A Balance of A Balance of Power?Power?

TheThe Post-Revolutionary Post-Revolutionary Government: a Study in Government: a Study in

FairnessFairness

Mrs. Muench Mrs. Muench CasanovaCasanova

APUSHAPUSH

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation 1777-17871777-1787

After the After the Revolutionary War, Revolutionary War, the U.S. was the U.S. was recognized as an recognized as an independent nation, independent nation, but :but : It was only a It was only a looseloose

confederation of statesconfederation of states Not yet a Not yet a sovereignsovereign

nationnation Sovereign: he who Sovereign: he who

holds power to governholds power to govern Self-governing, Self-governing,

independentindependent

Class ConflictClass Conflict After the war, inflation After the war, inflation

and depressionand depression Trade was a messTrade was a mess Articles of Articles of

Confederation useless Confederation useless Different states with Different states with

13 different currencies 13 different currencies – disastrous– disastrous

Enter class conflictEnter class conflict

Working –class Working –class frontier menfrontier men

Bourgeoisie (upper Bourgeoisie (upper middle class)middle class)

FarmersFarmers Land ownersLand owners

Inner-city Inner-city

laborerslaborersSlave holding Slave holding

gentrygentry

Servant classServant class International International merchantsmerchants

Smaller Smaller merchantsmerchants

versus

Democracy in Democracy in Massachusetts?Massachusetts?

Massachusetts passes state constitution in Massachusetts passes state constitution in 17801780

Bans landless men from voting or holding Bans landless men from voting or holding officeoffice

Some of the barred men are veterans of the Some of the barred men are veterans of the American Revolution who are still waiting American Revolution who are still waiting for promised bonusesfor promised bonuses

Bad economy = farms are repossessedBad economy = farms are repossessed Farmers are angry – militia called in for Farmers are angry – militia called in for

order order

Shay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion 1786- Daniel Shay leads 700 farmers 1786- Daniel Shay leads 700 farmers

and working class people on a march and working class people on a march around Bostonaround Boston

Sam Adams (once a revolutionary Sam Adams (once a revolutionary himself) draws up the Riot Acthimself) draws up the Riot Act Authorities can jail anyone without a trialAuthorities can jail anyone without a trial ““Revolt against a monarch is one thing, Revolt against a monarch is one thing,

but against a republic it is a crime but against a republic it is a crime punishable by death.”punishable by death.”

What is wrong with this statement?!?!?What is wrong with this statement?!?!?

Shay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion Farmers are angry Farmers are angry

before Riot Act, after before Riot Act, after Riot Act they are Jerry Riot Act they are Jerry Springer angrySpringer angry

Fighting breaks out Fighting breaks out b/w farmers and army b/w farmers and army paid by wealthy Boston paid by wealthy Boston merchantsmerchants

Casualties on both Casualties on both sidessides

Political leaders ask Political leaders ask themselves, “Is there themselves, “Is there too much democracy?”too much democracy?”

Constitutional Constitutional ConventionConvention

May 25, 1787May 25, 1787 Met in PhiladelphiaMet in Philadelphia All but Rhode Island All but Rhode Island

sent a delegatesent a delegate Four months to Four months to

draw up draw up ConstitutionConstitution

Extremely SecretiveExtremely Secretive

The DelegatesThe Delegates Delegates were “the well-Delegates were “the well-

bred, the well-fed, the bred, the well-fed, the well-read and the well-well-read and the well-wed.”wed.”

Not representative of the Not representative of the American populationAmerican population Over 50% college educatedOver 50% college educated Over 50% were lawyersOver 50% were lawyers Owned 1,4000 slavesOwned 1,4000 slaves Three of the delegates were Three of the delegates were

the largest slaveholders in the largest slaveholders in the entire country the entire country

(George Mason of VI(George Mason of VI ,John Rutledge of S.C, ,John Rutledge of S.C, Gorge Washington of VIGorge Washington of VI

I’m hot!

Thomas Jefferson

Our Founding Our Founding Fathers Had IssuesFathers Had Issues RepresentationRepresentation

Big v. small statesBig v. small states SlaverySlavery

North v. SouthNorth v. South Framer’s Problems:Framer’s Problems:

Believed in Republican govn’t (cant’s trust Believed in Republican govn’t (cant’s trust anyone to be king)anyone to be king)

Didn’t believe in “popular govn’t “(too much Didn’t believe in “popular govn’t “(too much power to the poor)power to the poor)

Believed in private wealth (but knew the rich Believed in private wealth (but knew the rich would take advantage)would take advantage)

Result: a “mixed” governmentResult: a “mixed” government

The ConstitutionThe Constitution The best form of gov. The best form of gov.

was a legislature was a legislature elected by the people elected by the people (the poor, blacks and (the poor, blacks and females not considered females not considered “people”)“people”)

Re-elections every 4-6 Re-elections every 4-6 years to keep the gov. years to keep the gov. “fresh”“fresh”

Gave themselves Gave themselves power to tax, regulate power to tax, regulate trade, make war, etc. trade, make war, etc.

President elected indirectly through Electoral CollegePresident elected indirectly through Electoral College Senators elected indirectly by state legislatures (until Senators elected indirectly by state legislatures (until

1913 with the passage of the 171913 with the passage of the 17thth Amendment). Amendment). Supreme Court appointed by the PresidentSupreme Court appointed by the President House of Representatives was the only DIRECT election House of Representatives was the only DIRECT election

by American citizens.by American citizens.

That’s one half of one third of the new American government was directly

elected “by the people, for the people!”

By the People, For By the People, For the People?the People?

On the other hand…who do you want On the other hand…who do you want making your laws?making your laws? The rich and educated or the poor and The rich and educated or the poor and

ignorant?ignorant? With a partner, discuss your thesis to With a partner, discuss your thesis to

essential question #4:essential question #4: ““The U.S. Constitution was a document written The U.S. Constitution was a document written

by the people, for the people.” Assess the by the people, for the people.” Assess the validity of this statement.validity of this statement.

Have you changed your mind?Have you changed your mind? Why or why not?Why or why not?