demands for stronger government Flashcards
interstate disharmony
sectional animosity remained a problem in relation to levying tariffs
- from 1782 to 1785, all states except new jersey placed duties on imports, affecting both interstate and foreign commerce, for the purpose of raising revenue
- by 1786, new york and pennsylvania had increased import duties to make them protective
virginia and maryland agreement
dispute between maryland and virginia over navigation on potomac river
1784 - james madison proposed that commissioners from the 2 states meet to negotiate a solution. met at washington’s mount vernon estate in 1785 and reached an agreement
suggested that states should cooperate on financial and customs policy and recommended that an appeal should be made to pennsylvania to join in future deliberations on matters of common interest
annapolis meeting
september 1786
12 men representing new york, new jersey , pennsylvania, delaware and virginia met in annapolis to discuss commercial problems
a meeting of such an unrepresentative body could not propose reforms with any credibility
agreed on the need for constitutional change
most realised that it was impractical to hope for amendments to the articles by congressional actions
only be amended to unanimous agreement of all 13 states
the meeting proposed that a convention of all the states should be held in philadelphia to redraft the artcles
jay’s treaty with spain
initiated a treaty with spain whereby in return for limited access to spanish markets, the usa agreed to give up the right to use the mississippi for 25 years
5 southern states opposed, meaning the treaty could not be ratified - required 9
westerners were furious at jay’s willingness to sacrifice their interests to those of eastern merchants, some talked of setting up an independent western republic under spanish protection
james madison
outlined the need for a powerful national republic with a centralised government
virginian delegate
put forward the virginia plan - 3 part federal goverment, executive, legislative and judicial branches to prevent the abuse of power
spoke 161 times
gouveneur morris
pennsylvanian delegate
spoke 163 times
championed the direct election of the president and proportional representation for the states in congress
opposed slavery
responsible for the committee of style, represented a tidy draft constitution in its final form
franklin
supported the great compromise that resulted in proportional representation in the house of representatives and equal representation by the state in the senate
81 years old - symbolic importance
washington
unanimously chosen as president
spoke once during the proceedings but lobbied hard
the delegates
40% college educated - only 0.01% of the population went to college
criticised for being too self interested
42 had served in the continental or confederation congress
the virginia plan
29th may 1787
provided for a national legislature of 2 houses in each of which representation would be proportionate to the population
the first house would be directly elected by the voters
the second house would be elected by those among the first
the legislature was to have wide powers - elect both the exectutive and judiciary
the states would be reduced to little more than administrative units since the central government was to have the power to veto acts of state legislatures
the new jersey plan
in an effort to preserve the interests of smaller states, william patterson presented an alternative scheme providing for single legislative chamber in which each state would have 1 vote
rejected
the great compromise
all states whatever their population would have equal representation in the upper house
the lower house would have proportional representation - large states would have more representatives
north vs south
issue of slavery divided northern and southern delegates
southern states wanted enslaved people to be included in population total when allotting congressional seats but left out in determining liability for direct taxation
northern states wanted enslaved people excluded from representation, since they were neither citizens nor voters, but included for tax purposes since they were a form of property
slaves were agreed to be 3/5ths of a person for the purposes of both representation and direct taxation
committee of detail
slavery remerged as an issue during this debate
the proposed constitution prohibited congress from banning the slave trade
northern delegates wanted to end the trade
delegates from the carolinas and georgia insisted that their states would never accept the new constitution if the right to import enslaved people was impaired
some northern delegates more concerned with securing a constitutional settlement than they were with slavery, argued against interfering with the trade
some southern delegates wanted to abolish the slave trade as a shortage of enslaved people was likely to increase the value of their excess slaves
agreed that congress would not have authority to abolish the slave trade until 1808
strengths of the constitution
states could regulate their own commerce
house was elected directly by voters for a two year term
congress had the power to raise money, make laws, declare war, ratify treaties and impeach and override the president’s veto
checks and balances to prevent dictatorship
independent judiciary
