The Early Republic Chapter Notes | Social Studies for Grade 7 PDF Download

Introduction

The Early Republic is an important time in American history when the United States was just starting as a new country. After winning independence from Britain, the young nation faced many challenges, like creating a government, building a strong economy, and dealing with other countries. This chapter covers how the United States formed its first government, made important decisions, and grew as a nation. You will learn about the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, George Washington’s leadership, the first political parties, the role of the Supreme Court, the Louisiana Purchase, and the War of 1812.

The Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation was the first plan for the United States government, created in 1777 and approved in 1781.
• It set up a weak national government because people were afraid of a strong government like Britain’s.
• Key features of the Articles:
  • Each state had one vote in Congress, no matter its size.
  • Congress could make laws, but it could not enforce them or collect taxes.
  • There was no president or national court system.
  • States had more power than the national government.
• Problems with the Articles:
  • The government could not raise money because it could not tax.
  • States argued over trade and borders.
  • The government could not pay debts from the Revolutionary War.
  • It was hard to pass laws because nine out of thirteen states had to agree.
  • Changing the Articles required all thirteen states to agree, which was almost impossible.
• Shays’ Rebellion (1786-1787) showed the Articles were weak:
  • Farmers in Massachusetts, led by Daniel Shays, rebelled because of high taxes and debt.
  • The national government could not stop the rebellion, showing it was too weak.
• The weaknesses of the Articles led to a meeting to fix the government, called the Constitutional Convention.

The Constitutional Convention

• In 1787, leaders met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles of Confederation.
• Instead of fixing the Articles, they wrote a new plan called the Constitution.
• Key people at the convention:
  • George Washington was the leader of the convention.
  • James Madison, called the “Father of the Constitution,” wrote many ideas.
  • Benjamin Franklin helped keep peace during arguments.
• Major debates and compromises:
  • The Virginia Plan wanted representation based on population, which helped big states.
  • The New Jersey Plan wanted equal representation for all states, which helped small states.
  • The Great Compromise created a two-house Congress:
    • The House of Representatives is based on population.
    • The Senate gives each state two senators.
  • The Three-Fifths Compromise:
    • Counted enslaved people as three-fifths of a person for representation and taxes.
    • This gave Southern states more power in Congress.
  • Slavery was a big issue, but the convention avoided ending it to keep the states united.
• The Constitution was finished in September 1787 and sent to the states for approval.
• Federalists and Anti-Federalists:
  • Federalists supported the Constitution and a strong national government.
  • Anti-Federalists wanted a weaker national government and worried about losing rights.
  • The Bill of Rights (first ten amendments) was added to protect individual freedoms, which helped Anti-Federalists agree.
• The Constitution was approved in 1788 and became the law of the land.

Washington’s Presidency

Part I

• George Washington became the first president in 1789 and served two terms until 1797.
• He set many examples, called precedents, for future presidents:
  • He created a group of advisors called the Cabinet.
  • He avoided taking too much power and respected Congress.
  • He stayed neutral in foreign conflicts.
• Washington’s Cabinet:
  • Thomas Jefferson was Secretary of State (handled foreign affairs).
  • Alexander Hamilton was Secretary of the Treasury (handled money).
  • Henry Knox was Secretary of War (handled the military).
• Economic challenges:
  • The U.S. had debts from the Revolutionary War.
  • Alexander Hamilton’s plan:
    • The federal government would pay all state and national debts.
    • Create a national bank to manage money.
    • Use taxes, like tariffs, to raise money.
  • Southern states did not like the debt plan because they had less debt, but they agreed after a compromise to move the capital to Washington, D.C.
• Washington helped the country stay united during tough times.

Part II

• Foreign policy challenges:
  • The French Revolution (1789) caused problems because France wanted U.S. help.
  • Washington issued the Neutrality Proclamation in 1793, saying the U.S. would not take sides in the war between France and Britain.
  • The Jay Treaty (1794) with Britain settled trade and border issues but made some Americans angry because it seemed to favor Britain.
  • The Pinckney Treaty (1795) with Spain gave the U.S. access to the Mississippi River and New Orleans for trade.
• Domestic challenges:
  • The Whiskey Rebellion (1794):
    • Farmers in Pennsylvania rebelled against a tax on whiskey.
    • Washington sent troops to stop the rebellion, showing the federal government’s strength.
• Washington’s Farewell Address (1796):
  • He warned against political parties dividing the nation.
  • He advised staying out of long-term alliances with other countries.
  • He encouraged national unity and following the Constitution.
• Washington’s leadership helped the new government work and set a strong example.

