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American Revolution Pt. 3 (Radicals (Many American's echoed Thomas…
American Revolution Pt. 3
Military Dictatorship
Without the pay, pensions, and land bounties promised by Congress, some military leaders contemplated a coup in Newburgh New York
Republican principles were threatened
General Washington acted, setting an important precedent for the American political system
Article of Confederation
Created loose union of autonomous states
Congress, the central government, had only limited power
Could this government endure??
What did the people expect from independence
Thomas Paine's Legacy
Paines writting had extolled the virtues of democracy
Boosted the morale among soldiers of the revolution
Remained an important inspiration for the people
Radicals
Many American's echoed Thomas Paine
Democratic ideology
Governments should directly reflect popular wishes
Meant an expansion of political rights
Those who had been marginalized in colonial society before the War for Independence
Conservatives
Feared anarchy
State Constitutions
Pennsylvania adopted a radical constitution with a unicameral legislature elected by all free taxpayers
Vermont granted universal male suffrage
South Carolina and Maryland created conservative constitution designed to keep citizens and rulers as far apart as possible
Economic Crisis
Post war trade imbalances drew hard currency out of the United States
Led to inflation
Repayment of debt became an economic and political problem
Debtors vs Creditors
Shay's Rebellion
Radicalism in action
Farmers rise up in revolution
Violent uprisings in Massachusetts
New National Government
National Gov could not raise the money to crush Shay's Rebellion
Instead Massachusetts had to raise it's own militia
Rebellion is crushed
Once Shay is defeated conservatives concluded it was time to clip the wings of a mad democracy
Called a Constitutional Convention to revise The Articles of Confederation
Philadelphia 1787
Alexander Hamilton
Committed to Republicanism
Framers were not democrats
Feared giving too much influence to the lower classes
Proposals for the Constitution reflected elite fears of democratic majorities and their leveling spirit
James Madison
Father of the Constitution
Understood that the new government would have to make concessions to the lower classes
Elites want to avoid a more Radical revolution directed against them
The Debate
Federalists in favor of the Constitution
Anti Federalists
Federalists promised a strong central government
Anti Federalists are wary of centralized power
Madison the Architect
Constitutional Compromise
Constitution created a strong central government but also acknowledge Anti Federalist critique
Authored by Federalists
Many aspects are actually legacies of Anti Federalism
BILL OF RIGHTS
House of Representatives
Senate
President
Checks and Balances
Executive, Legislative, Judicial