port of New Orleans.
• Conflicts with Native Americans continued in the West, leading to battles such as the Battle of Fallen Timbers.
• Washington's Farewell Address warned against the dangers of political factions and entangling alliances.

The Louisiana Purchase

• In 1803, President Thomas Jefferson purchased the Louisiana Territory from France for $15 million.
• Doubled the size of the United States.
• Gave the U.S. control of the Mississippi River and the port of New Orleans.
• Jefferson was concerned about the constitutionality of the purchase.
• The purchase opened up vast new lands for exploration and settlement.

Lewis and Clark Expedition

• Commissioned by President Jefferson to explore the Louisiana Territory.
• Led by Meriwether Lewis and William Clark.
• Sacagawea, a Native American woman, served as an interpreter and guide.
• The expedition lasted from 1804 to 1806.
• They traveled up the Missouri River, crossed the Rocky Mountains, and reached the Pacific Ocean.
• The expedition collected valuable information about the geography, flora, fauna, and Native American tribes of the region.

The Monroe Doctrine

• Issued by President James Monroe in 1823.
• Declared that the Americas were no longer open to European colonization.
• Warned European powers not to interfere in the affairs of independent nations in the Western Hemisphere.
• Reflected America's growing sense of nationalism and its desire to assert its influence in the Americas.

Early Supreme Court Cases

• Marbury v. Madison (1803) established the principle of judicial review.
• The Supreme Court has the power to declare laws unconstitutional.
• McCulloch v. Maryland (1819) affirmed the constitutionality of the national bank.
• Upheld the implied powers of Congress under the necessary and proper clause.
• Gibbons v. Ogden (1824) established federal control over interstate commerce.

War of 1812

• Fought between the United States and Great Britain from 1812 to 1815.
• Causes included British impressment of American sailors, British interference with American trade, and British support for Native American resistance to westward expansion.
• Key events included the burning of Washington D.C. by British troops, the Battle of New Orleans, and naval victories by the U.S. Navy.
• The Treaty of Ghent ended the war in a stalemate, with no major territorial changes.
• The war boosted American nationalism and manufacturing and weakened Native American resistance.

Andrew Jackson and the Common Man

• Jackson emerged as a popular hero.
• He was seen as a champion of the common man.
• He expanded suffrage to include all white men, not just property owners.
• His presidency marked a shift towards greater democracy and popular participation in government.
• Jackson's supporters formed the Democratic Party, which advocated for states' rights, limited government, and westward expansion.

The Trail of Tears

• Andrew Jackson supported the policy of Indian Removal.
• Aimed to move Native American tribes from their ancestral lands in the Southeast to lands west of the Mississippi River.
• The Cherokee, Creek, Seminole, Chickasaw, and Choctaw tribes were forcibly removed from their lands.
• The Trail of Tears was the forced march of the Cherokee from Georgia to Oklahoma.
• Thousands of Cherokee died.

Andrew Jackson vs. the Bank

• Jackson opposed the Second Bank of the United States, viewing it as a tool of the wealthy elite.
• He vetoed the re-charter of the Bank in 1832.
• Removed federal deposits from the Bank.
• Jackson's actions led to a brief economic crisis, but ultimately weakened the Bank and contributed to its demise.