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