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, the Revolutionary War, the U.S. was recognized as U.S. was recognized as an independent an independent nation, but :nation, 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 holds Sovereign: he who holds
power to governpower 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 laborerslaborers
Slave 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 for American Revolution who are still waiting for promised bonusespromised bonuses
Bad economy = farms are repossessedBad economy = farms are repossessed Farmers are angry – militia called in for order Farmers are angry – militia called in for 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 b/w Fighting breaks out b/w farmers and army paid farmers and army paid by wealthy Boston 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 Extremely SecretiveSecretive
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 power Gave themselves power to tax, regulate trade, to tax, regulate trade, make war, etc. 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 making On the other hand…who do you want making your laws?your laws? The rich and educated or the poor and ignorant?The rich and educated or the poor and 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?