Politics of the American Founding Chapter 3 In this chapter we will learn about The battle of colonial powers for control of America The process of settlement by the English The break with England and the Revolution The Articles of Confederation The Constitutional Convention The ratification of the Constitution The role of everyday citizens in the founding The first battles for America Spain initially battles for control of the New World but loses control because of weakening military an ailing economy and decreasing population The colonists supported by England must also battle with Native Americans and the French in the French and Indian War England takes control of the New World The English settlers Colonists left England To escape feudalism and for the opportunity to own land For economic opportunities To practice religion freely Political participation in the colonies Property qualifications for voting Less restrictive than in England more people owned land Religious qualifications for voting Much more restrictive than property qualifications Conflict between England and the colonies Why England believed it was right Wanted colonists to help pay for the French and Indian War Colonists rejected offers of representation in Parliament Why the colonists believed they were right Unfair taxation such as the Sugar and Tea Acts Tyrannical monarch ignored colonists civil liberties Colonists believed in popular sovereignty The Declaration of Independence Jefferson was influenced by Locke s belief in natural rights life liberty and property He argued that King George had violated the social contract with the colonists The Declaration listed numerous complaints and informed the King that the colonies were no longer part of England Jefferson had to make the case why this revolution was just but others were not Life after the Revolution African Americans Still remained enslaved in the South Slave trade continued Native Americans Continued to lose land Women Lost the ability to vote and also lost the previous limited opportunities to participate in politics The Articles of Confederation Established a firm league of friendship Created a confederacy giving power to the states Federal government had few powers and limited ability to carry out those powers Provisions in the Articles A national government with a Congress empowered to make peace coin money appoint officers for an army control the post office and negotiate with Indian tribes One vote in the Continental Congress for each state regardless of size The vote of nine states to pass any measure amendments had to be unanimous Delegates selected to the Congress by their respective state legislatures Because of the fear of a tyrannical ruler no executive was created and the national government was quite weak Problems with the Articles No executive to administer the government no real leader No power to tax without states consent difficult to do anything like establish a national army without money Without money it would be difficult for the new nation to defend itself from future attacks by any peoples trying to regain power in the New World Weapons and army supplies cost money No authority to regulate commerce trade between states became chaotic because states were using their own money continental dollars were worth nothing Congress could pass laws but had little power to execute or enforce them The Constitutional Convention Described as an assembly of demigods Called to revise the Articles of Confederation after concern over Shays s Rebellion Meetings held in secret Created a whole new government Major debate remained over how much power the federal government should have Two competing plans The Virginia Plan Bicameral legislature Representation in both based on population One house elected by the people one house elected by state legislatures Single executive chosen by Congress Favored by large states The New Jersey Plan Unicameral legislature Equal representation Representatives elected by state legislatures Multi person executive Favored by small states The Great Compromise Bicameral legislature House of Representatives based on population and chosen by the people Senate based on equal representation and chosen by the state legislatures Single executive chosen by the Electoral College Federal court system Other compromises Three fifths Compromise Counted three fifths of a state s slave population for purposes of representation in the House of Representatives Bill of Rights Many historians contend that it was written only to appease the Anti Federalists Most Federalists didn t even believe it was necessary The battle over ratification Federalists Supported ratification of the Constitution Wanted strong central government Concerned about security and order E g Madison Hamilton Jay Anti Federalists Opposed ratification of the Constitution Wanted states to have power over the federal government Corruption best kept in check at the local level E g Samuel Adams Patrick Henry The Federalist Papers Written by Madison Hamilton and Jay under the pen name Publius Called for ratification of the Constitution Published in New York papers to persuade legislators to ratify the Constitution Among the best known Federalist Nos 10 51 and 78 Federalist No 10 Madison warned against dangers of factions The causes of factions cannot be controlled that infringes on liberty must control the effects of factions Effects of factions could best be controlled by a republic Federalist No 10 cont d A republic could best control factions Representation would dilute the effects of factions A large territory would make it difficult for one faction to become a majority In a large territory it would be difficult for people who shared common interests to find each other Ratification of the Constitution Required support of nine of the thirteen state legislatures Small states were quick to support the Constitution because of the inclusion of the Senate Eventually all thirteen states ratified it Rhode Island the last in 1790 The citizens and the founding Competing elites Elites weren t united in their views about a new government The rise of the ordinary citizen Development of citizenship as we know it today Three elements of citizenship Citizenship should rest on consent There should not be grades or levels of citizenship Citizenship should confer equal rights on all citizens