The Path to American Independence: Constitution, Revolution, and Ideals
Explore the historical journey of America's independence, from the origins of the constitution and the road to revolution, to declaring independence and the influence of English heritage on American ideals. Discover the key roles of figures like John Locke and Thomas Jefferson, and how the American Revolution was a conservative movement maintaining core principles.
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THE ORIGINS OF THE CONSTITUTION
What is a Constitution? Is a nation s basic law that: 1) Creates political institutions 2) Assigns or divides governmental power 3) Provides guarantees to citizens 4) Includes unwritten accumulation of traditions 5) Sets the broad rules for politics
The road to revolution Originally the crown left most to the discretion of the colonial governments After F and I war, Britain obtained new territory in North America Parliament passed new laws and taxes to pay to protect it Americans resented new taxes as tax with no representation Responded by forming 1stContinental Congress to discuss future relation with Britain
Declaring Independence Continental Congress met almost continuously in 1775 and 1776 In May and June of 1776 Congress began to debate resolutions of independence After 2 days of debates on the wording, the Declaration of Independence was adopted on July 4 , 1776
A Musical Interlude http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg
The English Heritage: the power of ideas John Locke s writings (Second Treatise) often called textbook of the American Revolution. Philosophy based on Natural Rights, the belief that people exist in the state of nature before governments existed. Also: 1) Natural law brings natural rights 2) Natural law superior to human law 3) Government must be built on the consent of the governed 4) Government should be limited 5) Sole Purpose of Government is to protect natural rights 6) Deep felt injustices could justify revolt
Jeffersons Handiwork Close parallels between Locke s thoughts and Jefferson s language in the Declaration of Independence. Although prominent at the constitutional convention, the concept of property sanctity was absent from the document. Jefferson altered Locke s phrase life, liberty and property to read life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness
Conservative Revolution? Revolution was essentially a conservative movement that did not drastically alter the colonists way of life Primary goal was to restore the rights the colonists felt were already theirs as British subjects
The Government that Failed Articles of Confederation established a government dominated by the states. It: A) Established a national legislature with one house- unicameral B) States could send up to 7 delegates to it but had only one vote C) Continental Congress had few powers- could not tax, regulate commerce D) Had the power to raise and maintain an army and navy but no money to do so. E) No president or national court system F) Weaknesses prevented it from dealing with problems
Changes in the States 1) Dramatic increase in democracy and liberty (white males) 2) Expanded political participation brought new middle- class to power including artisans and farmers 3) With voting power, farmers and craft workers were now a force. Old colonial elite saw their power shrink- and didn t like it
Economic Turmoil Postwar depression left many farmers unable to pay their debts State legislatures were now under the control of people more sympathetic to debtors A few states passed policies to help debtors favoring them over creditors such as force acts
Shays Rebellion In 1786, a small group of farmers in Western Massachusetts led by Captain Daniel Shays rebelled losing their land to creditors Shays Rebellion was a series of armed attacks on courthouses to prevent judges from foreclosing on farms Spurred the birth of the Constitution- need stronger government reaction and power
Aborted Annapolis Meeting In September 1786, a small group of leaders gathered in Annapolis, Maryland to discuss the problem of commercial conflicts among the states. Only five states sent delegates so a call came for a full- scale meeting in Philadelphia the following may.
