articles of confederation

Articles of Confederation

One law making body called the CongressStates sent representatives to Congress

All states had 1 vote in CongressA super majority to get laws passed

No PresidentNo Courts

Under the Articles

• The Federal Government could :• Declare war and make peace• Raise an army• Make and borrow $$• Send and receive diplomats• Control Indians affairs• Est. post offices

Congress Could NOT:

• Regulate trade between states• Pass taxes• Enforce a law• Act directly or defend a state• Stop states from issuing $$$

• The Articles succeeded in making the United States legitimate –

• Northwest Ordinance 1785

• Financial Problems• Foreign Problems• Britain• Spain• Indians• Barbary Pirates• Domestic Problems- Shay’s Rebellion

The Constitutional Convention

• James Madison-Father of the Constitution• Principles of the Constitution• Federalism• Popular Sovereignty• Separation of Power• Checks and Balances• Limited Power of Government

A Series of Compromises

• Representation—how would states be represented??

• 2 Plans: Virginia Plan New Jersey Plan• Bicameral House• Upper House• Lower House

Slaves??

• Should Slaves be Counted?• 3/5 Compromise

Who would elect the President?

• Founders did not want one faction to ever be able to control and win the election

• States wanted some power• Example of Indirect Democracy• Electoral College

538 Electors—Magic number 270

Federalist vs. Anti Federalists

• Federalists Papers-Hamilton, Madison, Jay• Bill of Rights• 1st 6th

• 2nd 7th

• 3rd 8th• 4th 9th

• 5th 10th

George Washington

• 1st Cabinet• Sec of State-Jefferson• Sec of Treasury-Hamilton• Sec of War-Knox• Judiciary Act of 1789 • The Assumption Bill and the Creation of the

National Bank-Excise Tax and Protective Tariff• Whiskey Rebellion

1st Political Parties

• The Federalists Republicans Hamilton Jefferson Reading the Constitution

The Nature of ManFed. Vs. State Gov.

Business, $$$, industryLeaders: Who should govern?

• The Federalists The RepublicansTaxes

Farmers and rural lifeCities

Foreign AffairsVoters

Foreign Affairs-England & France

• Establishing legitimacy with Great Britain was a major goal but difficult to achieve.

• In 1793 England and France to go war• Washington issued a Proclamation of

Neutrality (Jefferson resigned)• France-Edmond Genet• Searching and Seizing & Impressment-England

Jay’s Treaty

• The withdrawal of British soldiers from posts in the American West

• A commission to be established to settle outstanding border issues between the U.S. and Canada

• A commission to be established to resolve American losses in British ship seizures and Loyalist losses during the Revolutionary war

• Missing from the treaty was a provision for the British to refrain from the arrest of American ships and impressment of American seamen.

• Jay's Treaty significance- tremendously controversial - Washington was admired man, but he came under sharp attack during this time.

• Jay resigned from the Supreme Court and later remarked that he could have traveled the length of the country by the light of bonfires burning his effigy.

• Most historians acknowledge the Treaty's shortcomings, but believe that it was the best that could be hoped for given America's lack of international clout at the time.

Pinckney’s Treaty

• Spain recognized U.S. borders at the Mississippi and the 31st parallel (the northern border of Florida, a Spanish possession)

• Spain granted Americans the right to deposit goods for shipment at New Orleans.

Farewell Address

• Warned against Political Parties• Warned us against permanent alliances• Remain neutral

2nd President John Adams

• Superb statement but poor politician• Had to deal with France• XYZ Affair-three Frenchmen gave the United States an

offer or more precisely a deal – the deal stated that if the United States paid France a sum of ten million dollars, then the French would stop seizing the ships that belonged to the United States.

• Infuriated America and led to an undeclared naval war with France

• Ultimately France chose to negotiate, averting war

Alien and Sedition Act

• enacted in response to the XYZ Affair, and were aimed at French and Irish immigrants, who were considered subversives.

• Alien Act--empowered the president to arrest and deport dangerous aliens

• Sedition Act-- made it illegal to publish defamatory statements about the federal government or its officials

Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions

• declared that states could nullify federal laws that the states considered unconstitutional.

Election of 1800Revolution of 1800?

• Midnight Appointments