The Articles of Confederation - Constitutional Convention - Extra History - Part 4

Extra History

27 May 201711:15

Summary

TLDRThe video explores the aftermath of the American Revolutionary War, focusing on the weak government under the Articles of Confederation. It recounts how George Washington resisted becoming a dictator, Congress struggled to manage Western land and enforce treaties, and how states squabbled among themselves. Alexander Hamilton, frustrated by the inefficiency, pushed for a new Constitution. With James Madison’s help, they convinced George Washington to attend a convention, which ultimately led to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution. The video ends with a guest introducing the idea of alternate history, asking what might have happened if the Articles of Confederation had remained.

Takeaways

🖋️ Diplomatic signing of the treaty ended the American Revolutionary War, but only seven states initially showed up to ratify it under the Articles of Confederation.
🧑‍🌾 George Washington, after winning the war, resigned his power and returned home, asking only for Congress to find a way to pay his soldiers, such as granting them land in the West.
🌍 Virginia settlers in the West, frustrated by lack of military protection during the war, began considering independence or alliances with foreign powers like Spain or France.
🌾 The states pressured Virginia to give up claims to the West, which helped Congress control and organize the territory, ensuring security and community development.
💸 Congress faced declining fortunes, unable to enforce the peace treaty with Britain or collect debt payments, while states began printing their own money and even waging war on each other.
💔 There was growing speculation that the United States might fall apart due to the weak central government, leading to calls for breaking apart and forming regional confederations.
📜 Alexander Hamilton believed that the Articles of Confederation could not be fixed and needed to be replaced, but convincing all states to agree was a major challenge.
⭐ Hamilton needed George Washington’s star power to give legitimacy to the new convention, and with the help of James Madison, he convinced Washington to attend.
📚 James Madison meticulously prepared arguments to address objections to central government, creating the ‘Virginia Plan’ to replace the Articles with a new Constitution.
📜 With George Washington's support, the Virginia Plan was accepted, and by the end of the Constitutional Convention, the United States Constitution was created, replacing the Articles of Confederation.

Q & A

What was the significance of the Treaty of Paris in the American Revolutionary War?
-The Treaty of Paris marked the official end of the American Revolutionary War. It was signed by diplomats in Paris, acknowledging the United States' independence from Britain. However, ratifying the treaty required approval from nine states, which initially failed to meet the quorum, highlighting the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Why did George Washington resign after the Revolutionary War?
-George Washington resigned to return power to Congress, refusing to use his popularity or military influence to install himself as a leader. He wanted to retire peacefully as a citizen and urged Congress to pay his soldiers, advocating for land grants in the West to compensate them.
What issues arose with the Western Territories after the Revolutionary War?
-The Western Territories became a point of contention, particularly with Virginia, which attempted to sell land to settlers despite ongoing British control of military forts in the area. Settlers, feeling abandoned, began to act independently, even considering aligning with Spain or France. Eventually, Virginia ceded control of the land to Congress.
How did Congress plan to utilize the Western Territories to address national debt?
-Congress planned to sell land in the Western Territories to pay off the national debt. They established rules for how the land would be divided, sold, and how towns would be built with public services. This was seen as a way to settle debts and bring stability to the region.
What challenges did Congress face in enforcing the Treaty of Paris?
-Congress struggled to enforce the Treaty of Paris, particularly the provision that protected British loyalists' rights to their land. Several states defied the treaty by expelling loyalists, which led the British to retain control of their military forts in the West, arguing that the Americans had violated the agreement.
Why was the Articles of Confederation considered weak by statesmen like Alexander Hamilton?
-The Articles of Confederation were seen as weak because they gave Congress very limited power. Congress could not enforce treaties, regulate trade, raise funds, or even ensure that delegates showed up for important meetings. These flaws contributed to the ineffective governance of the new nation.
What role did Alexander Hamilton play in pushing for a new Constitution?
-Alexander Hamilton was instrumental in pushing for a new Constitution. He saw the flaws in the Articles of Confederation and used a small convention on trade policies as a platform to argue for a stronger, centralized government. His leadership helped initiate the process to replace the Articles with the U.S. Constitution.
How did James Madison contribute to the movement for a new Constitution?
-James Madison worked behind the scenes to gather support for replacing the Articles of Confederation. He played a key role in convincing George Washington to attend the Constitutional Convention and prepared detailed arguments to counter opposition to central government. His 'Virginia Plan' laid the groundwork for the new Constitution.
Why was George Washington's attendance at the Constitutional Convention so important?
-George Washington's attendance was critical because of his immense influence and respect among the states. His presence lent credibility to the convention, encouraging other important figures to participate. Madison and Hamilton recognized that Washington's endorsement would make it difficult for delegates to oppose major reforms.
What was the ultimate outcome of the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
-The Constitutional Convention of 1787 resulted in the drafting of the United States Constitution, which replaced the Articles of Confederation. This new Constitution created a stronger central government with clearly defined powers, addressing many of the governance issues that had plagued the Confederation.

