The Constitution and Early
Republic
American History to 1877
Legacies of the
Revolutionary War
Birth of the nation in war
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Glorification of war in American memory
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War unifies the nation
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Gives the new nation a unifying mythology of its birth
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Veterans become powerful voice for national unity
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Flight of the conservatives: Loyalists flee to Canada &
England
George Washington’s stunning move
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Steps down as commander-in-chief, returns to Mt. Vernon
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International symbol of virtue
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National hero like no other Revolutionary figure
Republicanism: a radical
ideology
Danger: factions (self-interested groups)
Characteristics which preserve republics
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Independence
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Equality
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Merit
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CIVIC VIRTUE
Republican society
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End of deference to superiors
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Important new role for women: “republican motherhood”
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Slavery’s legitimacy undermined
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Slaves freed by the court in Massachusetts, 1781
Articles of Confederation
Creating a new nation
13 new republics
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Weak governors, strong legislatures
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Historic achievement
Articles, proposed 1776, ratified 1781
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Confederation of republics, as strong as any in history
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Each state, one vote in Congress
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Diplomacy, Indians, interstate disputes
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No executive: all ruled by committees
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No taxing power; requisition from states
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Amendments need unanimous ratification
Successes of the Articles
Winning the Revolution
Northwest Ordinance, 1787
Problems of the Articles
Out-of-control state legislatures
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The people tyrannizing themselves!
Shays’s Rebellion, 1786-87: Failure of virtue?
Vanishing national government
The Constitution
Annapolis, 1786
Philadelphia Convention 1787
James Madison: The Virginia Plan
Two compromises
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Senate & House of Representatives
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The three-fifths compromise
Controlling the passions of
the people
An Enlightenment document
Constructing a government from scratch, by reason
A secular document
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We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more
perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the
common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of
Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of America.
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God never mentioned
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Religion mentioned once: “no religious tests” for office
The Constitution:
Ratification
Anti-Federalists
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Republics are small
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Too much like a monarchy
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Nation would take over states
Federalists
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Revolutionary leaders support
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Coordinated campaign
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Federalist Papers
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The “extended republic”
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“Natural” aristocrats
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Factions controlled
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Bill of Rights
Creating an extended
republic
George Washington
Organizing government
Alexander Hamilton
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Secretary of the Treasury
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Strong government
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Whiskey Rebellion, 1794
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Program, 1790-91
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Report on Credit
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Report on the Bank
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Report on Manufactures
Division
Thomas Jefferson
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Preserve agrarian republic
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Hamilton’s government too aristocratic
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Placemen? Offices to supporters
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Debt a bribe to wealthy?
Federalists and Republicans
Crisis
European War
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French Revolution, 1789-93
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Jay’s Treaty, 1795
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Pinckney’s Treaty, 1796
Washington’s Farewell Address, 1797
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No foreign entanglements; “baneful effects of party”
Extended republic on trial
John Adams, 1796
XYZ Affair, 1798
Quasi War
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U.S. military buildup
Newspaper war
Alien and Sedition Acts, 1798
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Prohibited “false, scandalous, and malicious writing” against
government or President; anti-immigrant
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Federalist tyranny?
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Kentucky & Virginia Resolutions
“Revolution of 1800”
Jefferson vs. Adams again
Return to the principles of 1776
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Tone of simplicity
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Scaling government back
Federalist judiciary
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Political impeachment fails
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Chief Justice John Marshall
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Marbury v. Madison
An Empire for Liberty
Louisiana
Purchase, 1803
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Lewis and Clark expedition
Renewed crisis
The fragile republic
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Aaron Burr’s Conspiracy
Republican diplomacy
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Britain and France at war
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1806 Nonimportation Act
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Leopard and the Chesapeake
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1807 Embargo Act
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1809 Nonintercourse Act
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1810 Macon’s Bill #2
Republicans go to war
Tecumseh at Tippecanoe, 1811
War of 1812
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June 18, 1812: war!
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Disasters in Canada
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Success at sea
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The British attack, 1814
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Washington & Baltimore
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Battle of Lake Champlain
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Treaty of Ghent, 1814
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The Hartford Convention, 1814
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Battle of New Orleans, 1815
Second War for Independence
Britain treats U.S. as an equal, independent nation
Britain begins longterm pro-U.S. foreign policy
The war raises national pride
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The “Generation of 1812”
Back to Hamiltonianism
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Second Bank of the United States, 1816
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Tariffs to encourage manufactures