Unit 5: The Constitution and Federalism Flashcards
I. Steps Toward a New Government
A. Decline of Congress: Weaknesses in the Central Government
B. Supporters of a Strong National Government
C. Nationalizing Influences Within the Populace
D. The Emergence of Alexander Hamilton
E. The Annapolis Convention, Maryland 1786
A. Decline of Congress: Weaknesses in the Central Government
- Colonists disliked powerful central government
- Lack of respect from foreign nations
- State government lose respect as post-war Congress grows timid
- Credit sagged, economic turn down
B. Supporters of a Strong National Government
- Military men
- American Manufacturers
- Merchants, shipper
- Land Speculators
- Large Property Holders
C. Nationalizing Influences Within the Populace
- Impotence of the Confederation
- National Shame: not respected by other major nations
- States finding it hard to function as independent republics
D. The Emergence of Alexander Hamilton
Hoped to establish a government of superior persons who would be above party
E. The Annapolis Convention, Maryland, 1786
- Conference called to discuss interstate commerce
- Proposed a “Constitutional convention”
II. Framing the Constitution
A. The “Founding Fathers”
B. The Constitional Convention
C. The Virginia (Large-State) Plan
D. The New Jersey (Small-state) Plan
E. The “Great Compromise”
F. Additional Features of the Constitution
G. Philisophy of James Madison
A. The “Founding Fathers”
- Relatively young man
- Well-educated
- Represented propertied interests
- Suspicious of concentrated power
- Distrusted follies of “democracy”
- Not a revision, a complete rewrite
B. The Constitutional Convention
- George Washington chosen unanimously to preside
- Each colony (state) would have one vote on all issues
- A simple majority would carry any proposal
- Official record scanty; most information from Madison’s journals
C. The Virginia (Large-State) Plan
- National bi-cameral legislature
- Lower House: Representation based on population
- Upper House: Elected by members of lower house
D. The New Jersey (Small-State) Plan
- Retained unicameral legislature
- Equal representation for states
- Congress given expanded powers to tax, regulate commerce
E. The “Great Compromise”
- Congress: Bi-cameral (Virginia Plan)
- Senate: States to be represented equally (New Jersey Plan)
- House: Representation based on population (Virginia Plan)
F. Additional Features of the Constitution
- 3/5 Compromise: Slaves counted as 3/5 for representation
- Electoral College: State Electors: total of representatives and senators
- Chief Executive: Independent, select own cabinets
- Judiciary: Independent: determine constitutionality
- Glaring Lack: List of individual rights
G. Philosophy of James Madison
- Sovereignty flowed from people
- Federal government supreme over state government
- Separation of Powers
III. The Mechanics of Ratification
A. Changes to the Process
B. Objections of the “Anti-Federalists”
C. The Federalists
D. The Procedure
E. The New Government Structure
F. Generalizations
G. Potential Flaws in the Constitution
H. Positive Aspects of the Constitution
A. Changes to the Process
- Not simply a revision of the Article of Confederation; total rewrite
- Unanimity clause scrapped: 9 out of 13 would ratify
- State conventions, not state legislatures would consider Constitution
- Simply “Accept” or “Reject”; no changes to be made
B. Objections of the “Anti-Federalists”
- Central government too strong
- No Bill of Rights
- Mistrusted tax collecting powers
- Feared for the state government
- Representation too limited
C. The Federalists
- Better organized
- Support of Iconic Americans
- Best political minds supported federalism
- The “Federalist Papers”
D. The Procedure
- Congress to receive the document first
- Constitution then transmitted to the state legislatures
- Naming of state times and places for ratifying conventions
E. The New Government Structure
- President: Washington, Vice-President: John Adams
- Work on a Bill of Rights
- Judiciary Act, 1789: Supreme Court
- Creation of Executive Departments: State, Treasury, War, Att’y General
F. Generalizations
- Re-created England’s federal type government
- Document not conservative
- Ratification process a “Seal of Approval”
- Transformed American politics from the Local to the National arena
- Unifying, nationalizing effect on country
- Constitution oldest such documents
G. Potential Flaws in the Constitution
- Division of powers can slow down passage of new legislation
- System of impasses could lead to political corruption
- Reform energies may be blunted
H. Positive Aspects of the Constitution
- Checks, balances lead to stability
- Rescued American people from political paralysis; fragmentation
- Provided disciplined form & protection
- Emphasized a National Identity
IV. Federalists and Republicans
A. Competing Visions: The Federalists
B. Competing Visions: The Republicans
C. Characteristics of the Federalists (Hamilton, Washington, Adams)
D. Characteristics of the Republicans (Jefferson, Madison)
E. Early Problems Facing the New Nation
F. Hamilton’s Ideology
G. Hamilton’s Economic Policies
H. Constitutional Interpretation (Construction)
I. Results of Hamilton’s Economic Policies
J. Jefferson/Hamilton Political Rivalry
K. Jefferson’s Objections to Hamilton
A. Competing Visions: The Federalists
- Nation needed strong national government
- Country should be a “nation-state”
- Favored an international commercial economy
B. Competing Visions: The Republicans
- Modest central government
- Power left in the hands of the states and the people
- Favored a rural, agricultural vision
C. Characteristics of the Federalists (Hamilton, Washington, Adams)