Outlines

00:00

📜 The Struggle to Ratify the Peace Treaty

In 1783, the peace treaty ending the American Revolutionary War was signed in Paris, but the U.S. faced difficulties in ratifying it under the Articles of Confederation. Only seven of the nine required states showed up to sign, causing embarrassment. Eventually, they reconvened and completed the process. George Washington, having won the war, was celebrated but chose to resign from power, hoping Congress would reward his soldiers with land in the West. However, conflicts over the Western Territory and British-held forts complicated the process. Although Virginia relinquished its claims, Congress faced challenges, including British defiance due to states mistreating loyalists. Despite Western land sales, the national debt persisted, and the weak Confederation led to interstate conflict and growing calls for regional alliances.

05:01

🔨 Hamilton’s Fight to Replace the Articles of Confederation

Alexander Hamilton saw the fundamental flaws of the Articles of Confederation, including the inability to enforce laws or fund itself. He believed the Articles needed to be replaced with a stronger Constitution. At a 1786 trade convention, he shifted the focus to broader issues and won the support of attendees to call for a larger convention to reform the government. Despite limited attendance, Hamilton knew he needed George Washington's participation to make the next convention a success. With the help of James Madison, Hamilton convinced Washington to support the cause, setting the stage for a historic overhaul of the U.S. government.

10:02

⚖️ The Plan to Rewrite the U.S. Government

Hamilton and Madison worked tirelessly to prepare for the upcoming Constitutional Convention. Madison, by cleverly involving George Washington, ensured his support, which made other delegates more likely to attend. Madison's meticulous preparations included creating a detailed critique of the Confederation's failures and proposing the Virginia Plan, which called for replacing the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution. Once the convention started, the presence of Washington solidified support for the plan, and the delegates began the process of creating the U.S. Constitution. The stage was set for the birth of a new government.

🤔 What If the Articles of Confederation Stayed?

In a light-hearted conclusion, Cody from the Alternate History Hub joins the conversation to explore an alternate scenario: what if the Articles of Confederation had never been replaced? Cody invites the audience to consider the consequences of this historical 'what if' and directs them to his channel for more. Dan, the host, playfully thanks Cody and the audience, bringing the video to a close with a humorous touch.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Treaty of Paris

The Treaty of Paris was the agreement that officially ended the American Revolutionary War in 1783. It is a key element in the script as it symbolizes the formal recognition of American independence from Britain. The script explains how the treaty was signed in Paris but had complications when the states failed to ratify it promptly under the Articles of Confederation.

💡Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, in effect from 1781 to 1789. The script discusses how the Articles created a weak federal government that struggled to manage national issues, such as paying soldiers, enforcing treaties, and regulating trade between states. This ineffectiveness set the stage for the call to replace the Articles with a stronger Constitution.

