The New The New NationNationIn the beginning…In the beginning…

12 June 177612 June 1776• Second Continental CongressSecond Continental Congress–Wants a “confederation” of the 13 Wants a “confederation” of the 13

statesstates–Preparation for the RevolutionPreparation for the Revolution–Signals a change from the status Signals a change from the status

of coloniesof colonies–Marks progress to a union of the Marks progress to a union of the

statesstates• Before the Declaration was draftedBefore the Declaration was drafted

Drew a Five Page Document

15 November 177715 November 1777• Draft ratified by the States for useDraft ratified by the States for use• Terms of the AgreementTerms of the Agreement– Rules on operations of the governmentRules on operations of the government– Can make WarCan make War– Capable of negotiating with foreign powersCapable of negotiating with foreign powers– To resolve conflicts on western territory To resolve conflicts on western territory

claimsclaims• Union “shall be perpetual”Union “shall be perpetual”• Articles will be “inviolably observed by every Articles will be “inviolably observed by every

state”state”

It’s Only Purpose Was to Wage It’s Only Purpose Was to Wage WarWar

The Structure Meets with Criticism

Major Complaints:• No President or other executive!No President or other executive!• No Judiciary or court system!No Judiciary or court system!• No tax base to pay for the No tax base to pay for the

Revolution!Revolution!• Each state got ONE delegate anEach state got ONE delegate and it d it

took 9 took 9 of the 13 to get anything of the 13 to get anything done!done!• Reality: it was the HONOR SYSTEMReality: it was the HONOR SYSTEM

BACKGROUND OF THE ARTICLES

Perspective:Perspective:

Benjamin Franklin gets the idea for Union1754 Albany Congress for collaboration resembles Articles1754 Albany Congress for collaboration resembles Articles

Franklin’s cartoon gets new meaning in the Revolution

It was also the time to unite…• States had their own constitutions States had their own constitutions

(unlike many nations!)(unlike many nations!)• These guys never ran a government These guys never ran a government

beforebefore

Basically, This is What It Said…Basically, This is What It Said…• States are sovereign (independent)States are sovereign (independent)• Calls the US a “league of friendship”…Calls the US a “league of friendship”…for for

defense, security, general welfare, allied defense, security, general welfare, allied against attacks by outsiders (Britain)against attacks by outsiders (Britain)

• Americans can move from state to state, get Americans can move from state to state, get its liberty, and get extradited if he commits its liberty, and get extradited if he commits a a crime in anothercrime in another

• Each state Each state gets one vote, but takes nine to gets one vote, but takes nine to actact

• CCanada can join if it anada can join if it wants towants to

The Loose Union is Grounded in the PastThe Loose Union is Grounded in the Past

Loose Union (Antifederalists)Loose Union (Antifederalists)

• Fear of going back to a Fear of going back to a gov’t like Britaingov’t like Britain

• Advocate States’ RightsAdvocate States’ Rights• Power base and interests Power base and interests

are different in each are different in each regionregion– New EnglandNew England– Middle StatesMiddle States– The SouthThe South

Strong Union (Federalists)

• Fear of weak army Fear of weak army against a possible foreign against a possible foreign invasioninvasion

• Debts mount as war Debts mount as war continuescontinues

• Prevent war among the Prevent war among the states and local interestsstates and local interests

• Leadership is bourgeois Leadership is bourgeois (wealthy middle classes)(wealthy middle classes)

The Federalists: The Federalists: George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John JayGeorge Washington, Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

These guys wanted a stronger document to promote trade and assure the nation of “status”

Antifederalists: Patrick Henry, Sam Adams, Thomas Jefferson, James Monroe

These are the ones These are the ones who opposed who opposed anything stronger anything stronger than the Articlesthan the Articles

The Fight Lasts until 1787The Fight Lasts until 1787

So the Revolution is over…So the Revolution is over………and now the soldiers want what they were and now the soldiers want what they were

promised.promised.

• Newburgh ConspiracyNewburgh Conspiracy—former officers —former officers in NY want the pensions promised in NY want the pensions promised (1783)(1783)

• Philadelphia RiotsPhiladelphia Riots—PA vets force —PA vets force Congress to leave the capitalCongress to leave the capital

• Shays’ RebellionShays’ Rebellion—western MA vets —western MA vets need money to stop foreclosuresneed money to stop foreclosures

Shays’ Rebellion

As a nation, the US acted globally…As a nation, the US acted globally…• 1786—the Barbary Pirates attack 1786—the Barbary Pirates attack

American ships—no navy or army to American ships—no navy or army to protect them!protect them!