Instructions in Philly.. Delegates from 12 states came with Rhode Island refusing. Told sole purpose was to revise the articles Not possible due to unanimous vote needed So- the 50 delegates ignored orders and began writing a new document
Gentlemen in Philly 1) Select group of economic and political notables 2)Men of wealth- many college graduates 3) Although philosophical views differed, they all agreed on: A) questions on human nature B) the causes of political conflict C) the object of a republican government D) people were self-interested and government should take a role in checking this self-interest
James Madison- The Father of the Constitution Most influential member of the convention Believed the distribution of wealth was the source of political conflict Claimed factions arose from unequal distribution of property 1) One majority faction with little or no wealth 2)Other minority faction had the wealth Delegates believed that any faction unchecked could be tyrannical. Property must be protected from factions Government must be balanced so no faction could completely take over
The Agenda in Philadelphia Constitution is silent on equality but many important issues on the agenda revolved around it: REPRESENTATION OF THE STATES: A) New Jersey Plan- equal representation in congress B) Virginia Plan- base representation on population C) Connecticut Compromise- bicameral legislature A) Did not forbid slavery but limit future imports (prohibited it after 1808) B) Escaped persons legally held to service must be returned C) 3/5 compromise- made sense to them SLAVERY:
The Agenda in Philadelphia- cont POLITCAL EQUALITY: A)Some delegates wanted suffrage for all free, adult males B) Ultimately decided to leave issues to the states ECONOMIC ISSUES: A) Played a key role: 1) Federalists stressed the weaknesses of the economy 2) Anti-Federalists said these claims were not true
What did the Constitution do?? Spelled out the economic powers of congress: A) Chief economic policy maker B) Power to tax, borrow and appropriate funds C) Powers to protect property rights, punish counterfeiters, issue patents, etc. Prohibited states from certain practices like: A) State monetary system B) Placing duties on other states goods C) Interfering with lawful debts FULL FAITH AND CREDIT AND A REPUBLICAN FORM OF GOVERNMENT
What did the Constitution do?? INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: A) Felt preserving individual rights would be easy B) After all, they were creating a limited government C) powers were dispersed so each branch could check the others D) Most felt states were already protecting rights
What did the Constitution do?? Mentioned little about personal freedoms but it did say: A) the writ of habeas corpus maynot be suspended unless during war B) Congress could not pass bills of attainder (punishment without trial) or ex post facto laws C) Religious qualifications could not be used to hold public office D) Treason is narrowly defined E) The right to trial by jury in criminal cases is guaranteed THE ABSENCE OF A SPECIFIC BILL OF RIGHTS LED TO ISSUES OVER RATIFICATION
The Madisonian Model Delegates were faced with a dilemma of reconciling economic inequality with economic freedom James Madison and his colleagues feared all factions The Madisonian Model states: 1) to prevent tyranny of the majority, most government needs to be out of the control o the people 2) voters electoral influence was limited and mostly indirect 3) only the house was directly elected- senators and president would be indirectly elected 4) power would be separated into a system of checks and balances to place power against power
Check this out.. Executive: A) checks legislative with veto power B) checks judicial by appointing judges Legislative: A) checks executive with purse power B) checks judicial by confirmation of appointments Judicial: A) Checks executive and legislative through judicial review
Ratifying the Constitution Federalists verus Anti-Federalists FEDERALISTS: A) James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, John Jay- writing under the name Publius, wrote 85 articles called the Federalist papers B) Defended the Constitution and called for its ratification ANTI-FEDERALISTS: A) Questioned the motives of the framers B) Believed it was a class-based document to serve the elite C) Said the document would erode both personal freedom and the powers of the states
Compromise and Ratification Federalists agreed to add amendments to the document to assure personal freedoms A) James Madison introduced 12 potential amendments during the 1st congress in 1789 B) 10 of these amendments, the Bill of Rights, were ratified by the states and took effect in 1791 RATIFICATION: 1) Federalists specified ratification to be conducted through special conventions in each state 2) 9 of 13 states had to ratify for it to take effect 3) Delaware was first and New Hampshire was ninth some six months later 4) George Washington was the unanimous choice to be the 1st president
Constitutional Change Formal Amendment: 1) Changes the actual wording of the document 2) Two stages to the process A) Proposal- by either a 2/3 vote in each of congress or by a national convention called by congress at the request of 2/3 of state legislatures B) Ratification- approval of either legislatures of of the states or by special conventions in of the states Note: All amendments have been proposed by congress Formal amendments have made the document more democratic
Constitutional Change Informal Amendment: 1) Changes the spirit of the document May be done through: A) Judicial interpretation- how it is read B) Political practice- for example the electoral college is diiferent today than was intended C) Technology- mass media, bureaucracy has grown, communications and advanced weapons D) Power of the president has grown as a result of new demands for public policy- (superpower and domestic policy)
Why be flexible? The United States has the oldest functioning constitution inexistence today The framers sought to create a document that could change with the times without sacrificing personal freedoms
Understanding the Constitution The Constitution and democracy: 1) Democratic government was despised and feared among 18th century elite 2) The Constitution created a republic, modeled after Locke s tradition of limited government 3) Major theme was the gradual democratization of the document away from elitist model toward the pluralist one 4) Today few people fear democracy The Constitution and scope of government: 1) Separation of powers and checks and balances allow: a) all groups to be heard b) the politics of bargaining, compromise and an increase in hyperpluralism- which some argue leads to gridlock
