Historical Background

1
Historical Background Intro to Rational Choice
Theory

• Three historical venues
• Campaign for Ratification of the American
  Constitution, 1787-1788
• Long battle over political and economic reform in
  Victorian Britain, 1832-1885
• Drive for Confederation in Canada, 1864-1867

2
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• American Revolution Declaration of
  Independence, 1776
• United States formed initially under Articles of
  Confederation
• Articles created a loose federation in which
  federal government was,
• Responsible for foreign affairs defence
• Reliant on states for revenue no federal taxes!
• Members of Congress appointed by States and
  attendance not compulsory!

3
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• State governments were themselves weak
• Debilitating public debts from war with Britain
• Rhode Island blanket debt forgiveness!
• Shays Rebellion in 1787
• Except in Mass., executive branches of states
  were weak (e.g., no veto)
• Legislature pre-eminent, but subject to rotation,
  term limits, recall

4
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• The result was a weak inefficient federal
  government
• Congress have come to no determination yet
  respecting the Peace Establishment, nor am I able
  to say when they will. I have lately had a
  conference with a Committee on this subject, and
  have reiterated my former opinions, but it
  appears to me that there is not a sufficient
  representation to discuss Great National points.
• (Washington to Clinton)

5
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• Madisons Vices (of the Articles)
• Trespasses of the States on the rights of each
  other.
• These are alarming symptoms, and may be daily
  apprehended as we are admonished by daily
  experience. See the law of Virginia restricting
  foreign vessels to certain ports of Maryland in
  favor of vessels belonging to her own citizens
  of N. York in favor of the same.

6
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• Madisons Vices (of the Articles)
• Want of concert in matters where common interest
  requires it.
• This defect is strongly illustrated in the state
  of our commercial affairs. How much has the
  national dignity, interest, and revenue suffered
  from this cause? Instances of inferior moment are
  the want of uniformity in the laws concerning
  naturalization literary property of provision
  for national seminaries, for grants of
  incorporation for national purposes, for canals
  and other works of general utility, wch. may at
  present be defeated by the perverseness of
  particular States whose concurrence is necessary.

7
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• Amendment of Articles is problematic, requires
  unanimity
• Madison Virginians organize Annapolis
  Convention
• to meet such other Commissioners as were, or
  might be, appointed by the other States in the
  Union, at such time and place as should be agreed
  upon by the said Commissions to take into
  consideration the trade and commerce of the
  United States, to consider how far a uniform
  system in their commercial intercourse and
  regulations might be necessary to their common
  interest and permanent harmony...

8
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• These Commissioners meet in Philadelphia in
  1787
• Two broad camps
• Federalists (e.g., Madison, Hamilton, Morris) a
  majority
• Anti-federalists (e.g. Elbridge Gerry)

9
Ratification of the American Constitution,
1787-1788

• Madisons Virginia Plan
• Centralized republic
• Antagonistic to states parochialism
• but what about legitimate state interests?
• abiding fear of concentrated power?
• The New Jersey Plan The Articlesagain ?
• The Hamilton Plan almost monarchical
• Source http//teachingamericanhistory.org/convent
  ion/

10
Political Economic Reform in Victorian Britain

• End of the old regime
• 1776 Loss of American Revolution
• Pulls power away from King to Parliament
  Cabinet
• 1789 French Revolution
• Creates elite resistance to radical reform (e.g.
  universal suffrage)
• 1803-1815 Napoleonic Wars
• Leaves Britain as worlds unchallenged
  superpower, but at great financial cost

11
Political Economic Reform in Victorian Britain

• Beyond these political events, great economic and
  social change
• Industrial Revolution Urbanization
• Growing and increasingly radical working class
• Shift of wealth from country to city, i.e., elite
  divisions between Tories (old, landed
  aristocracy) and Liberals/Whigs (newer, urban
  capitalists)
• Peterloo Massacre 1819, Corn Law Repeal,
  Chartism

12
Political Economic Reform in Victorian Britain

• Response is evolutionary change
• Reform Acts, 1832, 1868, 1885
• Repeal of the Corn Laws Free Trade in 1847
• Ascendancy of Cabinet Commons, 1910
• Home Rule in Ireland, 1921

13
Drive for Confederation in Canada 1864-1867

• Impetus generated by Rebellions of 1837 1838
• Durham Report
• Responsible Government
• Provides motive for temporary unity among
  colonists Baldwin-Lafontaine Coalition

14
Drive for Confederation in Canada 1864-1867

• Impetus generated by Rebellions of 1837 1838
• Durham Report
• Assimilation Act of Union 1841
• Fuses Upper Lower Canada
• Equal representation in Legislative Assembly
• Marred by deep social cleavages, double-majority
  principle weak / non-existent parties

15
Drive for Confederation in Canada 1864-1867

• Key players realise that building a durable
  centrist coalition is the key
• the mass of the people are sound, moderate in
  their demands and attached to British
  institutions, but they have been oppressed by a
  miserable little oligarchy on one hand, and
  excited by a few factious demagogues on the
  other. I can make a middle reforming party, I
  feel sure, which will put down both.
• Lord Sydenham
• (Careless 1967, 39)

16
Drive for Confederation in Canada 1864-1867

• How to build such a coalition?
• G-G loses battle vs Responsible Government early
  on
• John A. Macdonald Conservative accommodation
  with the French.
• George Brown Radicalism Rep-by-pop