North America After the
Treaty of Paris, 1783
1) Stimulated American manufacturing
 2) runaway inflation in many states
 3) still a nation of farmers
 4) Egalitarian sentiments challenged the
institution of slavery, but the fight over
slavery would have fractured the fragile
national unity.
Was it really a revolution?
Life went on the same for most people!
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Most new state constitutions
 were written documents.
 Based on rule of law.
 Required elections.
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Two great principles of republicanism:
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Role of women: “Republican Motherhood”
(1) legitimate government based on the consent of the
governed;
(2) government power should be limited!
◦ Abigail Adams call to “remember the ladies” goes
unheeded
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A written constitution.
Government during war
Negotiated the Treaty of
Paris with Britain in 1783
Land Ordinance 1785organized the land for
sale
Northwest Ordinance of
1787- set up procedure
for bringing states into
the union and outlawed
slavery in region
Map of the land settled in the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
5
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But, designed to be weak,
◦ no power to regulate commerce (always worried
about money!)
◦ A unicameral Congress
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◦ [9 of 13 votes to pass a law].
13 out of 13 to amend.
Representatives were frequently absent.
Could not tax or raise armies.
No executive or judicial branches.
STATES WERE SOVEREIGN!
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Needed to do something about the Articles!
GOAL  address barriers that limited trade and
commerce between the states. (again…money!)
Not enough states were represented to make any
real progress; 5 states only![NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA]
Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of
all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine
areas broader than just trade and commerce.
Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7
 In the
meantime…
 Daniel Shays
 Western MA
 Small farmers
angered by
crushing debts
and taxes.
 Popular
Sovereignty
 Federalism
 Rule of Law
 Separation of Powers
 Checks and Balances
 Judicial Review
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Most of the delegates were:
well-to do and lawyers
appointed by state legislatures
experienced in writing state constitutions
Met in Philadelphia, PA—MAY, 1787
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Delegates wanted to restrain misguided
democracy or “mob rule”
Branches of government:
◦ Legislative-bicameral; based on population and
equality (Result of the Great Compromise between
the Virginia Plan and the New Jersey Plan)
◦ Executive-electoral college
◦ Judicial-appointed for life
Slavery as to representation and taxation;
called the 3/5 compromise (end of slave
trade in 20 years)
“Representatives and direct Taxes shall be
apportioned among the several States which may be
included within this Union, according to their
respective Numbers, which shall be determined by
adding to the whole Number of free Persons,
including those bound to Service for a Term of Years,
and excluding Indians not taxed, three fifths of all
other Persons. The actual Enumeration shall be made
within three Years after the first Meeting of the
Congress of the United States, and within every
subsequent Term of ten Years, in such Manner as
they shall by Law direct…”
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Article VI—Supreme law of the land when
ratified by 9 of the 13 states
Absence of a Bill of Rights alarmed the antifederalists. James Madison “Father of the
Constitution”) promised to add once the new
congress met
The Federalist Papers are a series of 85
articles and essays by Alexander Hamilton,
James Madison, and John Jay to promote the
Constitution.
The Federalist Essays win the day!
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Read the excerpts from the Federalists Papers
Summarize their arguments for the passage
of the Constitution
Then infer the Anti-Federalists’ objections or
concerns about the Constitution.