💡Western land claims

The Western land claims refer to disputes between states over control of the territory west of the Appalachian Mountains. Virginia initially claimed a large portion of this land, but pressure from smaller states like Rhode Island led Virginia to cede it to Congress. The script highlights this issue as a key factor in Congress's efforts to manage national debt and organize settlement in the West.

💡George Washington

George Washington, as a revered leader of the Revolutionary War, was a pivotal figure in American politics. The script emphasizes his decision to resign from power after the war, which increased his popularity and influence. Later, Washington’s involvement in the Constitutional Convention was crucial, as his presence lent legitimacy to the efforts to replace the Articles of Confederation.

💡Hamilton's Constitutional Reform

Alexander Hamilton's push for constitutional reform was central to the script’s narrative. Dissatisfied with the failures of the Articles of Confederation, Hamilton and other statesmen like James Madison advocated for a stronger federal government. The script portrays Hamilton as a visionary leader who understood that without a new Constitution, the United States would likely fall apart.

💡Virginia Plan

The Virginia Plan was James Madison's proposal to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution. It called for a stronger central government with the power to regulate issues like trade and defense. The script discusses how Madison introduced the plan at the Constitutional Convention and how Washington’s endorsement helped it gain acceptance among the delegates.

💡State sovereignty

State sovereignty refers to the idea that each state should have control over its own affairs, a core principle under the Articles of Confederation. The script illustrates how this concept led to problems, such as states ignoring Congress’s requests to honor treaties and printing their own money. Ultimately, the Constitution was seen as a solution to the difficulties caused by excessive state sovereignty.

💡Constitutional Convention

The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was the meeting where delegates from the thirteen states gathered to draft the U.S. Constitution. The script highlights how George Washington’s participation, along with the efforts of Hamilton and Madison, helped turn the Convention into a success. It was at this gathering that the decision was made to abandon the Articles of Confederation and create a new system of government.

💡National debt

The national debt accumulated during the Revolutionary War was a major issue under the Articles of Confederation. The script mentions how the sale of Western lands was seen as a way to help pay off the debt. However, the Confederation's inability to enforce effective economic policies exacerbated the problem, contributing to the push for a stronger federal government under the new Constitution.

💡British forts in the West

After the Revolutionary War, the British retained military forts in the western territories, despite the terms of the Treaty of Paris. The script explains that this was because the American states violated parts of the treaty, such as by expelling Loyalists from their land. The British presence in the forts was a lingering threat to American sovereignty, and it highlighted the inability of the Confederation Congress to enforce treaties.

Highlights

Diplomats in Paris signed the treaty to end the American Revolutionary War.

Only seven states showed up to ratify the peace treaty under the Articles of Confederation.

George Washington resigned from his position, refusing to become a leader despite his popularity and the army under his control.

Washington requested Congress to pay his soldiers with free land in the West.

Virginia settlers faced a problem during the war as the British held military forts in the West, leading some to consider joining Spain or France.

Western land became a solution for Congress to pay off state debts, prompting Virginia to relinquish its claims over the territory.

Congress established laws to divide and sell land in the West, shaping new communities and offering settlers security.

British loyalists were forced off their land, violating the peace treaty, which led the British to remain in forts in the West.

The Articles of Confederation struggled to enforce foreign treaties and left Congress powerless to act.

Some states began fighting amongst themselves, like Connecticut and Pennsylvania's border dispute.

Alexander Hamilton believed that the Articles of Confederation were fundamentally flawed and sought to replace them with a stronger Constitution.

In 1786, Hamilton called for a convention to reform trade policies but used the opportunity to push for broader government reforms.

Hamilton needed George Washington to attend the convention to give it legitimacy and attract other states.

James Madison played a key role in persuading Washington to attend and support the idea of a new Constitution.

Madison presented the Virginia Plan, which called for replacing the Articles of Confederation with a new Constitution, and Washington's support made it difficult for others to oppose.