AOC Keynote: The Birth of the United States - PDF
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This document is an excerpt from an address, likely part of an online keynote presentation or historical overview, focusing on the founding of the United States of America. It covers key events like the Treaty of Paris, the Land Ordinance, the Northwest Ordinance, and the Philadelphia Convention. It highlights the debates and compromises, particularly those related to the issue of slavery.
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The United States of America is Born!! What’s odd about this map? Treaty of Paris, 1783 negotiated by Jay, Adams and Franklin a two-party treaty (France is left out) England recognizes the United States as an independent nation The U.S. gets land from the coast to the Mississipp...
The United States of America is Born!! What’s odd about this map? Treaty of Paris, 1783 negotiated by Jay, Adams and Franklin a two-party treaty (France is left out) England recognizes the United States as an independent nation The U.S. gets land from the coast to the Mississippi River (except Florida) U.S. will make Americans pay back pre-war debts U.S. will treat loyalists fairly Treaty of Paris, 1783 England recognizes the United States as an independent nation The U.S. gets land from the coast to the Mississippi River (except Florida) U.S. will make Americans pay back pre-war debts U.S. will treat loyalists fairly a two-party treaty (France is left out) Now what? Excerpt: Abigail Adams letter to John Adams, November 27, 1775 Source: Massachusetts Historical Society, Adams Family Papers Archive: http://www.masshist.org/digitaladams/aea/cfm/doc.cfm? id=L17751127aa I wish I knew what mighty things were fabricating. If a form of Goverment [sic.] is to be established here what one will be assumed? Will it be left to our assemblies to chuse one? and will not many men have many minds? and shall we not run into Dissentions among ourselves? I am more and more convinced that Man is a dangerous creature, and that power whether vested in many or a few is ever grasping, and like the grave cries give, give. The great sh swallow up the small, and he who is most strenuous for the Rights of the people, when vested with power, is as eager after the prerogatives of Government. You tell me of degrees of perfection to which Humane Nature is capable of arriving, and I believe it, but at the same time lament that our admiration should arise from the scarcity of the instances. fi The Building up a Great Empire, which was only hinted at by my correspondent may now I suppose be realized even by the unbelievers. Yet will not ten thousand Dif culties arise in the formation of it? The Reigns of Government have been so long slakned, that I fear the people will not quietly submit to those restraints which are necessary for the peace, and security, of the community; if we seperate from Brittain, what Code of Laws will be established. How shall we be governd so as to retain our Liberties? (sic.) fi The Land Ordinance 1785 Montvale, NJ Woodcliff Lake, NJ Morristown, NJ Morristown, NJ NJ Highways Route 287 N/S? Indiana Ohio Northwest Ordinance of 1787 The Philadelphia Convention 1787-1788 55 Wise men 55 delegates from 12 states “A convention of demi-gods” George Washington Secrecy James Madison The Virginia Plan Drafted by Madison Proportional Representation Bicameral Legislature Lower house chooses upper house Criticism The small states would never be able to defend themselves without an equality of votes. –William Paterson The New Jersey Plan William Paterson Unicameral Legislature Equal representation The Great Compromise Congress: Bicameral legislature House of Representatives: proportional Senate: equal The Slavery Question Should slaves count towards a state’s population? Negro slaves are property. They are not free agents, have no personal liberty, no faculty of acquiring property, but on the contrary are themselves property and, like other property, entirely at the will of the Master. Has a man in Virginia a number of votes in proportion to the number of his slaves? –William Paterson (New Jersey) Security ought to be provided for including slaves in the ration of Representation. As slavery does exist, slaveholders need security. Some states have discussed getting rid of slavery, thus we must not give the Legislature the power to do so. –Edmund Randolph (Virginia) The 3/5 Compromise People who are enslaved count as 3/5 of a person (60% are counted towards the population for the purposes of representation and taxation) Other provisions re: slavery Fugitive Slave Clause International Slave Trade cannot be discontinued for 20 years (1808)
