🗽US History Unit 7 – Creating Republican Governments, 1776–1790

Key Events and Timeline

• 1776: Declaration of Independence signed, marking the birth of the United States as an independent nation
• 1777: Articles of Confederation drafted, serving as the first constitution of the United States
  • Ratified in 1781, establishing a loose confederation of states with a weak central government
• 1783: Treaty of Paris signed, officially ending the American Revolutionary War
• 1786-1787: Shays' Rebellion, a series of armed uprisings in Massachusetts, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
• 1787: Constitutional Convention held in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation
  • Delegates decided to create a new constitution, resulting in the drafting of the United States Constitution
• 1788: United States Constitution ratified by nine out of thirteen states, making it the supreme law of the land
• 1789: George Washington inaugurated as the first President of the United States under the new Constitution
• 1790: First United States Census conducted, revealing a population of nearly 4 million people

Founding Principles and Ideologies

• Enlightenment ideas, such as natural rights, social contract theory, and separation of powers, heavily influenced the founding principles of the United States
• Republicanism emphasized the importance of civic virtue, popular sovereignty, and resistance to corruption and tyranny
• Liberalism promoted individual rights, limited government, and the protection of private property
• Federalism divided power between the national government and the states, with the Constitution outlining the specific powers granted to each level of government
• Separation of powers and a system of checks and balances aimed to prevent any one branch of government from becoming too powerful
• The Bill of Rights, added to the Constitution in 1791, guaranteed individual liberties and limited the power of the federal government
• The concept of "no taxation without representation" was a key grievance leading to the American Revolution and shaped the idea of representative government

Key Figures and Their Contributions

• George Washington, the first President of the United States, set important precedents and helped shape the role of the executive branch
  • His leadership during the American Revolution and his presidency helped establish the legitimacy of the new nation
• James Madison, often called the "Father of the Constitution," played a crucial role in drafting the Constitution and the Bill of Rights
  • He authored many of the Federalist Papers, which argued in favor of ratifying the Constitution
• Alexander Hamilton, the first Secretary of the Treasury, established the nation's financial system and promoted a strong central government
  • He authored many of the Federalist Papers and advocated for a broad interpretation of the Constitution's "necessary and proper" clause
• Thomas Jefferson, the primary author of the Declaration of Independence, served as the third President of the United States
  • He was a strong advocate for limited government, individual rights, and states' rights
• John Adams, the second President of the United States, played a key role in the American Revolution and the early years of the republic
  • He was a strong advocate for the rule of law and the separation of powers
• Benjamin Franklin, a renowned polymath and diplomat, helped secure French support during the American Revolution
  • He played a key role in the Constitutional Convention and was a strong advocate for unity and compromise

Constitutional Framework

• The United States Constitution established a federal system of government, dividing power between the national government and the states
• The Constitution created three branches of government: legislative (Congress), executive (President), and judicial (Supreme Court)
  • Each branch has specific powers and responsibilities, with a system of checks and balances to prevent any one branch from becoming too powerful
• The Constitution outlined the process for electing representatives, senators, and the President through the Electoral College system
• The Constitution granted Congress the power to tax, regulate commerce, declare war, and create laws necessary for the functioning of the government
• The President was given the power to execute the laws, command the military, and make treaties with foreign nations (with the advice and consent of the Senate)
• The Supreme Court was established as the highest court in the nation, with the power to interpret the Constitution and review the constitutionality of laws
• The amendment process, outlined in Article V, provided a means for the Constitution to be altered or expanded as needed, requiring a two-thirds majority in both houses of Congress and ratification by three-fourths of the states

Challenges and Debates

• The balance between state and federal power was a major point of contention, with Anti-Federalists arguing for stronger state governments and Federalists advocating for a more centralized national government
• The issue of slavery was largely unresolved in the Constitution, with compromises such as the Three-Fifths Clause and the postponement of the international slave trade ban until 1808
  • These compromises laid the groundwork for future conflicts over slavery and states' rights
• The absence of a Bill of Rights in the original Constitution was a concern for many, leading to the promise of amendments to protect individual liberties
• The question of how to interpret the Constitution (strict vs. loose construction) led to debates over the scope of federal power
  • This debate continued throughout the early years of the republic and beyond
• The formation of political parties, particularly the Federalists and the Democratic-Republicans, led to intense partisan rivalries and debates over the direction of the nation
• The Whiskey Rebellion (1794) tested the federal government's ability to enforce its laws and maintain order, setting a precedent for the use of force to suppress insurrections
• The Alien and Sedition Acts (1798) raised questions about the limits of free speech and the government's power to restrict civil liberties in times of crisis

State vs. Federal Power

• The Constitution established a federal system, with power divided between the national government and the states
• The Tenth Amendment reserved all powers not delegated to the federal government to the states or the people
• The Supremacy Clause (Article VI) established that the Constitution, federal laws, and treaties are the "supreme law of the land," taking precedence over state laws and constitutions
• The Commerce Clause (Article I, Section 8) granted Congress the power to regulate interstate commerce, which has been broadly interpreted to expand federal power
• The Necessary and Proper Clause (Article I, Section 8) allowed Congress to make laws that are necessary for carrying out its enumerated powers, further extending the reach of the federal government
• The debate over state vs. federal power was a central issue in the ratification of the Constitution, with Anti-Federalists advocating for stronger state governments and Federalists supporting a more robust national government
• The balance of power between states and the federal government continued to be a source of tension and conflict throughout the early years of the republic and beyond

Social and Economic Impact

• The creation of a stable federal government and a unified national economy fostered economic growth and development
• The Constitution's protection of property rights and contracts encouraged investment and entrepreneurship
• The establishment of a national currency and the First Bank of the United States (1791) helped stabilize the financial system and facilitate trade
• The government's assumption of state debts and the creation of a national debt (through Hamilton's financial plan) tied the interests of wealthy investors to the success of the federal government
• The growth of manufacturing and commerce led to the emergence of a new merchant class and the expansion of cities
• The continued reliance on slavery in the South and the expansion of slavery into new territories had profound social and economic consequences
  • The Three-Fifths Compromise and the fugitive slave clause in the Constitution further entrenched the institution of slavery
• The Bill of Rights protected individual liberties, but its protections were limited in scope and did not apply to all segments of society (e.g., women, enslaved people, and Native Americans)
• The early republic saw the growth of political participation and the expansion of suffrage for white men, but voting rights remained restricted based on race, gender, and property ownership

Legacy and Long-Term Significance

• The United States Constitution has served as a model for other nations seeking to establish representative governments and protect individual rights
• The Bill of Rights has been expanded over time through additional amendments, further protecting civil liberties and expanding the scope of individual rights
• The federal system established by the Constitution has allowed for a balance of power between the national government and the states, enabling the nation to adapt to changing circumstances while preserving regional diversity
• The Constitution's flexibility and the amendment process have allowed the nation to address new challenges and expand democratic principles over time (e.g., abolishing slavery, granting women the right to vote)
• The principles of separation of powers and checks and balances have helped prevent the concentration of power and have served as a safeguard against tyranny
• The debates and compromises of the early republic, particularly those related to slavery and states' rights, had long-lasting consequences and contributed to the Civil War and the ongoing struggle for racial equality
• The interpretations of the Constitution by the Supreme Court have shaped the understanding of federal power and individual rights, with landmark cases setting important precedents that continue to influence American law and society
• The political ideals and institutions established during the founding period have had a lasting impact on American political culture, shaping debates over the role of government, the scope of individual liberty, and the meaning of democracy