chapter 7 a more perfect union (1777-1790) section 1 the articles of confederation
TRANSCRIPT
Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union (1777-1790)
Section 1 The Articles of Confederation
Second Continental Congress• Needed a plan of
government that met the needs of all 13 states
• The states joined to fight against the British, but would they be able to work together and maintain their independence?
• The states’ first task was to establish their own political institutions.
State Constitutions• May 1776, Congress
asked the states to organize their governments.
• Each state adopted a constitutionconstitution (Plan of government)
• Each learned from British rule and did not want too much power for a single ruler.
• Pennsylvania even had an elected council with 12 members.
• Each had limited power for the governor.
Limiting Power• States also divided
government functions between the governor and the legislature
• Most states established bicameral (two-house) legislatures to divide power even further
• The writers of the constitutions wanted to keep the power in the hands of the people.
Limiting Power (cont.)
• Elections were frequent .
• In order to vote (in most states) you had to be a white male, 21 years old or older, and own property.
• Some states allowed free African Americans to vote.
Forming a Republic
• Americans agreed that they should be a republicrepublic
• Citizens rule through elected representatives.
• Disagreements arose on organization of the powers.
• Most Americans wanted a weak central government.
Forming a Republic (cont.)
• Each state would be like independent countries.
• States would act independently on most issues.
• The central government would only wage war and handle relations with other nations.
Planning a New Government• 1776- Congress appointed a
committee to draw a constitution
• November 1777- The Articles Articles of Confederationof Confederation was adopted
• Was America’s first constitution• Central government in which
the states kept most of their power
• Under the Articles Congress had the power to conduct foreign affairs, maintain armed forces, borrow money, and issue currency
John Hanson- 1st President of the United
States under the Articles of
Confederation
Weaknesses of the Articles• Congress could not regulate trade
• Or force citizens to join the army
• Or impose taxes
• If Congress needed money they had to ask the state legislatures- but they were NOT required to contribute
• Congress lacked a chief executive
The Confederation Government• 1781-1789• Did not provide a strong enough
government• To pass a law 9 states had to
agree• Despite weaknesses it made
some important achievements• Under the Confederation
government, Americans won independence and expanded foreign trade
• Also helped with the governing if western territories
Moving West• 1790- About 120,000 lived west
of the Appalachian Mountains
• Settlers hoped to organize lands as states and join the union
• Land claims were given up and Congress took control of these lands
• 1784- Congress divided the western territory into self-governing districts
• When the number of people in a district reached the population of the smallest existing state, that district could petitionpetition for statehood
The Ordinance of 1785• 1785- Congress passed an
ordinanceordinance (law) that established a procedure for surveying and selling western lands north of the Ohio River
• Divided the massive territory into 6 miles by 6 miles townships
• Townships were divided into 36 sections (640 acres)
• Each would be sold at public auction
• To govern the territory, a new ordinance was needed
The Northwest Ordinance• 1787- Created a single
Northwest Territory• North of the Ohio River
and east of the Mississippi River
• Divided into 3 to 5 smaller territories
• When the population reached 60,000 the people could petition for statehood
• Each new state would have the same rights as the original 13 states
More of the Northwest Ordinance• Had a bill of rights for settlers• Guaranteed freedom of
religion and trial by jury• Slavery was outlawed• This clauseclause (condition added
to a document) marked the first attempt to stop the spread of slavery in the US
• The Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance opened the way for settlement of the Northwest Territory in a stable and orderly manner
Financial Problems• By 1781- The money printed during the Revolutionary
War depreciateddepreciated (fell in value) so far that it was almost worthless.
• Taxes could not be collected so Congress and the states printed their own paper money.
• Not backed in silver or gold, so it had no real value.
• War for independence left Congress with a huge debt.
• Congress owned money to American soldiers, citizens, and foreign nations.
• Did not have the money to send.
Robert Morris’s Import Tax• 1781- The finances were collapsing.• Congress created a department of
finance led by Philadelphia merchant Robert Morris.
• Morris proposed a 5% tax on imported goods to help pay the debt.
• The plan called for a change to the Articles to give Congress the power to tax.
• Rhode Island refused so it did not pass.
• The financial crisis continued to worsen.
Problems With Britain• The British did not leave the forts they were supposed to
according to the Treaty of Paris (1783)
• Americans complained that the British were keeping them out of the West Indies and other British markets
• 1785- John AdamsJohn Adams was sent to London to discuss the problems
• The British responded that the United States did not live up to their side of the Treaty.
• The states never paid the loyalists that lost their land and property
Problems With Spain• Spain wanted to stop American expansion into its
territory
• Spain closed the lower Mississippi River to American shipping in 1784
• Westerners no longer had this trade route
• The Confederation could not handle the issues properly.
• These problems worried many leaders and they saw that there was a need for a stronger government.
Assignment
• On a separate sheet of paper, choose one passage from this section and write a paragraph explaining something new you learned.
• Be sure to use the Elephant Paragraph format:– Introduction sentence– Supporting information sentence– Supporting information sentence– Outside information sentence– Concluding sentence