The New Nation

1. The New Nation Dr. Kathryn H. Braund Auburn University Summer Academy 2006

2. 3 Areas of Discussion • Debate over the adoption of the Constitution • The establishment of the government • Efforts to foster a new “national” identity

3. Focus Areas • Web Resources • Content based web sites • Primary sources on-line • Use of Primary Sources • Dissecting a document • Making History Relevant • The more things change….

4. Why Primary Documents? • Prompt students to ask questions • Encourage students to acknowledge various points of view • Allow students to discover evidence • Allow students to see cause-and-effect relationships • Encourage students to compare and contrast

5. Primary Documents. . . • Help students understand continuity and change over time. • Force students to consider and recognize bias • Drive students to determine the validity and reliability of sources • Enable students to realize the impt. of referencing multiple sources of information

6. The War of the Revolution • Overthrew monarchy • Created a republic • Republic: gov’t by elected representatives • Fear democracy = “tyranny of the mob” • Actually: 14 new governments!

7. New Governments • Guiding Principles • Ideas of the Enlightenment (Montesquieu) • Separation of Powers • “Balanced Government”

8. New Governments • Guiding Principles • British legacy • British common law • civil liberties • trial by jury • subordination of military to civilian power • restrictions on search warrants • freedom of speech & press

9. New Governments • Guiding Principles • Colonial experience • Written charters • as opposed to unwritten British constitution • defined structure and powers of government • Legislation • Establishment of precedent via practice

10. 1775-1776 • Royal governors flee rebels • New states called conventions to establish new “constitutions” or fundamental law • Authority of Government: from the “people”

11. New State Governments • Great variety • one vs. two house legislatures • various requirements for voters • One common principle • Separation of powers • Governor can’t dissolve an assembly • Independent judiciary • Lower house more powerful than upper house

12. New State Governments • Common Trend • increased participation by “lower orders” • loosening of property qualifications for voting • idea that the elected representatives represent the voters

13. Continental Congres • Central government • no formal authority but acted as the “central gov’t” • declared independence • encouraged states to write constitutions • est. foreign relations committees • created continental army, navy • printed money

14. Articles of Confederation • Drawn up in fall 1777; adopted 1781 • Weak central government • no power to tax internally • each state has one vote (regardless of size or population)

15. Why so long? • Troubles over western land • “landless” states fear potential power of “landed” states with no western boundaries • Solution • “Landed” states cede western lands (Ohio Valle) to the central government

16. Confederation Successes • Laid foundation for a unified, federal government • Established a federal bureaucracy • Managed to finance the war • Est. a national land policy • Northwest Ordinance of 1787

17. The Northwest Territory

18. Northwest Ordinance • Create 3-5 states (Ohio R. to Great Lakes) • New states equal (not colonies) • specific process for est. of gov’t as population grew • No slavery • Freedom of religion

19. Northwest Ordinance • Blueprint for the Expansion of the United States • Best ideas of the Revolutionary era • republican government • rights of citizens • religious toleration • no slavery

20. Northwest Ordinance • Blueprint for the Expansion of the United States • Worst aspects of the Revolutionary Era • Dispossession of Indian tribes who own the land

21. Despite some success. . . • Confederation Gov’t “weak” • No power to raise money to pay debts • Can’t deal with post-war economic crisis • Shay’s Rebellion in Mass. • Fear of “mob rule” • Fear of European powers • British hold posts; Spain closes Miss. R.; European markets closed

22. Plan emerges…. • Strengthen central government • create balance of power btn. state and central government • provide central government with adequate powers • idea: revise Articles

23. Constitutional Convention • Called to order in late May • Conducted in secret (why?) • Voting • each state gets one vote • majority required for adoption of a measure (compare with unanimous vote under Articles)

24. Important Issues • Relationship between states and federal government • Mixed system • John Dickinson: “the one, the few, the many” (federal, states, the people) • The people: actually represented at federal level (not just the states)

