History 103 *** AMERICAN HISTORY TO 1877 *** Oct. 7, 1996

THE CONSTITUTION: A COUNTER-REVOLUTION?

I. Time Out for Tories

• Ambiguities of allegiance
• Patterns of loyalism
• Consequences

II. The Patriot Embrace of Republicanism

• Tom Paine's Common Sense
• Virtue vs. corruption
• Question of polity's size

III. Articles of Confederation

• State vs. Congressional power
• Representation and procedures

IV. Early State Constitutions

• Reducing governors' power
• Increasing assemblies' power
• Democratic reforms
• Limits of change: bicameralism, property requirements

V. The Critical Period

• Postwar economic crisis
• Congressional paralysis
• Instability in the states: democratization, factionalism

VI. The Philadelphia Convention

• Catalysts: Annapolis Convention, Shays' Rebellion
• Framers' profile
• Drafting the Federal Constitution:
  • Virginia Plan
  • New Jersey Plan
  • Connecticut Compromise
  • Other compromises

VII. Struggle over Ratification

• State conventions
• Federalists vs. Antifederalists
• Approval