5. Founding the Republic, 1776-1789 Flashcards
1
Q
- How were the Articles of Confederation created?
A
In June of 1776, Congress created a 13 man committee (one from each state) to draw up a constitution.
2
Q
- What did the Articles of Confederation propose as a system of government?
A
A congress as a central government where each state had one vote and delegations of 2 to 7 men.
3
Q
- What powers did Congress have under the Articles?
A
- Declare war.
- Raise an army/navy
- Borrow and issue money
- Conclude treaties and alliances
- Apportion expenses between states
- Settle boundary disputes
- Regulate Native American affairs
- Ask for money and men from states during war
- Set weights and measures and establish a post office
4
Q
- Why was the process of ratification of the Articles so difficult?
A
Due to disputes over Western lands
5
Q
- Name five economic problems that America faced after the revolutionary war?
A
- British blockade and leaving the mercantilist system damaged American exports
- Hyperinflation caused by issuing paper money
- Large numbers of merchant ships seized by British Navy
- New England fishing industry temporarily destroyed
- Large migration of slaves seeking British protection disrupted Southern plantations
6
Q
- Why was there no attempt made to promote social equality after the revolutionary war? NO ANSWER
A
7
Q
- Why was there little unification between the colonies after the revolutionary war?
A
- Most states had fought the British to maintain their own internal affairs
- Distrust of central authority
- Americans thought of themselves by their states first, then as an American.
8
Q
- What was taken for granted before 1775? Why did this change?
A
Slavery had been ‘taken for granted’ as a natural part of American society.
- This changed due to the revolution’s focus on human liberty and the declaration’s idea of ‘all men created equal’.
9
Q
- What effect did the war have on the attitudes of Black slaves?
A
- The presence of a free Black community within America showed a possible free future within America.
- Increased confidence to work for freedom e.g several slaves took cases to court in MA over the 1780 constitution which declared ‘all men are free’.
10
Q
- Which side, Britain or America, offered the best prospects for freedom after the war?
A
- Britain promised ‘full security’ in the British side ‘to follow an occupation thought proper’.
- Some ex slaves given freedom in Nova Scotia, some absorbed into British army, most resettled in the West Indies.
11
Q
- What was proclaimed by General Clinton and why was it significant?
A
- Any slaves captured on the American side would be sold.
- Any slaves who joined the British were promised ‘full security’ in the British side ‘to follow an occupation thought proper’.
- This gave an incentive to be a loyalist
12
Q
- Why in some cases were Black slaves allowed to fight, and why did Washington end up allowing Black men to fight?
A
- In times of crisis, New England allowed Black men to fight in militias.
- Washington eventually allowed Black men to serve due to extreme manpower shortages.
13
Q
- Who were one of the first groups to begin openly denouncing slavery?
A
Quakers
14
Q
- Where was there the most opposition to slavery in 1776?
A
New England, almost no slave population and almost no economic dependence on the institution of slavery.
15
Q
- What law was passed in 1783 regarding slavery?
A
Manumission laws which allowed owners to free slaves.
16
Q
- What trend increased after 1783?
A
The freeing of slaves in the South, mostly children of enslaved women.
17
Q
- Who banned the transatlantic slave trade? Why was this ill-motivated?
A
Virginia and Maryland in 1778 and 1783, they hoped to maintain the value of existing slaves
18
Q
- Names the two policies relating to Western lands under the Articles? When were they passed?
A
- Land Ordinance 1785
2. Northwest Ordinance 1787
19
Q
19b. Explain the two Western Land policies passed under the articles.
A
- Land Ordinance 1785: Created a surveying system for the sale of Northwest land.
- Northwest Ordinance 1787: Created a set of procedures for admitting new territories to statehood.
20
Q
- Why was a coherent policy on Western lands needed?
A
Populations in Western territories were increasing rapidly
- There was also a fear these areas could declare independence from America
21
Q
- What issues arose with foreign policy with Britain under the AOC?
A
- Britain was still clinging to frontier forts it had promised to evacuate, blaming America’s failure to restore loyalist property.
- Britain refused to negotiate a treaty until congress could implement the treaty on states.
22
Q
- What issues arose with foreign policy with Spain under the AOC?
A
- Jay initiated a treaty which would give up American use of the Mississippi, this alienated Western states who proposed an independent Western union.
23
Q
- List some problems with the American post-war economy.
A
- Debt to Britain, large imports and low exports
- Specie flow outside America
- Control over commercial matters retained by states
24
Q
- List some positive aspects of the American post-war economy.
A
- Population growth from 2.75 mil to 4 mil 1780 to 1790
- Western expansion
- New markets available in Europe and the Far East
- Interstate trade increased
- British trade restrictions could be easily evaded.
25
Q
- How much debt did America owe in 1783? What were the two parts?
A
$41 million
- $8 mil foriegn debt
- $33 mil domestic debt
26
Q
- What happened at Newburgh over the Winter of 1782-3?
A
Soldiers, upset about lack of pay and pensions, met to make their demands.
- Possibility of a coup was diffused by Washington.
27
Q
- What role did Robert Morris play in the financial system from 1781?
A
- Superintendent of finance
28
Q
- What was the financial situation by 1787?
A
- National gov had requisitioned over $15 mil from states, only $2.5 mil was paid.
- Western lands were the gov’s only source of income, but yielded $760,000 by 1788.
29
Q
- Why did debtors and creditors come into conflict within the states?
A
- Debtors demanded an increase in paper money to pay their debts
- Creditors opposed this because it would cause inflation and reduce the value of their credit.
- Issue exacerbated by heavy state taxes.
30
Q
- By the late 1780s why did it seem that debtors were winning political control?
