8. Tell something of the engagements around New York.

9. Describe Washington's victory at Trenton.

10. What service did Robert Morris give to the government during the Revolution?

II. Who wrote the Crisis and Common Sense? What was the effect of these works?

12. Why is the battle of Saratoga called the decisive battle of the Revolution?

13. Describe the winter at Valley Forge.

14. What foreign nation gave aid to the American colonies?

15. Who were some of the foreigners that assisted in the Revolution?

16. Give an account of Arnold's treason.

17. Give a brief account of the War in the South.

18. When and where was the final surrender of the British made? 19. Where was the treaty of peace signed?

20. What were the Articles of Confederation?

21. Why should these men be remembered: George Rogers Clark, John Paul Jones, Benjamin Franklin, Bernardo de Galvez?

See Chapter IX.

REFERENCES

CHAPTER XI

NATIONAL DIFFICULTIES

State Government. — During the American Revolution, many of the states adopted provisional governments based upon their old charters. The government was largely in the hands of a governor and a local assembly. The local courts were presided over by judges appointed by the assembly.

When war was over an attempt was made by the states to make their government permanent, and to arrange their state constitutions so as to meet the needs of their communities. The plan of reorganization brought about some serious difficulties. The states, being jealous of each other's growing power, made many efforts to advance their own interests. They were especially anxious about commercial advantages. Each levied taxes upon all foreign imports and even went so far as to tax the goods coming from one state into another. They vied with each other in trying to secure foreign treaties, and entered into serious disputes over boundaries and the navigation of rivers.

General Needs for Union. When the treaty of peace was signed, it was agreed that the debts due British subjects should be paid, but many of these payments were neglected. Because of this, England refused to remove her troops from the back country. These forces with their Indian allies proved a menace to the Americans migrating into the Northwest. American ships had been captured by the Barbary pirates. There was no strong national force to adjust all of these conditions.

Principal Needs for Union. There were many other needs for a firm union of the states, but the principal ones may be summed up as follows:

First, to make foreign treaties and secure strong trade relations between America and Europe.

Second, to pay the national debt incurred during the Revolution and thus insure the future of the United States.

Third, to secure control of the Northwest territory so as to give opportunity for safe emigration to the West.

Fourth, to have a uniform tariff on all foreign goods and to regulate interstate trade.

Fifth, to fix boundaries and adjust the problem of free navigation of inland streams.

Sixth, to establish a uniform money system and fix the standard of weights and measures.

Seventh, to secure a uniform postal service so as to make communication easy and inexpensive.

First Conference. In 1785, a conference of Virginia and Maryland representatives met at Alexandria to decide the question of the navigation of the Potomac. It was agreed to confer with Washington at his home at Mount

Vernon. During the conference it was decided that, as many of the questions brought up could not be settled by these states alone, it might be well to call a convention of the states to meet in Annapolis the next year.

On September 11, 1786, twelve commissioners met, representing the states of New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and Virginia. Plans for adjusting the interests of the states were again discussed, but these delegates also realized that it was most urgent to get all of the states interested, and so another call was issued for a convention to be held in Philadelphia, the next May.

Constitutional Convention. Each state selected the strongest men to represent them in this convention, for each knew that grave questions had to be settled. Of the fifty-five delegates, upward of thirty were lawyers. All of the states were represented except Rhode Island. The convention formally opened with Washington as President and William Jackson as Secretary. For several months daily sessions were held behind closed doors in order that debates might be free and discussions might not be misquoted and misunderstood. There were three great compromises made before the final draft of the Constitution was adopted. The first was on the question of representation.

Virginia Plan. — This plan, presented by the delegates from Virginia and representing the wishes of most of the larger states, was as follows: "That the Legislative branch should consist of two houses, the first elected by the people of the states for three years, the second by the state legislature for seven years; the executive should be chosen by the two houses of the national legislature. The representation in each house should be according to the respective population of the states or their quotas of contribution." This was opposed by the smaller states who realized that they would always be outnumbered by the larger commonwealths.

New Jersey Plan. The smaller states were represented by New Jersey, who presented a plan whereby the states should have equal representation in the Congress and the old form of the Articles of Confederation should be revised. Since this was not satisfactory, a compromise was offered by Connecticut. It provided that each state was to have equal representation in the Senate, and representation in the lower house according to the population. This plan was accepted; and arrangements were made whereby the members of the House of Representatives were to be elected every two years, and the Senators every six years. Other Compromises. There was some discussion as to the status of negroes and how they should be counted. It was agreed that the count should be made on the basis of five negroes for three white persons. This was known as the three-fifths ratio. Some members of the convention wished a provision whereby the foreign slave trade should be abolished. This involved the question of Congressional control of commerce, and caused much discussion. It was at last decided that the foreign slave trade should continue until 1808, that a tax of ten dollars per capita should be paid on all imported slaves, and further, that only a majority vote was needed to give Congress the power to pass trade laws.

Adoption of Constitution. It was agreed that as soon as two thirds of the states should adopt the Constitution, it should be recognized as the formal system of national government.

Survey. When it was publicly announced that nine states had ratified the Constitution, there was great joy throughout the country.

In Philadelphia, a grand celebration took place on the Fourth of July in special honor of the event. Five thousand people formed an imposing parade; and speech making and fireworks carried the celebration far into the night.