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{{HS_American_History}}

{{HS_American_History}}

[[American History Lecture Three|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Three|Questions]] - [[American History Homework Three Answers|Student Answers]]

[[American History Lecture Three|Lecture]] - [[American_History_Homework_Three|Questions]] <!-- [[American History Homework Three Answers|Student Answers]] -->

A few more tips on test-taking in multiple-choice exams:

A few more tips for test-taking on multiple-choice exams:

1.  '''Disqualify answer choices that contain language that is too sweeping''', such as "everyone" or "only".  Here is an example.  Question: "Why was George Washington elected president?"  Possible answer choice:  "Because everyone wanted him.  Nope, not "everyone" liked George Washington.  Here is another example.  Question: "Why was slavery used?"  Answer:  "Solely because of greed."  Nope.  Not "solely" (or "purely" or "only”) because of greed. Some common "sweeping" words that signal an incorrect answer choice are: everyone, always, never, only, solely, purely, all and every.  When there are such broad words in an answer, it's probably not the correct answer choice.

1.  '''Disqualify answer choices that contain language that is too sweeping''', such as "everyone" or "only".  Here is an example.  Question: "Why was George Washington elected president?"  Possible answer choice:  "Because everyone wanted him.  Nope, not "everyone" liked George Washington.  Here is another example.  Question: "Why was slavery used?"  Answer:  "Solely because of greed."  Nope.  Not "solely" (or "purely" or "only”) because of greed. Some common "sweeping" words that signal an incorrect answer choice are: everyone, always, never, only, solely, purely, all and every.  When there are such broad words in an answer, it's probably not the correct answer choice.

==State Constitutions==

==State Constitutions==

Soon after the end of the Revolution, all but two of the states adopted new constitutions.  Rhode Island and Connecticut continued to use their charters, after removing all references to Britain.

Soon after the end of the Revolution, all but two of the states adopted new constitutions.  (Rhode Island and Connecticut continued to use their charters, after removing all references to Britain.)

All state constitutions then, and now, contain references to [[God]].<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/states_god.html</ref>   

All state constitutions then, and now, contain references to [[God]].<ref>http://www.usconstitution.net/states_god.html</ref>   

'''Debate:  Does the United States really need an office of president?'''  

'''Debate:  Does the United States really need an office of president?'''  

The Articles of Confederation created a very weak national government, with the states retaining most of the power for themselves.  The Articles required approval by nine (9) out of the 13 states to pass laws.  Not even a simple majority vote (e.g., 7-6) was enough to pass legislation.  And unanimous approval was required to amend the Articles.  Those percentages were simply too high for a collection of states that were very different from each other.  Now that the focus was off gaining freedom and onto building a new nation, the states had much less to agree about and they began to bicker and argue, and even tax each others' goods.

The Articles of Confederation created a very weak national government, with the states retaining most of the power for themselves.  The Articles required approval by nine (9) out of the 13 states to pass laws.  Not even a simple majority vote (e.g., 7-6) was enough to pass legislation.  And unanimous approval was required to amend the Articles.  Those percentages were simply too high for a collection of states that were very different from each other.  Now that the focus shifted after the American Revolution from gaining freedom toward building a new nation, the states had much less to agree about and they began to bicker and argue, and even tax each others' goods.

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was given the power to declare war, raise an army and navy, make commercial treaties, borrow money, control currency, and levy assessments against the states.  But Congress lacked the power to impose taxes on the people to pay for any of that.  It could ask the states for money, but could not force them to pay.  The power to raise an army is almost meaningless without the means to raise money to pay the army.   

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress was given the power to declare war, raise an army and navy, make commercial treaties, borrow money, control currency, and levy assessments against the states.  But Congress lacked the power to impose taxes on the people to pay for any of that.  It could ask the states for money, but could not force them to pay.  The power to raise an army is almost meaningless without the means to raise money to pay the army.   

In the 1780s, before and after the Revolution, the United States was a mere baby in the world.  We were far weaker in every respect than European countries.  Comparing the [[United States]] to [[England]] at that time would be like comparing a child to an adult.  Just obtaining respect was a struggle, and the Articles made it worse.

In the 1780s, before and after the Revolution, the United States was a mere baby in the world.  We were far weaker in every respect than European countries.  Comparing the [[United States]] to [[England]] at that time would be like comparing a child to an adult.  Just obtaining respect was a struggle, and the Articles made it worse.

The federal government under the Articles did not have enough power to operate effectively in its foreign policy.  After the war, the British continued to impose trade restrictions on America, and America was powerless to do anything about it.  Americans continued to buy English imports at a furious rate, and this caused money to drain out of America.

The federal government under the Articles did not have enough power to operate effectively in its foreign policy.  After the war, the British continued to impose trade restrictions on America, and America was powerless to do anything about it.  Americans continued to buy many English imports, and this caused money to drain out of America.

