PPT05 Review – The Constitutional Movement, the Philadelphia
Convention, and the Ratification Campaign
The Articles of Confederation were meant to .
formally recognize and identify the Continental Congress as the official central government of
the united independent states.
What was the structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation?
- One house in the legislature in which all states had one vote
Unanimous decision required for any major change
Super-majority of 75% required for any change
- No separate executive branch
- No judicial branch
- No direct taxing authority
Under the Articles of Confederation how did the central government collect taxes from the
citizens of the state?
The central government had to send the states requisitions which meant it was requesting men,
money or both from the states.
When the central government needed money the amount needed was divided up based on the
percentage of population of each state and then that was the percentage of the tax money the
states were supposed to supply.
If Delaware had 3% of the population and the government had requisitioned $100,000.00
Delaware was supposed to supply $3,000.00
What was (were) the major problem(s) with the taxing system under the Articles of
Confederation?
All states at one point or another
- were tardy with its portion of the tax;
- did not send all that was requested;
- and frequently, especially toward the end of the Confederation, the requisition was never
fulfilled at all.
Why were the Articles not ratified until 1781?
Maryland refused to ratify the Articles because of the huge land area Virginia claimed as a result
of its charter from the king.
What were the conditions of the Virginia Land Secession?
- the area had to be divided into states to be admitted to the union when the population of
any part of the region became numerous enough;
- when admitted to the union those states had to be admitted and treated as equals with
the original states.
- There would never be a situation – such as occurred in the old imperial circumstances –
in which some territories would be considered inferior to others.
, - It also ensured equal representation throughout the states, old, original and new alike.
- No state would be expected to pay more per capita than any other state in taxes.
When passing the Ordinance of 1784 Virginia worked to void the claims of the ___________.
Land Speculators
What was specifically prohibited in the Northwest Territories by the Ordinance of 1784?
Prohibited slavery in the new territories
From the beginning it was clear that the changes proposed to the Ordinance of 1784 would
benefit land speculators from Connecticut and Massachusetts.
With the changes in the Ordinance of 1784 local political control of the west would be in the
hands of the speculators not the local residents_ in the western lands.
With the changes in the Ordinance of 1784 the central government paid the cost of local
government until the Western states could provide their own funding, , freeing the land
speculators from taxes during the periods of development.
What experience led Alexander Hamilton to believe the central government needed to be
strengthened?
Hamilton concluded that the main problem with “federal” politics was that the states had too
much power.
Hamilton believed the states had too much power and doubted that would ever change during
his lifetime.
During his political career Hamilton constantly worked to strengthen the Central government at
the expense of the States
Served in congress during the war Madison worked with Washington to fund the army and
constantly faced the problem of a weak taxing power at the central level.
.While serving in congress Robert Morris tried to win from the states the power for the congress
to levy a tariff.
Why had Congress ceased to function by September, 1785?
congressmen simply stopped attending.
Between October 1, 1785 and January 31, 1786 Congress could conduct business on only ten
days because of a lack of quorum – there were never more than seven states represented at
any one time during this period.
,Describe the basic problem faced by farmers during the War for Independence.
trade with England was cut off and farmers could not sell their product.
Farmers began to appeal to local (state) governments for relief.
Explain why “Stay Laws” did not work.
when the creditors realize they may not be able to recoup their money, credit dries up and then
farmers cannot farm and things then proceed from bad to worse.
Why did the government turn to fiat money during the Revolution?
Because colonial currency had been backed by British gold and silver, when the war began
England blockade American ports and the new states had no currency because they had no
gold or silver and, worse, they did not have access to currency.
Because of this lack of specie every state and the “national” government also began the
practice of printing fiat money that really was nothing more than government
Fully describe the problems with the “Legal Tender Laws.
”What led to Shays’ Rebellion?
During the war Massachusetts, as every other state, had taken out loans and sold bonds to
finance the war effort.
Not having any currency in the state treasury at the end of the war when it was time to pay off
the loans and bonds the state increased taxes.
Farmers in the remote areas were still suffering from a lack of specie caused by the war.
How did the people of western Massachusetts try to solve their problems during Shays’
Rebellion?
first simply beat and sent tax collectors back to Boston without paying their taxes
eventually began to burn the country courthouses so there was no proof of who had or had not
paid their taxes.
