Unit 3.

2
A NEW REPUBLIC, 1777-1800
Learning Objective H

 Explain how different forms of government developed and changed as a result of the
Revolutionary Period.
Articles of Confederation

 Unified the newly independent states

 Did create a central government (Congress), but it had very limited power
 Congress had the power to:
 Conduct wars & foreign relations
 Appropriate, borrow, and issue money
 Congress DID NOT have the power to:
 Regulate trade
 Draft troops
 Levy taxes
Articles of Confederation

 No separate executive
 Lacked adequate power to deal with interstate issues or to enforce its will on the states
 Little stature in the eyes of the world
 Led to calls for a stronger central government due to difficulties over
 International trade
 Finances
 Interstate commerce
 Foreign relations
 Internal unrest (SHAYS’ REBELLION)
 Shays’ Rebellion: group of farmers calling for tax relief & relief from debt
 Difficult for the government to put down the rebellion, led to calls for a new national constitution
Northwest Ordinance

 Established a policy for admitting new states (minimum population of 60,000 for
statehood)
 Promoted government funded public education
 Protected private property
 Prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory
 Guaranteed freedom of religion
State Constitutions

 Placed power in the hands of the legislative branch

 Maintained property qualifications for voting & citizenship
Learning Objective I

 Explain the differing ideological positions on the structure and function of the federal
government.
Constitutional Convention

 May 1787
 55 delegates from 12 states (not RI) meet to discuss revising the Articles of
Confederation
 Washington, Hamilton, Franklin and James Madison, “The Father of the Constitution”
were present
 The young delegates decided that to preserve the union, establish a strong democracy at
home and protect American interests abroad a completely new Constitution was needed
Series of Compromises

 Great Compromise-two houses: one based on population, one based

on equal representation
 House of Representatives: population
 Senate: equal representation
 Slavery- compromised over representation of slave states in Congress
& role of federal government in regulating slavery & slave trade
 3/5 compromise- 5 slaves counted as 3 people for representation
 The international slave trade would end in 20 years- 1808
 Postponed a solution to the problems of slavery, setting the stage for recurring
conflicts over these issues later
Federalists vs. Antifederalsits

 Federalists  Anti Federalists

 Promoted new Constitution as necessary to
create strong federal government to deal with
both domestic and foreign issues
 Many were former Loyalists, owners of
substantial property, and from the eastern
seaboard
 More state’s right supporters that feared a
centralized power
 Many were laborers, lived on frontier
 Thomas Jefferson
Federalist Papers

 The Federalist Papers, written by John Jay, James Madison, and Alexander Hamilton
sought to convince states to approve Constitution.
 Federalists ensured ratification of the Constitution by promising the addition of the Bill
of Rights that enumerated individual rights and restricted the powers of the federal
government
Learning Objective J

 Explain the continuities and changes in the structure and functions of the government
with the ratification of the Constitution.
Constitution

 The Constitution created a limited but dynamic central government that embodied
federalism & separation of powers between the three branches of government
Federalism

 Power is divided between the national and state governments, limiting central power.
 The 10th Amendment states: “Powers not delegated to the federal government are
reserved to the states and the people.”
 Powers reserved for the state governments:
 Governing education
 Providing for public safety
Separation of Powers

 Each Branch of Government has its own responsibilities and limitations.

 Article I—Congress has the power to make laws and to tax.
 Article II—The Executive Branch has the responsibility to carry out the laws.
 Article III—The Judicial Branch settles disputes over the laws.
Checks and Balances
President can President can
veto laws. Executive issue pardons.
Branch
2/3rds vote in Court can issue
Each of the three Congress can an injunction to
override his veto. stop executive action.
branches of
government
exercises some
U.S. Federal
control over the Congress Judiciary
others, sharing
Congress confirms
power among all judicial
appointments.
them.
Court can declare
laws unconstitutional.
Bill of Rights

 First ten amendments to the constitution

1. Freedom of speech, press, religion, assembly, and the right to petition the government
2. The right to bear arms in state militias
3. The guarantee that civilians will not have to house soldiers
4-8. Protections for those accused of a crime
9. The guarantee that rights not specifically listed are not automatically denied to people
10. The guarantee that the people and states keep the powers not specifically given to the
federal government
Learning Objective K

 Explain how and why competition intensified conflicts among peoples and nations from
1754 to 1800.
Diplomatic Initiatives

 U.S. forged diplomatic initiatives to manage conflict with Spain & deal with
British presence
 Continued presence of European powers in North America challenged US as
settlers migrated beyond the Appalachian Mountains
 Jay’s Treaty- British evacuate posts on US soil
 US pay debts owed to Britain
 Pinckney’s Treaty- Spain granted Americans free navigation of Mississippi
River
 Sought by Western settlers
French Revolution

 War between Britain & France that resulted in the French Revolution presented
challenges to the United States over free trade & foreign policy
 Fostered political disagreement
 The French Revolution started in 1789.
 began peacefully, entered a violent phase when France declared war on Austria King & Reign of
Terror began. 
 Federalists initially supported revolution but that view changed when the attitude of the
revolution changed.
 Neutrality

 Neutrality Proclamation of 1793 stated US neutrality from Britain-France war.