In the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War, America had agreed to treat Loyalists fairly and return their belongings.  Congress then asked the states to do this, but several refused.  The new Congress had no way to make the states obey the nation's commitment.   

In the Treaty of Paris to end the Revolutionary War, America had agreed to treat Loyalists fairly and return their belongings.  Congress then asked the states to do this, but several refused.  The new Congress had no way to make the states obey the nation's commitment.   

The British used this violation of the Treaty to justify keeping forces stationed near the Great Lakes.  America had claimed the territory where the British forts stood, but lacked power to drive them out.  So the British in America prospered by trading for furs with the Indians, although the territory they used belonged to the United States.

The British used this violation of the Treaty to justify keeping forces stationed near the Great Lakes.  America had claimed the territory where the British forts stood, but lacked power to drive them out.  So the British in America prospered by trading for furs with the Indians, although the territory they used belonged to the United States.

The Spanish claimed the territory west of the Mississippi and exclusive navigation of the Mississippi River, which was a key trading route for the new land acquired by the United States west of the Appalachian mountains.  Spain knew that the United States was too weak to fight for its territory.  Although the United States attempted to negotiate but nothing could be achieved without some strength.

The Spanish claimed the territory west of the Mississippi and exclusive navigation of the Mississippi River, which was a key trading route for the new land acquired by the United States west of the Appalachian mountains.  Spain knew that the United States was too weak to fight for its territory.  The United States attempted to negotiate but nothing could be achieved without some strength.

Across the ocean in the Mediterranean, American trade was interrupted by piracy off of the Barbary Coast (modern day Tunisia).  Previously, America had been protected from the pirates by England, but now America was obliged to pay its own way. But the new American government had no money for bribing or fighting the pirates.

Across the ocean in the Mediterranean, American trade was interrupted by piracy off of the Barbary Coast (modern day Tunisia).  Previously, America had been protected from the pirates by England, but now America was obliged to pay its own way. The new American government had no money for bribing or fighting the pirates.

===Financial Problems under the Articles of Confederation===

===Financial Problems under the Articles of Confederation===

Keep in mind that conflicts over money were as important throughout history as it is today in families.  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.   

Keep in mind that conflicts over money were as important throughout history as it is today in families.  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 paid 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 of 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.

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.  [[Founding Father]] [[Robert Morris]], who paid for [[George Washington]]'s troops during the American Revolution, 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 of the states soon afterwards.<ref>http://myvesta.org/history/history_debtorprison.html</ref>  But even today some Americans can be imprisoned for failure to make payments that are ordered by courts.

'''Debate:  Is Debtor's Prison Wrong?'''

'''Debate:  Is Debtor's Prison Wrong?'''

'''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?'''

The Adams Administration then went from bad to worse.  From 1798 through 1800, there was an undeclared naval war with France, which was the result of the United States aligning itself with France's enemy, England, on the high seas.  Specifically, American accepted British naval protection, and that resulted in conflicts with the French.  (England and France were enemies throughout the 1700s and 1800s).

The Adams Administration then went from bad to worse.  From 1798 through 1800, there was an undeclared naval war with France, which was the result of the United States aligning itself with France's enemy, England, on the high seas.  Specifically, the United States accepted British naval protection, and that resulted in conflicts with the French.  (England and France were enemies throughout the 1700s and 1800s).

One final act by President Adams angered his political opponents further.  There was a five-month delay between the presidential election and the swearing in of a new President (the gap is only about two months now).  After Thomas Jefferson crushed Adams in the election of 1800, Adams appointed a bunch of "midnight judges" just before Adams was replaced by Jefferson.  Jefferson was so angry by this "lame duck" action (something done by a politician after he is defeated but just before he is replaced in office by the winner) that Jefferson blocked the payment of salaries to these new judges for their work.  This led to the famous case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a federal law to be unconstitutional.  This was the first time the new Supreme Court declared an Act of Congress to be unconstitutional and thus void.

One final act by President Adams angered his political opponents further.  There was a five-month delay between the presidential election and the swearing in of a new President (the gap is only about two months now).  After Thomas Jefferson crushed Adams in the election of 1800, Adams appointed a bunch of "midnight judges" just before Adams was replaced by Jefferson.  Jefferson was so angry by this "lame duck" action (something done by a politician after he is defeated but just before he is replaced in office by the winner) that Jefferson blocked the payment of salaries to these new judges for their work.  This led to the famous case of ''Marbury v. Madison'' (1803), where the Supreme Court held in Jefferson's favor by declaring a federal law to be unconstitutional.  This was the first time the new Supreme Court declared an Act of Congress to be unconstitutional and thereby void.

== References ==

== References ==

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[[Category:American History lectures]]

[[Category:American History lectures]]

{{DEFAULTSORT:American History Lecture 03}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:American History Lecture 03}}