CHAPTRE 6

STRENGTHENING THE
NEW NATION
 Objective
• This chapter explores the problems associated with the founding of
the federal union and how the government operated under the
Articles of Confederation from 1781 to 1787.
 Introduction
The new United States was a distinctive nation.
It was born out of ideas and ideals that were
captured in phrases that still resonate in
American culture: All men are created equal –
Liberty and justice for all – E pluribus unum
(“Out of many, one” the phrase on the official
seal of the United States)
  The American Revolution created not
only an independent new republic but
also a different conception of politics
than prevailed in Europe

 New forms of representative government

and new models of dividing power among
the various branches of government
 I- The Confederation Government
I-2 The Critical
I – 1 Definition Period
A Confederation is a After the revolutionary war
group of States that are a “critical period”
allied together to form a prevailed because the
political unit in which United States was
they keep their struggling to establish
independence but act itself as a new nation.
together for certain
purposes such as
defense.
It operated under the Articles of Confederation, America’s
first constitution, from 1781 to 1787.

The Confederate Congress was weak, it had little authority.

No courts.

No power to enforce its resolutions and ordinances.

No power to levy taxes.

No executive or judicial branch (no administrative head of

Government, President of congress chosen annually.
I-2 Finances Were Not Stable
 The financial program of the Executive head of the
Confederation (Robert Morris) failed because of lack of
unanimous approval.
 Consequence: the Confederation never put its finance in
order and the Congress ran a deficit.
I-3 Land Policy
 Western land was sold although confederation could not
make money from it.
 Plans were made through preparing for the creation of
new States.
I-4 Northwest Ordinance of 1787

● Spurred by the plans for land sales and settlement,

Congress drafted the Northwest ordinance.

● Territories were now subjected to a governor, a

secretary and 3 judges, all chosen by congress, became
States when reached 60.000 free inhabitants.

● The new States were to be admitted to the American

Republic as equals rather than treated as subordinate
colonies.
 I-5 Trade and the Economy

● The American economy was disrupted during the war

(turbulent transition because of fighting).

● But after the war, the economy recovered.

● British trade with the United States resumed in 1783.

I-6 Diplomacy

● Nagging problems of relations with great Britain and

Spain, both of which still kept illegal military posts on
American soil and conspired with Indians.
 I-7 the confederation’s problems and shay’s
rebellion (Northampton, Massachusetts
1786)

● Captain Daniel Shays was the symbolic leader of Shays'

Rebellion, which was started as a protest by
Massachusetts farmers against high taxes (inflationary
policy) and prison sentences for debtors.
● After, the Revolution had two concerns: Protection of
new industries from foreign competition and shortage of
currency owing to war debt.

● Shays’ Rebellion exposed the imperfections of political,

social and economic life in post-Revolutionary
Massachusetts and the United States more broadly.
 II. Creating the Constitution
● Political leaders were beginning to be convinced that
a strong central government was the only solution to
anarchy.

II-1 The Constitutional Convention

● By the time the northwest ordinance was enacted,

American leaders were in the midst of drafting a new
and stronger constitution to replace the articles of
confederation.

● debate started in Philadelphia on may 27, 1787.

 II-2 Virginia and New Jersey Plans

● James Madison was very ● On June 15, delegates critical

active, his plan (Virginia of some aspects of Madison’s
Plan): A separate proposals submitted an
legislative, executive and alternative: The New Jersey
judicial branches and a Plan, which sought to keep the
truly national government existing structure of equal
whose laws would be representation of the States and
binding upon individual give the Congress the power to
citizens as well as States. regulate commerce.
● Northern delegates were opposed to southern
delegates over slavery.

● It was left to individual State to determine whether

free Blacks were citizens.

● Native Americans were denied citizenship until 1924.

II-3 The Separation of Powers

● Several of the existing constitutions already had
separated powers: executive, legislative and judicial.
 II-2 The Fight for Ratification
Federalists (for a strong central government)
● Federation: A group of states with a central government but
independent in internal affairs.

● Anti-federalists (feared a very strong central power;

noticed there was no bill of rights).
● Little by little the 13 states ratified the constitution;
but the issue of slavery had not been solved.
● The constitution was a good achievement, but did not
solve the question of slavery.
● No political solution would be possible.
 III - The Federalist Era
● The Constitution was ratified in 1788 because it
promised to create a more powerful central government
better capable of managing a new republic.
The structure of the new government

● Presidency: George Washington was the first president

and john Adams the vice president.

● Department of state: Thomas Jefferson.

● Department of treasury: Alexander Hamilton (Created

a national bank (bank of the united states).

● Attorney general: Edmund Randolph.

The Bill of Rights (December 1791)
● The first ten amendments to the constitution to protect
freedom of religion, the press, speech and assembly; the
right to keep and bear arms.

IV. Hamilton’s Financial Vision

● Alexander Hamilton wanted a capitalistic orientation to
encourage investment and entrepreneurship.

● Alexander Hamilton’s controversial financial ideas

provided the foundation of the political party known as The
Federalists; in opposition were James Madison and Thomas
Jefferson who took the name of Republicans or the
Democratic Republicans.
V. Foreign and Domestic Crises

● Jefferson supported the French Revolution.

● Vice President John Adams was against it and

said it had become barbarous.

● Internally, Whiskey rebellion (in western

Pennsylvania 1791); groups of farmers rebelled
against taxes on Whiskey (liquors) which they
believed was unfair.
VI. Transfer of Power
Washington’s Farewell
● By 1791 President Washington had decided that
two terms in office were enough.

The Election of 1796

● The election of 1796 was the first partisan
election for President. John Adams beat Alexander
Hamilton.
VII. The Adams Administration

Two acts were voted

● Alien Act: President could expel or imprison every
alien or those considered dangerous out of the
country at will.
● Sedition Act (Sedition- Activities aimed at weakening
the established government).

● In 1800 there was a new election Thomas Jefferson won

and became the third President.
 Focus Questions
1) What is the difference between a Confederation and a
Federation?
2) What is the Constitution?
3) What are the strengths and weaknesses of the articles of
Confederation? How did they contribute to the creation of a
new U.S. constitution for the new nation?
4) What were the debates surrounding the ratification of the
Constitution? How were they resolved?
5) In what ways did the Federalists’ vision for the United States
differ from that of their republican opponents during the
1700s?
THANK YOU
DR ETTIEN