- Belief that the elite should rule
- Favored strong central government at expense of state government
- Determined Nationalists: Aggressive Foreign Policy
- Pro-British in European sympathies
- Strongly Protestant, state-church oriented
D. Characteristics of the Republicans (Jefferson, Madison)
- Equality in politics
- Strong state government at expense of federal
- Internationalist in foreign policy
- Pro-French in European sympathies
- Individualism, tolerance in religion
E. Early Problems Facing the New Nation
- 3rd government within 15 years
- Country marked by division, diversity
- Old fears of a royalist plot
- Important offices held by political rivals
F. Hamilton’s Ideology
- Urbanized, aristocratic, favored upper classes, not farmers
- Wanted U.S to model Great Britain
- Strong nationalists and federalist
- Economic goals
Economic goals
a. Establish sound credit for U.S
b. Establish credibility for the new nation
G. Hamilton’s Economic Policies
- “Funding” the Public Debt
- “Assumption” of State Debts
- Creation of a Permanent National Debt
- Excise Tax on Distillers of alcoholic liquors
- Tariff on imports (Protective Tariffs)
- Creation of a National Bank
- “Funding” the Public Debt
Recall old debt certificate and exchange for uniform, interest-bearing federal bonds
- “Assumption” of State Debts
Federal government to pay off state debts from revolutions
- Creation of a National Bank
a. Provide loans and currency to businesses
b. Safe place to deposit federal funds
c. Help collect taxes and disburse government expenditures
d. Maintain the price of government bonds
e. Have a monopoly of the government’s banking business
H. Constitutional Interpretation (Construction)
- Jefferson, Strict Construction
- Hamilton, Broad Construction
I. Results of Hamilton’s Economic Policies
- Set the economy on a stable footing
- Embittered Southerners, leading to future sectionalism
- Fueled the bitter rivalry between Hamilton and Jefferson
J. Jefferson/Hamilton Political Rivalry
- Bitter tone, public written attack
- Hamilton: Believed Jefferson’s policies threatened security of the republic
- Jefferson: Believed Hamilton’s policies would result in monarchy, tyranny
K. Jefferson’s Objections to Hamilton
- Feared his accumulation of power
- Thought Hamilton arrogant, out of touch with rank and file
- Felt Hamilton’s economic policies corrupted the people
- Objected to his pro-British stance
V. Events of the Federalist Era
A. The Whiskey Rebellion, 1794
B. The Genet Affair
C. Jay’s Treaty, 1794 (John Jay, Commissioner to England)
A. The Whiskey Rebellion, 1794
- Heavy excise hard on Pennsylvanians
- Refused to pay tax, terrorized tax collectors
- Militia quickly dispersed rebels
- Washington blamed “democrats” implicating high-ranking Jeffersonians
C. Jay’s Treaty, 1794 (John Jay, Special Commissioner to England)
- Response to British seizure of U.S ships
- Concessions Won
- Issues Ignored
- Results of the Treaty
- Concessions Won
a. British evacuated Northwest forts
b. 1st commercial agreements with the U.S
- Issues Ignored
a. Confiscation of “contraband”
b. “Impressment” of American sailors
- Results of the Treaty
a. Highly profitable trade: U.S becomes Britain’s best customer
b. Anti-British sentiments by Republican when term become public
D. Pinckney’s Treaty (Special Negotiator to Spain)
- Spain recognized U.S right to use the Mississppi and the port of New Orlean
- Fixed the northern border of Florida along the 31st parallel
- Required Spanish authorities to prevent Florida’s Native American tribes from launching raids
E. The Election of 1796
- Washington declines to run, issues “Farawell Address”
- Federalist President, John Adams, Republican Vice-President, Jefferson
- Fierce frantional rivalries showed cracks in the Federalist Party
F. John Adam’s Problem
- Assumed office under clouded circumstances
- Presided over a divided Federalist Party
- Faced strong Republican opposition
- Overshadowed by Hamilton
- Aloof, austere, not a skilled politician
G. French Hysteria and the XYZ Affair
- Anti-Adams sentiment in France
- 3 French agents demand a bribe from special U.S Commission
- Led to outrage in U.S clamor for war with Frances
H. The Quasi-War with France
- Limited war on seas
- Expulsion of diplomats on both sides, abolished all treaties
- Congress creates Department of Navy, sees success against the French
- Close cooperaion with the British against the French
- French capitulate in 1800, hostilities cease
VI. The Decline of Federalism
A. America’s First Political “witch-Hunt” The Alien & Sedition Laws
B. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (Jefferson and Madison)
C. The “Revolution” of 1800
A. America’s First Political “witch-Hunt” The Alien & Sedition Laws
- The Alien Act
- The Sedition Act
B. Virginia and Kentucky Resolutions (Jefferson and Madison)
- John Locke
- Theory of Nullification
- Led nation into political crisis
C. The “Revolution” of 1800
- Jefferson elected over Aaron Burr, Adams
- Judiciary Act of 1801
- Key Element
- Virginia dynasty to span 25 years
- The Alien Act
Made it difficult for non-English arrivals to become citizens
- The Sedition Act
Government given power to prosecute “conspiracies” and “scandalous statements”
- John Locke
Federal government had “compact” with states
- Theory of Nullification
Acts could be voided (by states) when they broke the compact
- Led into the problem of country?
The political crisis
- Judiciary Act of 1801
Reduced Supreme Court by one, increased # of federal judges and Adams Midnight Judges
- Key elements of the Revolution of 1800
Peaceful exchange of power (election), not military action
- Virginia dynasty to span over how many years?
25 years
