Chapter 4: A New Nation

Chapter 4 traces the transformation of the United States government from a young nation loosely structured under the Articles of Confederation to a strong federal government under the Constitution.

Section 1 examines the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. The Articles of Confederation failed to address many of the pressing needs of the new nation. Debts plagued Congress, paper money lost its value, and tensions between the colonists led to civil unrest. In 1787 state delegates wrote the Constitution, which created a stronger federal government based on three branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. The new government extended presidential powers, curbed state legislatures' powers, and divided state representation in Congress into two houses.

Section 2 follows the campaign for and against ratifying the new Constitution. When delegates presented their draft of the Constitution, heated debates swept throughout the states. Federalists, who were in favor of the proposed Constitution, welcomed a strong central government. Anti-Federalists felt that the Constitution ignored individuals' rights. In the end, all states ratified the new Constitution, and 10 amendments, known as the Bill of Rights, were added to the document.

Section 3 looks at the first presidential administration to govern the United States under the Constitution. It also discusses the main differences between two of its members—Thomas Jefferson and Alexander Hamilton—that led to the first political parties. Federalists supported Hamilton's idea of America as a nation of big business and powerful government, while Jefferson's support of the freedoms of the common people appealed to the Democratic-Republicans. The early administrations met challenges that served to strengthen the powers of the federal government and the Supreme Court. When tensions with Britain escalated into war, the United States proved its independence in a victory that increased national pride and confidence.