Thursday, January 13, 2011

Post Revolutionary Era (1776-1789)


1776 Declaration of Independence: written by Thomas Jefferson and edited by a committee of important colonial figures, John adams, Ben franklin, etc. declared formally colonial independence from britain, approved by congress on July 4th
1776-1777 winter at Valley Forge: washington's army settles down in pennsylvania for the winter (WTF mate) which basically sucks and lots of colonial troops die from frostbite and disease
1777 Battle of Saratoga: turning point in the war, as Colonists under General Horatio Gates defeat british troops in NY. This battle also convinces the french to help the americans, w/o their assistance it's likely we wouldn't have won
1781 Battle of Yorktown and Cornwallis's surrender: British General Cornwallis surrenders after being defeated at Yorktown, ends the war
1783 - 1784 Treaty of Paris: formally ends war, terms of which are...
britain recognizes US independence
US gains full rights over Newfoundland shipping rights
US boundaries established, north to canada, west to mississippi river, south to florida
Us govn't wouldn't interfere with british debt collectors and merchants seeking to collect debt owed to them by americans
Us would compensate loyalists whose property had been confiscated during the war (DIDN'T HAPPEN, LEADS TO WAR OF 1812)
Articles of Confederation and Constitution
1781 Articles of Confederation Ratified : couldn't tax, couldn't raise troops or regulate commerce
1783 Newburgh conspiracy: group of colonists attempt to overthrow AOC in favor of strong national govn't george washington talks them down
1786 Shay's Rebellion: Led by Daniel Shay's, massachusetts ppl revolt against debtors prisons and courts closing on property, convinces many ppl in govn't that a stronger national govn't is needed
**************
1784 Land Ordinance of 1784: usually grouped with LO of 1785, provided for territorial govn't and established process of a settlement becoming a state
1785 Land Ordinance of 1785: land would be divided into townships 6 sq miles in size, each with 36 1 sq mile sections, of which one would be set aside for education. the land was mad cheap but rich investors bought huge amounts from the govn't and resold it at high prices, which kinda defeated the purpose
1787 Northwestern Land Ordinance: no slavery north of ohio river, and provided a bill of rights for settlers
**************
1785 Alexandria Conference: delegates from VA and MD meet to discuss interstate commerce, decide to invite more delegates to discuss national commerce at the...
1786 Annapolis Conference: early attempt to revise AOC
1787 Constitutional Convention
rhode island did not attend
patrick henry, sam adams, thomas paine, thomas jefferson, and john adams were all not present
Virginia Plan: bicameral legislature, supported by large states b/c representation was on population
New Jersey Plan: unicameral legistastion with each state getting 1 vote, supported by small states
Commerce Compromise: federal control over foreign and domestic trade, govn't got power to place taxes on imports (tariffs)
Connecticut Compromise: dealt with representation in congress, HOR by population, Senate, 2 per state
3/5 Compromise: blacks would count as 3/5 of a person, also had an early fugitive slave law
Federalists: pro ratification, mostly upper class, strong govn't, washington, hamilton, madison and franklin
antifederalists: backcountry and rural areas, weak central govn't, Patrick Henry, hancock and George mason
Tyranny of Majority: power is concentrated in the hands of a few elites
Tyranny of Minority: masses could overthrow or overturn elites
Personalty: stocks, bonds "security"
Realty: land, real estate
Reserved Powers: states powers
Delegated/ Enumerated Powers: govn'ts powers
Concurrent Powers: mutual powers
Deism: it was the responsibility of ppl to learn the laws of nature as set by god, God existed, but didn't control everything all the time, ie, ppl could control their own fate. 
ex post facto laws: people couldn't be tried for crimes that weren't illegal at the time they did it (literally, "after the fact")
Bill of Attainder: take away the rights of a group for a severe crime
1787-1788 Federalist papers: published and written by James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay, pro ratification, convinced common man that not only was AOC weak, the constitution could fix those problems, specifically #10 which says a strong nat'nl govn't would be a better protector against factions
1788 July: constitution is ratified by all 13 states
Hamilton's Economic Plan
National bank
Report on manufactures, takes a look at industrial conditions of nation
Report on Public credit: US should resolve all it's debts, to build up good credit and create oppurtunities for further trade, led to Assumption Bill, which put capitol in the south if the south helped pay off northern war debts and damages
The Tariff of 1789, high protective tariff
**************
Federalists: wanted a strong central govn't, washington, hamilton, madison, jay, adams and Knox. mostly believed in elite rule, security of private property and hierarchical social order
Anti-Federalists: if a central govn't was too strong it would abuse its power, included George Clinton and Patrick Henry.