Spanish America

 Spanish expanded missions into California

 Supported by labor of local American Indians
 Provided opportunities for social mobility among soldiers and settlers that led to new cultural
blending
Native American Problems

 Ambiguous relationship between federal government & American Indian tribes

contributed to problems regarding treaties & legal claims relating to seizure of Indian
lands
 Battle of Fallen Timbers- decisive victory of the U.S. over natives
 Ended decades of border warfare and securing white settlement of the former Indian territory
mainly in Ohio.
Learning Objective L

 Explain how and why political ideas, institutions, and party systems developed and
changed in the new republic.
Whiskey Rebellion

 Whiskey Rebellion- led by distillers who strongly opposed the 1791 excise tax on
whiskey. 
 ended when Washington sent in federal troops. 
 strong message was sent by the government stating that it would enforce the law.
Washington's Farewell Address

 Warned against permanent alliances and factions

 European conflict and tensions with Britain and France fueled bitter partisan debates
 John Adams

 John Adams defeats Thomas Jefferson to become president in

1797
 Jefferson becomes vice president as runner-up
 XYZ Affair
 Diplomatic conflict between France & US when US envoys to France
were asked to pay a bribe for privilege of meeting with French
foreign minister (Talleyrand)
 Undeclared war with France
Alien and Sedition Acts

 Alien Laws:
 Acts raising the requirements for citizenship to fourteen years & granted president power to
deport foreigners
 Decreased number of Pro-Jeffersonians
 Sedition Acts:
 Anyone convicted of defaming government officials or interfering with government policies
liable to imprisonment and heavy fine
 Opposed by Republicans
Kentucky and Virginia Resolutions

 Drafted by Jefferson and Madison

 Argued that states had the final decision on whether the federal government overstepped
its boundaries
 Could nullify (refuse to accept) national legislation seen as unconstitutional
Washington and Adams’ Legacy

 Created institutions and precedents that put the principles of the Constitution into
practice
 Examples?
 Neutrality
 Warn against entangling alliances & factions
 Foreign policy
 Two term limit
 Cabinet
 Emergence of Political Parties

 Democratic Republicans (led by Jefferson & Madison) vs.

Federalists (led by Hamilton)
 Continued debates about issues led to creation of political parties
 Relationship between national government and states
 Federalists favored stronger national government, Democratic Republicans
favored stronger states rights
 Economic policy
 Federalists supported tariffs & national bank, Democratic Republicans were
opposed
 Foreign Policy
 Democratic Republicans favored helping France during the French
Revolution, Federalists opposed
Learning Objective M

 Explain the continuities and changes in American culture from 1754 to 1800.
New National Culture

 New forms of national culture developed in the United States alongside continued
regional variations
 These ideas were expressed as works of art, literature, and architecture
 After winning independence from Britain, Americans aspired to establish new forms of
cultural independence
 Hoped for American literary and artistic life that would rival greatest achievements of Europe
New National Culture Examples

 American printed textbooks to prevent aristocratic ideas of England from “infecting”

Americans
 Simplified American spelling
 “Honor” instead of “Honour”
 Washington Irving- acclaimed for his stories of early American life
Learning Objective N

 Explain how and why migration and immigration to and within North America caused
competition and conflict over time.
Migration and Movement

 Native Americans repeatedly evaluated and adjusted their alliances with Europeans, other
tribes, and the United States, seeking to limit migration of white settlers and maintain
control of tribal lands and natural resources. British alliances with American Indians
contributed to tensions between the United States and Britain. ( War of 1812)
 Despite this, North American migrants continued to move westward
 Frontier culture grew
 Social, political, and economic tension grew
Learning Objective O

 Explain the continuities and changes in regional attitudes about slavery as it expanded
from 1754 to 1800.
 Slavery

 The expansion of slavery in the deep South and adjacent western lands and rising
antislavery sentiment began to create distinctive regional attitudes toward slavery