A New Nation

• Republic- citizens rule through elected representatives

• Articles of Confederation– Alliance, loose union of friendship– Federal Governments powers

• Declare war, peace, make treaties• Borrow and set up money system• Postal Service

Northwest Ordinance of 1787• Success of Articles Of Confederation

– Procedure to divide land in NW Territory• WI. MI, IL, IN, OH

– Requirements for admission as New State

– Outlawed slavery in new territory

Weaknesses of the Articles of

Confederation

No power to tax

Could not enforce the laws

Could not regulate trade

Could not be changed without consent of all 13

states

No direct power over citizens

Shays Rebellion• Daniel Shays – served as captain in the revolutionary army

• After war immediately forced to pay debts

• Lead march on courts to stop process of seizing farms

• About 1200 men march to Springfield to take state ammunitions arsenal

• State hired mercenaries to fight rebels

• State intercepted letter with plans

• Rebellion surrendered

• Daniel Shays was sentenced to death but pardon in 1788

• Why was it important?

• Proved that new government was powerless in times of crisis

• Led to the Constitutional convention

The Constitutional ConventionPhiladelphia 1787

• Supposed to fix Articles of Confederation

• Led to Creation of Constitution and new Government

Three Great Compromises of Constitutional Convention

• The Great Compromise– Two House Congress

• Senate- equal representation• House of Reps- based on population

Three Great Compromises of Constitutional Convention

• 3/5ths Compromise– Slaves counted as 3/5ths of person– Taxation and population

Three Great Compromises of Constitutional Convention

• Commerce and Slave trade– Congress forbidden to tax exports– No action of slave trade for 20 years

Federalist vs. Anti Federalists• Federalists

– Favored Constitution– Believed must be strong to solve

problems• Anti-Federalists

– Opposed Constitution because Federal Government was to strong

– Wanted Bill of Rights to protect Individual Freedom

A New Nation

• Washington as President– Warned against alliances

• Stayed neutral in foreign wars

– Did not like political parties or geographic divisions ( New England, South etc.)

– Set precedent for 2 terms by not running for third

A New Nation

• Washington and Congress create a working government

• Judiciary Act 1789– Created Supreme, Federal and District Courts– Set up appeals process

• 3 Executive Departments– Dept. of State: Sec. Thomas Jefferson

Foreign Affairs– Dept. of War: Sec. Henry Knox

Military matters– Dept. of Treasury: Sec. Alexander Hamilton

Manage finances

The Two Party System• Federalists

– Hamilton– Strong Central government– Supporters-merchant,

landowners, manufacturers• Democratic-Republicans

– Jefferson– Strong State Government– Supporters-farmers, trades

people