Page 189 - American Stories, A History of the United States

On MyHistoryLab Study and Review on MyHistoryLab

Chapter Review Timeline

Defining Republican Culture 1776
Defining republican
6.1 What were the limits of equality in the “republican” culture—Second
society of the new United States? p. 133 Continental Congress
authorizes colonies
Some Americans worried that the scramble for material wealth would
undermine republican values in the new nation. Disparities in wealth to create republican
made some worry that a hereditary aristocracy might grow up to dom- government (May); 1776
inate government. Elites worried that democratic excesses would lead eight states draft new
to men without property, and the personal independence and stability constitutions; two
that came with it, rising to power. Enslaved African Americans and others already enjoy
most women were denied the rights to property and the independence republican government
required to become full citizens of a republican society. by virtue of former
colonial charters 1777
Stumbling Toward a New a new national
National Government 1777 government—
Congress accepts
Articles of
6.2 Why did many Americans regard the Articles of Confederation
Confederation as inadequate? p. 141 (November)
1781
During the Revolution, Americans showed little interest in estab- struggle for
lishing a strong national government. Under the Articles of ratification—States
Confederation (1777), an underfunded Congress limped along with- ratify Articles of 1781
out direction, while the states competed over western lands. Only Confederation following
after Virginia ceded its claims could Congress draft the Northwest settlement of virginia’s
Ordinance, which provided an orderly plan for settling the Ohio western land claims
Valley. The weak Congress was not even able to force the British to 1783
live up to their obligations under the Treaty of Paris of 1783. Defining republican
1783 culture—Society of
“Have We Fought for This?” the Cincinnati raises a
storm of criticism
1785
6.3 Why did Constitutional delegates compromise on a new national
representation and slavery? p. 145 government— 1785
Congress passes
James Madison’s Virginia Plan for the Constitution called for repre- Land Ordinance for
sentation in both houses of Congress to be proportional to a state’s Northwest Territory
population. Small states objected that this would put them at the 1786
mercy of larger states. Southern states feared that more populous have we Fought for
northern states might vote to outlaw slavery. To prevent a break- this?—Annapolis
down, the delegates compromised. Each state would have an equal Convention suggests
number of representatives in the Senate and slaves would be counted 1786 revising the Articles
as three-fifths of a person when determining representation for the of Confederation
federal government. (September); Shays’s
Rebellion frightens
Whose Constitution? Struggle 1787–1788 American leaders
for Ratification struggle for
ratification—
All states except 1787–1788
6.4 What issues separated Federalists from Antifederalists North Carolina and
during debates over ratification? p. 151 Rhode island ratify
During the debates of 1787–1788, Federalists, who favored stron- Constitution 1791
ger national government, defended the Constitution against struggle for
Antifederalists, who opposed centralized authority. By the end of 1791 ratification— Bill
1791, enough state conventions had endorsed the Constitution for of Rights (first ten
ratification. To appease the Antifederalists, Congress in 1789 added amendments to the
a Bill of Rights to protect the freedoms of citizens against the power Constitution) ratified
of the national government.
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