THE NEW NATIONAL PERIOD

John Dickenson, “Experience must be our only guide. Reason may mislead us.”

Building the New Nation:

I.               BUILDING UNION:

The Constitution of 1787

Shay’s Rebellion, 1786-7

Philadelphia, 1787

Structural Features:  Three Branches: Judiciary/Executive/Legislative:

Key Concepts:

a. Federalism

1. Virginia Plan (TWO HOUSES, BASED ON POP.)

2. New Jersey Plan (ONE HOUSE, ONE VOTE PER STATE)

3. Connecticut Plan (THE GREAT COMPROMISE)

b. Democracy

c. Liberty: we are preoccupied with rights

"Liberty is to be free from restraint and violence from others." Locke

--he was crucial in that he helped Americans envision the attainment of natural rights.

"Men by nature are free, equal, and independent." Rousseau, The Social Contract 1762

"Man is born free, and everywhere he is in chains."

d. Limited government

--GOVERNMENT MUST REMAIN AS SMALL AS POSSIBLE TO BE ABLE TO EFFECTIVELY REPLACE THE STATE OF NATURE.

e. Equality: belief in an equal chance at life

f. Civic Duty: perfect society has a price

     

II. PROTECTING LIBERTY: The Bill of Rights…

III.           PUTTING INTO PRACTICE: First Party System:           

a.     Federalists  (Hamilton)

b.     Anti-Federalists (Jefferson)

c.   Testing the First Party System:

                                    Naturalization Act

Sedition Act

Alien Enemies Act

Alien Act

Abigail Adams

“...remember the ladies, and be more generous and favorable to them than your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the Husbands. Remember all Men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention is not paid to the Ladies we are determined to foment a Rebellion, and will not hold ourselves bound by any Laws in which we have no voice, or Representation.”

Virginians could not have the "passion for Liberty" they claimed they did, since they "deprive their fellow Creatures" of freedom.