Siteadmin, Bureaucrats, Check users, nsAm_Govt_101RO, nsAm_Govt_101RW, nsAm_Govt_101_ta, nsJudgesRO, nsJudgesRW, nsJudges_talkRO, nsJudges_talkRW, nsTeam2RO, nsTeam2RW, nsTeam2_talkRO, nsTeam2_talkRW, oversight, Administrators
125,794
edits
Changes
Jump to navigation
Jump to search
Line 11:
Line 11: − There has always been constant conflict between debtors (often farmers) and creditors (banks). Debtor’s prison: understand the financial motivation for it. <explain?> It’s wrong, but understand why it existed. See both sides of every dispute. <move this somewhere better> Line 63:
Line 62: − + Line 74:
Line 73: + + + + Line 194:
Line 197: + + + + + + + + + + + + + +
American History Lecture Three (view source)
Revision as of 02:54, August 31, 2008
, 02:54, August 31, 2008debtor's prison
==Review==
==Review==
To learn history well, you must put yourself back at that time. Think of what it might have been like. Imagine it. See both sides of the Boston Massacre, for example. What were British soldiers doing there? Maybe it was reasonable to object to their presence.
To learn history well, you must put yourself back at that time. Think of what it might have been like. Imagine it. See both sides of the Boston Massacre, for example. What were British soldiers doing there? Maybe it was reasonable to object to their presence.
Across the sea in the Mediterranean, American trade was interrupted by pirates. Previously, America had been protected from the pirates by England, but now was obliged to pay its own way. But the government had no money to bribe or fight the pirates.
Across the sea in the Mediterranean, American trade was interrupted by pirates. Previously, America had been protected from the pirates by England, but now was obliged to pay its own way. But the government had no money to bribe or fight the pirates.
The weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation was overwhelming displayed in America's languishing foreign policy.
The weakness of the government under the Articles of Confederation was overwhelmingly displayed in America's languishing foreign policy.
From the beginning, the Confederation had financial troubles, and its attempts to correct its deficiencies only made its problems worse. It attempts to gain money were uniformly unsound. Congress borrowed money from foreign countries, made paper currency, and sold undeveloped western lands. None of these tactics were effective.
From the beginning, the Confederation had financial troubles, and its attempts to correct its deficiencies only made its problems worse. It attempts to gain money were uniformly unsound. Congress borrowed money from foreign countries, made paper currency, and sold undeveloped western lands. None of these tactics were effective.
None of the paper money worked in the long run, but initially, it seemed like a success. Massachusetts was the only state that did not follow the trend for printed money. This sparked Shays' rebellion.
None of the paper money worked in the long run, but initially, it seemed like a success. Massachusetts was the only state that did not follow the trend for printed money. This sparked Shays' rebellion.
Keep in mind that conflicts over money were as important throughout history as it is today in families and personal relations. Whether or not money is the root of all evil, it is the root of many conflicts in history and shapes the course of human events. For example, there has always been constant conflict between people who owe money (debtors) and people who save or lend money (creditors). Farmers are often debtors and they have always had conflicts with banks, which lend them money. In colonial America, people who could not pay their debts went to jail, and this was known as "debtor's prison." The entire colony of Georgia was founded by people who had been in debtor's prison in England. The [[Founding Father]] who pay for [[George Washington]]'s troops in the American Revolution, [[Robert Morris]], ended up in debtor's prison for four years and died a few years after his release. Debtor's prison was not abolished in federal law until 1833 and by most the states soon afterwards.<ref>http://myvesta.org/history/history_debtorprison.html</ref> But even today one can be imprisoned for failure to make a payment that is ordered by a court.
Debate: Is Debtor's Prison Wrong?
==The Land Ordinance and The Northwest Ordinance==
==The Land Ordinance and The Northwest Ordinance==
Debate: Can a State nullify an act of Congress? Can a State secede (withdraw) from the United States?
Debate: Can a State nullify an act of Congress? Can a State secede (withdraw) from the United States?
Shay's Rebellion Aug.1786-Feb. 1787: uprising in MA by farmers losing farms; showed Washington new form of govt needed
Constitutional Convention of 1787 May-Sept. 1787: 55 men, incl. Washington and Madison, join in Philly to fix A.o.C.; propose Constitution
Virginia Plan May 1787: Virg. delegate Edmund Randolph proposed bicameral legisl., exec & judiciary chosen by legisl.
New Jersey Plan June 1787: NJ delegate William Paterson, from small state opposed to Virg. Plan, sought retaining confed
Connecticut Plan July 1787: CT delegate Roger Sherman: proportional to population in House, 1 vote per state in Senate
bill of attainder punishment of individual by naming him in legislation, used in England; Constit. forbids this practice
Federalist Papers 1787: Hamilton, Madison, and Jay anonymously write detailed articles explaining, supporting Constitution
bicameral legislature two separate legislative bodies (e.g., House and Senate); all states now except Nebr. are bicameral
President George Washington 1788: elected, served 1789-97, only revolutionary leader in history to let go of power; relied much on Hamilton
Judiciary Act of 1789 established federal court system; small portion declared unconstitutional in part in Marbury v. Madison
full ratification of Constitution 1792: Rhode Island, wanting its power to tax imports, did not ratify until 12 states threatened to boycott it
[[Category:United States History]]
[[Category:United States History]]