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Republican Motherhood
Although at the time women were still not considered equal to men, there was an idea that women had a duty as mothers to raise future citizens with republican values. This idea opened more opportunities for education for women.
During the war, many women did jobs considered only for men which opened the idea of having a broader role in society and raises questions of equality. -
Articles of Confederation
The articles of confederation (AOC) was the first attempt at making a constitution for the US. The AOC purposefully created a weak central gov't because they were afraid of another monarchy. The central gov't didn't have any powers that weren't given to them by the states which meant they couldn't raise an army (this would be a problem cause Shays' rebellion), tax, and trade. This would cause inflation because all states had different currencies and printed too much money. -
Shays' Rebellion
After the war, the inflation caused by the AOC impacted poor framers greatly. A war veteran, Daniel Shays forms a rebel army with many other veterans to overthrow the government because the government never paid many pensions owed to the veterans. This rebellion was almost successful because congress was unable to send troops to help (cause AOC didn't allow them to) and local merchants had to raise troops themselves. This showed how unstable the AOC was. -
Anti-Federalist/Brutus
Anti-federalists argued for states rights and limits on federal power. They pushed for the Bill of Rights to be attached to the constitution.
Brutus(anti-authoritarian) was an anonymous Anti-federalist writer who was against the constitution. He believed we should still be a confederation (compared congress to corrupt Roman senate) and was against the 3/5th compromise. He was also a big supporter of the Bill of Rights. -
Constitutional Convention
After Shays' Rebellion and other problems (trade w/ britain, dispute with Spain over Mississippi river) shows a weakness within the AOC, a convention is formed to revise it but they soon realize they need to make a new constitution. Federalists and Anti-federalists argue over how much power the central gov't should have.
stuff i couldn't fit:
* separation of powers/checks and balances: judicial, legislative, and executive
* Virginia plan, New Jersey plan, The Great compromise/Connecticut plan -
Federalism/The Federalist papers
Federalism is where power is split b/w the states and the central gov't but the central gov't has more power. Federalists supported the constitution which included a strong central gov't.
The federalist papers were essays written by Hamilton, Jay, and Madison (Publius) arguing for a federal government. -
Constitutional convention: slavery
Southern states were heavily reliant on slaves to work on the plantations and were afraid that the new central gov't would end slavery so they demanded slaved be counted in the population so they could have more representation within house of representatives (proportional unlike senate which is equal). Northern states claim it is unfair because slaves cant vote so they compromise that slaves are counted as 3/5ths of a person.
191: prevents laws against slave trade -
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Washington's Presidency
First President of America -
First National Bank
After the revolution all the states owed money and the confederation was unable to pay them so Hamilton created the first national bank. The National Bank takes on all the debt and creates a common currency. Allows citizens to buy bonds which enables future government projects. -
Bill of Rights/Amendments
The Bill of Rights was a list of state rights attached to the constitution. The federalists said it was unnecessary but agreed to it to get Ant-federalists (who wanted the Bill of Rights) vote to ratify the constitution. Amendments:
1. freedom of speech, religion, press, right to public assembly
2. Right to bear arms, state militia
4. limit law enforcement powers (warrants)
5. (5-8) fair legal process, no self-incrimination, speedy trial by jury, no cruel or unusual punishments -
Democratic-Republicans
Evolved from the Anti-federalist party and was led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. They became the dominant party after the fall of the Federalists during the war of 1812. They were sympathetic to the French revolutionaries and argued federalists wanted a monarchy. Federalists claimed they wanted chaos comparing them to the radical democracy after the french revolution. The Democratic-republicans believed that the nations strength came from agriculture and land ownership (Agrarianism) -
Whiskey Rebellion
The Government needed money so they passed a law taxing liquor. Western frontiersmen were already upset with native american policies and refused to pay the taxes. Many of them were veterans and they attacked tax collectors.
During shays' rebellion the AOC government was unable to raise an army but with the new federal gov't, Washington was able to raise a militia to subdue the rebellion. -
Washington's Farewell Address
- Washington was aging and feared that if he died in office citizens would believe presidency was a lifetime appointment so he stepped-down.
- Sets an unofficial precedent that presidents should only have 2 terms (only broken by FDR) which was made official by the 22nd amendment (1951)
- He believed different political parties caused infighting and weakened the republic
- Believed in isolationism- against foreign alliances and stay out of European politics (was followed until WW1)
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Jay's Treaty
To avoid war with Britain, John Jay negotiates a treaty where the British can take cargoes going to France but they must remove remaining forts in America and give America most-favored nation status (fair trade). This was a very unpopular treaty but federalists supported it. This was signed by Washington at the end of his term. -
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Adams Presidency
2nd president of the US
Vice President: Thomas Jefferson (2nd place in election) He expanded the US navy. Failed to unite federalists (anti-french) and Anti-federalists (pro-french) when debating on supporting the French revolutionaries. Because of this he will not be re-elected. -
XYZ affair
After Jefferson lost the election, the French became hostile and started a "Quasi-war." Adams, wanting to avoid war, attempted to negotiate with the French. The French demand a bribe to negotiate. This becomes public and is a scandal for the Adams admin. The public already disapproves of the Jay treaty and believe Britain and France are using "weak" American republic. -
Alien and Sedition Acts
French-American journalists insult Adams as the French revolution intensifies and they lobby for a revolution. To stop this Federalists pass Alien and Sedition act to limit immigration and speech.
* Alien Act: made it harder to enter the country by giving more power to the president to deport immigrants and by making stricter requirements to become a resident.
* Sedition act: made it illegal to say false things about the government causing many pro-Jefferson journalists to be arrested or fined -
Washington Irving
One of the First professional american authors. He wrote the Legend of Sleepy Hollow and Rip Van Winkle -
Noah Webster
He was an American editor and author. He edited the first american dictionary (1828) and wrote essays on the importance of unique american literature. He also worked with Hamilton on the Federalist papers.