Experimenting with Confederation
Experimenting with Confederation
Americans Debate Republicanism
Colonies Become States
British settlers in the north founded colonies with their own governor, council and colonial assembly
This system encouraged people to think of the colony as the primary political unit
Citizens’ allegiance was to the colony in which they lived
The Revolutionary War gave colonies a common goal
However as they became states, they were reluctant to unite under a strong central government
America needed to develop a government that balanced the interests of the states with those of the nation
Unity Through a Republic
Eighteenth-century Americans thought that democracy placed too much power in the hands of uneducated people
Instead, they favored a republic, a government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives
People argued that the new government could only succeed if people placed the good of the nation above their personal interests
Other Americans thought that if the government allowed independent citizens to pursue their own personal interests, the whole nation would benefit. C. State Constitutions
Many state constitutions shared similarities Limited the powers of government leaders
Guaranteed specific rights for citizens; freedom of speech, religion, and press Emphasized liberty rather than equality Feared centralized authority
Many states constitutions also differed widely in granting the right to vote
African Americans were generally not allowed to vote
Women in New Jersey had the right to vote if they owned land, which was changed in 1807 D. Political Precedents
Very few political systems that could serve as models for the new republic
Republics and self-governing systems had existed in Greece and Rome
However, it was difficult to adapt these ancient models into the current political situation
The Continental Congress Debates
The Continental Congress tried to draft a constitution for the states as a whole
However, there
Americans Debate Republicanism
Colonies Become States
British settlers in the north founded colonies with their own governor, council and colonial assembly
This system encouraged people to think of the colony as the primary political unit
Citizens’ allegiance was to the colony in which they lived
The Revolutionary War gave colonies a common goal
However as they became states, they were reluctant to unite under a strong central government
America needed to develop a government that balanced the interests of the states with those of the nation
Unity Through a Republic
Eighteenth-century Americans thought that democracy placed too much power in the hands of uneducated people
Instead, they favored a republic, a government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives
People argued that the new government could only succeed if people placed the good of the nation above their personal interests
Other Americans thought that if the government allowed independent citizens to pursue their own personal interests, the whole nation would benefit. C. State Constitutions
Many state constitutions shared similarities Limited the powers of government leaders
Guaranteed specific rights for citizens; freedom of speech, religion, and press Emphasized liberty rather than equality Feared centralized authority
Many states constitutions also differed widely in granting the right to vote
African Americans were generally not allowed to vote
Women in New Jersey had the right to vote if they owned land, which was changed in 1807 D. Political Precedents
Very few political systems that could serve as models for the new republic
Republics and self-governing systems had existed in Greece and Rome
However, it was difficult to adapt these ancient models into the current political situation
The Continental Congress Debates
The Continental Congress tried to draft a constitution for the states as a whole
However, there