Describe the two varying perspectives concerning Shays’ Rebellion.
1. Many, if not most, of the “leading” revolutionaries were unsympathetic toward Shays
Rebellion.
Samuel Adams wrote that it may have been just to rebel against the laws of a tyrannical
king but it was not just to resist the laws of a republican government.
2. While they had representation they did not feel equally represented because they were
outnumbered – the exact reason the colonists had not wanted representation in
Parliament.
This led to what Madison called, “the crisis of republican government.
If no solution is found that will allow government to fund its basic functions using a
federal reform than Europeans, who had said and were saying republican governments
cannot last, would be vindicated.
, Completely describe why Jefferson was not concerned about Shays’ Rebellion.
One rebellion in one of thirteen states in eleven years amounted to one rebellion in every state
every one hundred forty three years.
What European state would not find that attractive?
He advised the rebels should not be put down too harshly because, “A little rebellion now and
then is a good thing.”
Jefferson felt people should be suspicious of and resistant to their government as Americans
had been prior to the revolution.
What was the “federalist” answer to the problems being experienced under the Articles of
Confederation?
A strong central government.
The basic objective of Madison’s plan was to replace the Federal system of government for
which the revolution had been fought with a National government.
The Virginia Plan proposed ___national legislature_______.
should:
Be bicameral (two houses)
The lower house should be elected by the people
The upper house should be chosen by the lower
Representation in both houses should be determined by population
30% of all the original delegates to the Philadelphia had left by the time the Constitution was
actually signed.
What were characteristics of national legislature the proposed by the Virginia Plan?
Be bicameral (two houses)
The lower house should be elected by the people
The upper house should be chosen by the lower
Representation in both houses should be determined by population
According to Madison’s plan the national legislature would have been able to ___________.
legislate about – basically – any important matter;
have absolute veto power over any state laws.
What was the main objection the small states had to the proposed Virginia Plan?
These small states emphasized the convention had been called to propose changes and
amendments to the constitution, the Articles of Confederation: they were not sent to form an
entirely new government.
The small states – almost across the board – stressed they would never yield equality in the
Convention, and the Ratification Campaign
The Articles of Confederation were meant to .
formally recognize and identify the Continental Congress as the official central government of
the united independent states.
What was the structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation?
- One house in the legislature in which all states had one vote
Unanimous decision required for any major change
Super-majority of 75% required for any change
- No separate executive branch
- No judicial branch
- No direct taxing authority
Under the Articles of Confederation how did the central government collect taxes from the
citizens of the state?
The central government had to send the states requisitions which meant it was requesting men,
money or both from the states.
When the central government needed money the amount needed was divided up based on the
percentage of population of each state and then that was the percentage of the tax money the
states were supposed to supply.
If Delaware had 3% of the population and the government had requisitioned $100,000.00
Delaware was supposed to supply $3,000.00
What was (were) the major problem(s) with the taxing system under the Articles of
Confederation?
All states at one point or another
- were tardy with its portion of the tax;
- did not send all that was requested;
- and frequently, especially toward the end of the Confederation, the requisition was never
fulfilled at all.
Why were the Articles not ratified until 1781?
Maryland refused to ratify the Articles because of the huge land area Virginia claimed as a result
of its charter from the king.
What were the conditions of the Virginia Land Secession?
- the area had to be divided into states to be admitted to the union when the population of
any part of the region became numerous enough;
- when admitted to the union those states had to be admitted and treated as equals with
the original states.
- There would never be a situation – such as occurred in the old imperial circumstances –
in which some territories would be considered inferior to others.
, - It also ensured equal representation throughout the states, old, original and new alike.
- No state would be expected to pay more per capita than any other state in taxes.
When passing the Ordinance of 1784 Virginia worked to void the claims of the ___________.
Land Speculators
What was specifically prohibited in the Northwest Territories by the Ordinance of 1784?
Prohibited slavery in the new territories
From the beginning it was clear that the changes proposed to the Ordinance of 1784 would
benefit land speculators from Connecticut and Massachusetts.
With the changes in the Ordinance of 1784 local political control of the west would be in the
hands of the speculators not the local residents_ in the western lands.