The First Party System: Federalists and Democratic-Republicans

• Political parties formed during Washington’s presidency, even though he warned against them.
• Federalists:
  • Led by Alexander Hamilton and John Adams.
  • Wanted a strong national government.
  • Supported trade, businesses, and banks.
  • Believed in a loose interpretation of the Constitution (government could do things not listed).
  • Popular in the North, especially with merchants and city people.
• Democratic-Republicans:
  • Led by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
  • Wanted a weaker national government and more power for states.
  • Supported farmers and rural areas.
  • Believed in a strict interpretation of the Constitution (government could only do what was listed).
  • Popular in the South and West.
• Key differences:
  • Federalists liked strong government; Democratic-Republicans liked limited government.
  • Federalists supported Britain; Democratic-Republicans supported France.
• The election of 1796 showed the party divide:
  • John Adams (Federalist) became president.
  • Thomas Jefferson (Democratic-Republican) became vice president.
• The parties argued over laws like the Alien and Sedition Acts (1798):
  • Federalists passed these laws to limit criticism and control immigrants.
  • Democratic-Republicans said the laws violated free speech.
• The party system shaped early American politics.

The Marshall Court

• John Marshall was the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court from 1801 to 1835.
• The Marshall Court made the Supreme Court stronger and helped define the Constitution.
• Key decisions:
  • Marbury v. Madison (1803):
    • Created the idea of judicial review, meaning the Supreme Court can decide if laws are constitutional.
    • This gave the Supreme Court more power to check Congress and the president.
  • McCulloch v. Maryland (1819):
    • Said the national bank was constitutional, supporting a strong federal government.
    • States could not tax the federal government, showing federal power was stronger.
  • Gibbons v. Ogden (1824):
    • Said the federal government controls trade between states.
    • This helped create a national economy by limiting state control over trade.
• Marshall’s decisions supported Federalist ideas, like a strong national government.
• The Marshall Court helped make the United States more unified and stronger.

The Louisiana Purchase

• In 1803, the United States bought the Louisiana Territory from France.
• Background:
  • President Thomas Jefferson wanted to control New Orleans for trade.
  • France, led by Napoleon, offered to sell the entire Louisiana Territory for $15 million.
• Importance of the purchase:
  • It doubled the size of the United States.
  • It gave the U.S. control of the Mississippi River and New Orleans, helping trade.
  • It gave more land for farming and settlement in the West.
• Challenges:
  • Jefferson was a strict interpreter of the Constitution and worried the purchase was not allowed.
  • He decided it was okay under his power to make treaties.
• Lewis and Clark Expedition (1804-1806):
  • Jefferson sent Meriwether Lewis and William Clark to explore the new land.
  • They traveled from St. Louis to the Pacific Ocean with help from Sacagawea, a Native American guide.
  • They mapped the land, studied plants and animals, and met Native American tribes.
  • The expedition showed the land was good for settlement and trade.
• The Louisiana Purchase helped the United States grow and become stronger.

The War of 1812

• The War of 1812 was fought between the United States and Britain from 1812 to 1815.
• Causes of the war:
  • Britain was stopping American ships and forcing sailors into the British navy (impressment).
  • Britain was helping Native Americans fight against American settlers in the West.
  • Some Americans, called War Hawks, wanted to take Canada from Britain and expand.
  • The U.S. was angry about Britain’s trade restrictions during its war with France.
• Key events:
  • The U.S. tried to invade Canada but failed.
  • British forces burned Washington, D.C., including the White House, in 1814.
  • Andrew Jackson won a big victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1815, making him a hero.
• Results of the war:
  • The Treaty of Ghent (1814) ended the war with no clear winner.
  • The U.S. gained respect as a nation that could fight a strong country like Britain.
  • American pride and nationalism grew after the war.
  • Native Americans lost British support, making it easier for Americans to move west.
• Effects on the U.S.:
  • The war ended the Federalist Party because they opposed it.
  • The U.S. started making more goods at home because British trade stopped during the war.
  • The war showed the U.S. could defend itself and stand as an independent nation.