25. Important Issues • Separation of Powers • 3 branches of government (not merely one) • further division of powers in legislative branch • checks and balances • protection of rights (large vs. small states)

26. Theoretical Framework • “the one, the few and the many” • Connecticut (Great )Compromise • Two house legislature • House (People) • Money bills • Senate (States)

27. Two Other Significant Compromises • How to Elect the Executive • Electoral College • satisfied people, state legislatures, federal House • How to Ascertain Population for Purposes of Representation/Taxation • Slavery swept under the rug: 3/5 Compromise

28. Style Matters! • Committee of Style • Gouverneur Morris • Change in Preamble • Signal change in views of power • “We the People” • Little noticed

29. Problem • No Specific “Bill of Rights” • Americans fear: • powerful executive • concentration of power in federal gov’t • weakening of states

30. Constitution: Resources • National Archives • “A More Perfect Union: The Creation of the U.S. Constitution” (essay) • “The Founding Fathers: Delegates to the Constitutional Convention” (essay) • The Constitution (document) • Bill of Rights (document) • FAQs (Q & A)

31. Constitution: Resources • Library of Congress: American Memory • Timeline • Brief Overview • Lesson Plans • National Archives • NARA Digital Classroom • Constitution Day Ideas

32. Writing is one thing. . . • Once “signed” at the convention, it went to the states for ratification

33. The Ratification Debate • Pro: Strong government would. . . • preserve U.S. from foreign threats & internal conflict • protect rights of citizens • Con: Strong government would. . . • trample the rights of citizens • destroy the states

34. Bernstein essay • Launched shared political discourse • Created a national political community • Created political component to national identity • Resource: The Federalist Papers

35. Ratification • What were the issues? • The Ratification Project • Slavery Model Edition

36. Analyzing a Written Document • How do you use primary source documents in the classroom? • Ideas from the NARA

37. Analyzing a Written Document • 1. Describe the document. Is this a letter, a will, a bill of sale or some other kind of document? • 2. What does the document describe/relate/report? (give a brief summary) • 3. What is the date of the document? Is there more than one date? Why?

38. Analyzing a Written Document • 4. Who is the author of the document? Do you believe that the author of this document is credible? Is this document written as a requirement of the author's occupation or is this a personal document? • 5. For what audience was this document written? Why was it written? • 6. List three (3) points that the author made that you believe are important.

39. Analyzing a Written Document • 7. Can you discern the writer's point of view? How does the author interpret the facts presented? Does the writer's POV effect the way in which the facts are presented? • 8. What can you learn about the _________ from the document. • 9. Write one (1) question to the author that is unanswered by the document.

40. Using Primary Sources • Analysis Worksheets from the NARA • Artifacts • Cartoons • Documents • Maps • Photographs • Posters • Sound

41. The New Government • The First Federal Congress Project • Mini-Edition • Web Site

42. A New People Establishing an American Identity

43. Identity: A Shared Past • Heroes: Symbols of New Nation • Commemoration • Art • Public celebrations • Books, etc. Emmanuel Leutze, Crossing the Delaware

44. Identity: A Shared Past • Commemoration of Heroes • Celebration of Public “Virtue” John Trumbull, George Washington Resigns his Commission

45. Identity: A Shared Past • Commemoration of Heroes • Ideal of Sacrifice for Public “Good” John Trumbull, TheDeath of General Warren at the Battle of Bunker Hill

46. Identity: A Shared Past • Commemoration of Heroes • Military success John Trumbull, Surrender of General Burgoyne

47. American National Identity • Naming the country: transform the land to “American” land (from Indian land) • Lexington, Kentucky • Washington, D. C. • Montgomery, Alabama

48. American National Identity New Literature • Noah Webster, American Spelling Book • Jedediah Morse, American Gazetteer • William Bartram, Travels

49. American National Identity • Art • John Trumbull • Charles Wilson Peale • Gilbert Stuart • Ezra Ames (portrait of Gouverneur Morris)

50. American National Identity • Architecture • Classical (as opposed to Georgian)