• 1786—Jay-Gardoqui Treaty with Spain 1786—Jay-Gardoqui Treaty with Spain never approved by Congress (Mississippi never approved by Congress (Mississippi River conflicts)River conflicts)

• 1783ff—the British still occupy forts on 1783ff—the British still occupy forts on American land in 1795American land in 1795

• Money owed to France, Spain, RussiaMoney owed to France, Spain, Russia

Economics play a big part:Economics play a big part:• Requests to states for money went unansweredRequests to states for money went unanswered• The “Continental” dollar depreciated (inflation)The “Continental” dollar depreciated (inflation)– By 1779, it took an equal weight of money to by food of By 1779, it took an equal weight of money to by food of

the same size and weight (only worth the paper written the same size and weight (only worth the paper written upon)upon)

– Jay said, the early solvency of the US depended on Jay said, the early solvency of the US depended on honoring contracts (paying its bills)honoring contracts (paying its bills)

• No regulation of trade with foreign nations or No regulation of trade with foreign nations or among the statesamong the states

• Huge debts go unpaid by some states; others pay Huge debts go unpaid by some states; others pay their owntheir own

ACCOMPLISHMENTS OF THE ARTICLESNot all was bad…Not all was bad…

Two Territorial SettlementsTwo Territorial Settlements• Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785 • Northwest OrdinanceNorthwest Ordinance

What They DidWhat They DidLand Ordinance of 1785• Establishes practice of

land surveys• Townships of 36 (6 x 6)

square miles• One of the 36 squares

had to be used to support public schools

• One-quarter was the basic unit for government sale of land to settlers (160 acres)

Northwest Ordinance (1787)

• States gave up rights to States gave up rights to territories (IL claimed by territories (IL claimed by NY, VA, CT, PA and MA)NY, VA, CT, PA and MA)

• Slavery abolished in the Slavery abolished in the five states that would be five states that would be made of the Northwest made of the Northwest TerritoryTerritory– OhioOhio– IndianaIndiana– MichiganMichigan– IllinoisIllinois– WisconsinWisconsin

THE US UNDER THE ARTICLESTHE US UNDER THE ARTICLESLife without EnglandLife without England

Analysis of the ArticlesAnalysis of the Articles

Pretty much it was chaotic…Pretty much it was chaotic…• British and French mercantilism kept American British and French mercantilism kept American

goods and materials out of marketsgoods and materials out of markets• Congress, even with 9/13 needed to ratify Congress, even with 9/13 needed to ratify

votes, couldn’t enforce its lawsvotes, couldn’t enforce its laws• State courts and the bourgeoisie ran the showState courts and the bourgeoisie ran the show• The US is flooded with British goods and The US is flooded with British goods and

compete with domestic producerscompete with domestic producers• The “continental” isn’t worth much spending The “continental” isn’t worth much spending

powerpower

And it just got worse…And it just got worse…• States acted as independent nationsStates acted as independent nations– Some made laws to keep British ships outSome made laws to keep British ships out– Others (CT) took advantage of it by opening theirsOthers (CT) took advantage of it by opening theirs– Most states sought out their own best interestsMost states sought out their own best interests– Most refused to send money or soldiersMost refused to send money or soldiers

• Lack of a standing army left the populous helplessLack of a standing army left the populous helpless– Native attacks increased west of the AppalachiansNative attacks increased west of the Appalachians– Americans on ships were impressed by EuropeansAmericans on ships were impressed by Europeans– Pirates looted American merchant ships (Barbary Pirates looted American merchant ships (Barbary

pirates are from Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya in Africapirates are from Algeria, Tunisia, and Libya in Africa

• The Articles were set to expire in 1790!The Articles were set to expire in 1790!

WEAKNESSWEAKNESS OUTCOMEOUTCOMECongress had no power to levy taxes The government was always short of

money

Congress had no power to regulate interstate or foreign trade

Economic quarrels among states; difficulty arrange trade with other countries

Congress had no power to enforce its laws

Government depended on the states to enforce its laws

Approval of nine states was needed to enact laws

Few laws passed or were enacted

Amendments to the Articles required the consent of all thirteen states

No practical way to change the powers of government

The government had no executive branch

No effective way to coordinate the work of government

There was no national court system Central government powerless to settle disputes between states

Attempts to Remedy the ProblemsAttempts to Remedy the Problems• Problems with Having Problems:Problems with Having Problems:– Unanimous approval was neededUnanimous approval was needed– Congress can’t reach a consensusCongress can’t reach a consensus

• Annapolis Convention—1786 Annapolis Convention—1786 (Madison’s idea)Madison’s idea)– Purpose: Purpose: reduce interstate conflictsreduce interstate conflicts– Few attend, but will meet again in Philadelphia 1787Few attend, but will meet again in Philadelphia 1787

• Philadelphia’sPhiladelphia’s Constitutional ConventionConstitutional Convention– PurposePurpose: to amend the Articles: to amend the Articles– SecretSecret meetings lead to a new constitution meetings lead to a new constitution– Try to get as close to a republic as described by the Try to get as close to a republic as described by the

Enlightenment philosophersEnlightenment philosophers

Opposition to Strong Central GovernmentsOpposition to Strong Central Governments• Led by Patrick Henry, George Mason, et alLed by Patrick Henry, George Mason, et al• Feel the Revolution was fought for Feel the Revolution was fought for

autonomyautonomy• Said the Federalists wanted commerce and Said the Federalists wanted commerce and

prestige—become a wealthy empireprestige—become a wealthy empire• Felt a strong government would take rights Felt a strong government would take rights

from the states and the peoplefrom the states and the people

Articles v ConstitutionArticles v Constitution

Fundamentally, They End Up with…Fundamentally, They End Up with…