THE CONFEDERATION GOVERNMENT

• Greater freedom of religion•moves toward separation of church & state• states that continued to support religion apportioned funds

• Titles of nobility Titles of nobility denounceddenounced

• Moves to abolish slaveryMoves to abolish slavery•Military service earned freedom for some slaves• By 1780, abolished in Northern states with gradual emancipation laws (“manumission”)(“manumission”)

• All states prohibited All states prohibited importation of slavesimportation of slaves

• In South, all but GA & SC removed laws that kept owners from freeing slaves

• So why not abolish slavery entirely?

• Small move toward increasing women’s legal rights• easier to get a divorce• BUT, really very small changes in

male attitudes

• Abigail Adams asks John to Abigail Adams asks John to “remember the ladies”“remember the ladies”

• Home front efforts during Rev. War increased their influence

• More educationeducation for women because:• Republican gov’t demands well-educated citizenry• Their role in training next generation in republican values – “Republican “Republican Motherhood”Motherhood”

Query: Was the American Revolution a strong social revolution?

• Resulting from shared sacrifices, wartime mobility of leaders & need to find common solutions to wartime problems

• Manufacturing & interstate trade stimulated by war & encouraged pride in American self-sufficiency

• National heroes from the War• This nationalism strengthened desire for

distinct American culture•Noah Webster, speller / reader• John Trumbull, art

JOHN TRUMBULL PAINTINGS

• Most states had constitutions even before Dec. of Ind.

• Evidenced a peaceful method for altering political systems

• Why did many move their capitals westward?

• All had:•elected legislatures where the power was concentrated• an executive branch, 1 yr terms, strong governors with veto power•Court systems

• Most had Bill of Rights

• Voters - still property owners/taxpayers

• Unicameral Congress• Only one branch• One vote per state• State sovereignty• Ratification &

amendment requires all 13 states

• Sent to states for approval in 1777; won’t get it until 1781 – Why?• Western land claims• Unanimous approval

required

• No power to tax• No executive branch• No federal courts• No power to regulate

interstate commerce• No national currency• LACK OF A STRONG LACK OF A STRONG

CENTRAL CENTRAL GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT

ORGANIZATION:

WEAKNESSES:

“A Firm League of Friendship”

LAND ORDINANCE ACT OF 1785

Purpose: sell off western land to

pay off the national debtProvided an orderly method to

settle land N of the Ohio River by division into

townships- 6 miles square with 36 sections, 1 square mile each Provided first federal $ for

public education (Sec. 16proceeds went to public ed.)

A major achievement of the Confederation!A major achievement of the Confederation!

• 5,000 citizens in a territory gives it territorial status – territorial legislatures

• Once population of 60,000 persons reached, could then apply for statehood

• Prohibited slavery north of Ohio River!

Economic ConcernsEconomic ConcernsLoyalists’ property….supposed to be returned

Dependent on farming, British Navigation Acts really hurt American economy post independence

Able to trade with other nations, lucrative trade opens up with China and others

Debts from war, inflation, & speculation were problems during and after the war

American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789

THE CONFEDERATION THE CONFEDERATION GOVERNMENTGOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN RELATIONS:• TREATYOF PARIS OF 1783 – •A major accomplishment!

• RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN:• John Adams as foreign minister from U.S. / None from GB to U.S. – why not?• BR remaining in frontier military posts / fur trade

• TRADE SUFFERS•New England excluded from West Indies; shipbuilding declines• British dump low-priced manufactured goods on American market•Why didn’t U.S. impose import restrictions on GB?

• WITH SPAIN:WITH SPAIN:• SPAIN WAS A

“CO-BELLIGERENT,”

NOT AN ALLY• CLAIMS U.S. BOUNDARIES

ARE WRONG• CONTROLLED NEW

ORLEANS & THREATENED WESTERN TRADE BY U.S.

• WESTERNERS DEMAND “right of deposit” AT NEW ORLEANS

• SPAIN REFUSES

• U.S. is unable to repay war loans• France had expected commercial

opportunities after the war … special trading status•Didn’t get it

• States taxing goods from their neighborsStates taxing goods from their neighbors• Congress had no power to regulate interstate commerce

• Some states levied tariffs on British goods, so BR would just bring goods in through states that didn’t

• Confederation Gov’t didn’t have authority to put national tariffs on BR goods - would have helped American economy (INFLATION!) & cash flow

• Confederation Congress sought 5% tariff duty in 1781 – but required approval of all 13 states and… RI wouldn’t approve

• No national currency so states issue their own:• print too much; values differed so not accepted outside state

• Stay Laws for debtor relief

• MA Farmers returning from War couldn’t pay taxes (60% increase) -jailed or their land confiscated• Over 1200 rebelled by closing

2 Springfield, MA courts & then attacking arsenal

• MA appeals to Congress for help -- no power to do so

• Captain Daniel Shays & his regulars are ultimately defeated by a privately raised MA militia

• SignificanceSignificance: pointed out lack of authority, order & power of the Confederation Government

Liberty Run Mad!Liberty Run Mad!

“There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders.”

-- George Washington-- George Washington

• 1785, reps from VA & MD meet in Mt. Vernon

• Suggest conference in Annapolis of all states to discuss common problems of commercecommerce

• Only 5 states sent reps (not MD!)• Alexander Hamilton suggests

Philadelphia Convention to revise Articles of Confederation ..and address all problems, not just commerce