With the changes in the Ordinance of 1784 the central government paid the cost of local
government until the Western states could provide their own funding, , freeing the land
speculators from taxes during the periods of development.
What experience led Alexander Hamilton to believe the central government needed to be
strengthened?
Hamilton concluded that the main problem with “federal” politics was that the states had too
much power.
Hamilton believed the states had too much power and doubted that would ever change during
his lifetime.
During his political career Hamilton constantly worked to strengthen the Central government at
the expense of the States
Served in congress during the war Madison worked with Washington to fund the army and
constantly faced the problem of a weak taxing power at the central level.
.While serving in congress Robert Morris tried to win from the states the power for the congress
to levy a tariff.
Why had Congress ceased to function by September, 1785?
congressmen simply stopped attending.
Between October 1, 1785 and January 31, 1786 Congress could conduct business on only ten
days because of a lack of quorum – there were never more than seven states represented at
any one time during this period.
,Describe the basic problem faced by farmers during the War for Independence.
trade with England was cut off and farmers could not sell their product.
Farmers began to appeal to local (state) governments for relief.
Explain why “Stay Laws” did not work.
when the creditors realize they may not be able to recoup their money, credit dries up and then
farmers cannot farm and things then proceed from bad to worse.
Why did the government turn to fiat money during the Revolution?
Because colonial currency had been backed by British gold and silver, when the war began
England blockade American ports and the new states had no currency because they had no
gold or silver and, worse, they did not have access to currency.
Because of this lack of specie every state and the “national” government also began the
practice of printing fiat money that really was nothing more than government
Fully describe the problems with the “Legal Tender Laws.
”What led to Shays’ Rebellion?
During the war Massachusetts, as every other state, had taken out loans and sold bonds to
finance the war effort.
Not having any currency in the state treasury at the end of the war when it was time to pay off
the loans and bonds the state increased taxes.
Farmers in the remote areas were still suffering from a lack of specie caused by the war.
How did the people of western Massachusetts try to solve their problems during Shays’
Rebellion?
first simply beat and sent tax collectors back to Boston without paying their taxes
eventually began to burn the country courthouses so there was no proof of who had or had not
paid their taxes.
Describe the two varying perspectives concerning Shays’ Rebellion.
1. Many, if not most, of the “leading” revolutionaries were unsympathetic toward Shays
Rebellion.
Samuel Adams wrote that it may have been just to rebel against the laws of a tyrannical
king but it was not just to resist the laws of a republican government.
2. While they had representation they did not feel equally represented because they were
outnumbered – the exact reason the colonists had not wanted representation in
Parliament.
This led to what Madison called, “the crisis of republican government.
If no solution is found that will allow government to fund its basic functions using a
federal reform than Europeans, who had said and were saying republican governments
cannot last, would be vindicated.
, Completely describe why Jefferson was not concerned about Shays’ Rebellion.
One rebellion in one of thirteen states in eleven years amounted to one rebellion in every state
every one hundred forty three years.
What European state would not find that attractive?
He advised the rebels should not be put down too harshly because, “A little rebellion now and
then is a good thing.”
Jefferson felt people should be suspicious of and resistant to their government as Americans
had been prior to the revolution.
What was the “federalist” answer to the problems being experienced under the Articles of
Confederation?
A strong central government.
The basic objective of Madison’s plan was to replace the Federal system of government for
which the revolution had been fought with a National government.
The Virginia Plan proposed ___national legislature_______.
should:
Be bicameral (two houses)
The lower house should be elected by the people
The upper house should be chosen by the lower
Representation in both houses should be determined by population
30% of all the original delegates to the Philadelphia had left by the time the Constitution was
actually signed.
What were characteristics of national legislature the proposed by the Virginia Plan?
Be bicameral (two houses)
The lower house should be elected by the people
The upper house should be chosen by the lower
Representation in both houses should be determined by population
According to Madison’s plan the national legislature would have been able to ___________.
legislate about – basically – any important matter;
have absolute veto power over any state laws.
What was the main objection the small states had to the proposed Virginia Plan?
These small states emphasized the convention had been called to propose changes and
amendments to the constitution, the Articles of Confederation: they were not sent to form an
entirely new government.
The small states – almost across the board – stressed they would never yield equality in the