A
- By 1787, several states were issuing paper money.
- Rhode island was a worrying example where creditors were compelled to accept paper money, paper money depreciated quickly and creditors fled the State.
31
Q
- Give some examples of how the financial problems during the 1780s led to social tensions.
A
- In September 1786, New Hampshire went back on its promise to issue paper money and hundreds of farmers threatened the assembly. 2000 militia men were called out.
- Similar disturbances in Vermont, Pennsylvania, New York and Virginia.
32
Q
- Why were many Americans (Like Washington) dissatisfied with the AoC by the mid 1780s?
A
- Upset at the powerlessness of the national government in commercial and foreign affairs.
- Creditors wanted a national government that would put an end to the issuing of paper money.
- General fear of articles’ weakness leading to disentigration and chaos.
33
Q
- Give reasons for growth of national consciousness in the 1780s, and examples of it happening.
A
The war mixed different states in the army and produced national heroes and shrines.
- Congress adopted the Stars and Stripes in 1777.
- Bald eagle added to the Great Seal in 1782.
34
Q
- Give examples of men who were inspired by nationalism and wanted a unified republic that would command respect of the world.
A
- Alexander Hamilton
- James Madison
- George Washington
35
Q
- What were the ideas of conservative nationalists?
A
- Popular sovereignty
- Lacked faith in general population to exercise judgement
- Felt State governments had excess democracy
- Favoured a strong national government where power was in the hands of wealthy and educated men.
36
Q
- Why did many Americans believe the AoC was working reasonably well?
A
- The AoC won the war and gained America’s independence.
- State governments were now more responsive to people.
- A strong central government could replicate the British government.
- Most people equated local self-government with personal liberty.
- Most state governments were competent enough for the time.
37
Q
- What examples of interstate disharmony were there in the 1780s?
A
- Differences in tariffs and import duties compared to other states
- Some boundary disputes, especially that between Virginia and Maryland over the Potomac river.
38
Q
- Why was the Virginia and Maryland agreement of 1785 significant?
A
- An early example of state co-operation.
- At the meeting they also suggested further interstate collaboration on financial and customs policies.
- Spurred James Madison to propose a national convention over commercial regulations.
39
Q
- What was the significance of the Annapolis meeting of 1786?
A
- Brought together men from various states who all agreed on a need for constitutional reform.
- The meeting also proposed the 1787 Philadelphia convention.
40
Q
- When and why did Congress approve the Philadelphia/Constitutional convention?
A
- February 1787.
- Agreed after the shock of Shay’s rebellion.
- But ‘For the sole and express purpose of of revising the Articles of Confederation.’
41
Q
- What was the influence of James Madison on the Philadelphia convention in 1787?
A
- He came to philadelphia already prepared with his lengthy memorandum on the need for a powerful national republic.
- He circulated this among delegates.
42
Q
- What was the social and professional makeup of the 55 delegates at the Philadelphia Convention?
A
- All had held public office
- 42 had been at Continental or Confederation congresses.
- 7 Present or former State governors.
- 34 had legal training
- 19 were slave owners.
43
Q
- Who were the key men at the 1787 convention?
A
- Madison
- James Wilson
- Governor Morris
- Washington and Franklin did not speak much but gave the meeting prestige.
44
Q
- Outline the Virginia Plan.
A
- Largely Madison’s work
- Two house legislature
- Representation proportional to population.
- First house elected by voters, second from the members of the first.
- States would be reduced to administrative units, with the federal government able to veto them.
45
Q
- Outline the New Jersey plan.
A
- One house with each state having one vote.
- Mere amendment of articles, but with additional congressional powers of taxation and commerce regulation.
46
Q
- What was the Great Compromise?
A
- A report of the ‘Grand Committee’
- Decided on equal representation in the upper house (Senate) and proportional rep in the lower house (House of Representatives)
47
Q
- How did slavery divide the North and South at the Convention?
A
- Southern states wanted slaves to count in their populations while not counting for proportions of taxation.
- Northern states wanted Slaves excluded for population, but included for taxation.
48
Q
- How was the ‘slavery issue’ resolved at the Convention?
A
Congress accepted a formula by which slaves were counted as 3/5 of a person for all purposes.
49
Q
- What happened on 17th of September 1787?
A
The remaining delegates of the philadelphia convention approved the constitution.
50
Q
- Give examples of praise for the Constitution.
A
- Strong system of checks and balances
- Reconciled opposing interests of small/big states, slave/free states, federal, state governments, patrician leadership/ popular sovereignty.
- Sketch not a blueprint, left much for re-interpretation.
51
Q
- Give examples of criticisms of the Constitution.
A
- Electoral college curbed direct democracy.
- Senators weren’t directly elected, and their 6 year terms allowed some immunity from pressure.
- Representatives covered large areas and had twice longer terms than state assemblymen.
- Created problems that continued until Civil War.
52
Q
- What was necessary for the ratification of the Constitution?
A
Ratification by 9 of 13 states.
53
Q
- What advantages did the Federalists have in the ratification process over the Anti-federalists?
A
Their name aligned with the morals of the revolution and left anti-federalists in a negative role.
54
Q
1b. Who did the majority of the work in drafting the Articles?
A
John Dickinson
55
Q
31b. Describe the causes and events of Shay’s rebellion.
A
- Massachusetts would not issue paper money and demanded debts in specie, Many farmers lost their land and some were imprisoned.
- Mobs began to form and by Autumn 1786, several hundred armed men were led by Daniel Shays toward a federal arsenal.
- The rebellion was easily put down by 1000 militia men
56
Q
45b. Who favoured the Virginia plan? Who favoured the New Jersey plan?
A
