US HISTORY Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union 1777-1790.

US HISTORY

Chapter 7A More Perfect

Union1777-1790

Lesson 1 – The Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation Adopted by Second Continental Congress in November 1777 Became first constitution for US Under the Articles, states kept most of their power Congress could conduct foreign affairs, maintain armed

forces, borrow money, & issue currency Congress could NOT regulate trade, force citizens to join the

army, or impose taxes Under the Articles, each state had one vote in

Congress...9/13 states had to approve any laws...13/13 states had to approve amendments


Land Ordinance of 1785 Established the procedure

for surveying & selling the western lands north of the Ohio River

Set up the township system 6 miles x 6 miles 36 sections each 1 mile x

1 mile 1 section reserved for

schools Lands sold at auction to

raise money to pay off debt from Revolutionary War


Northwest Ordinance Passed in 1787 Created the Northwest

Territory (lands east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River)

NW Territory was to be divided into 3-5 smaller territories and each of the smaller territories could apply for statehood once their population reached 60,000

Slavery was made illegal here first attempt by the govt. to stop the spread of slavery


Land Act of 1800 Law written by William

Henry Harrison (NW Territory rep in the House of Representatives)

Law made it easier to buy land in NW Territory by setting up payment plan

Settler had to buy at least 320 acres for $2/acre…paid one-half of the cost up front and rest in four yearly payments


Problems with the Articles Value of currency

decreased, price of goods increased

Congress had huge debt with no power to pay it off (couldn’t tax)

Britain held onto forts in the Great Lakes region

Spain cut off access to the lower Mississippi River

Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution

Shays’ Rebellion Began in 1786 (MA) Farmers were thrown in

jail because they couldn’t pay their debts

Group of farmers, led by Daniel Shays, forced courts in western MA to close


Shays’ Rebellion Jan 1787 – Shays & 1000

followers marched to Springfield, MA to overtake the federal arsenal there

MA state militia fired on the men, killing four

Shays & his men scattered...end of the rebellion

Scared a lot of Americans...they believed the govt. was too weak to protect them


Constitutional Convention Many called for a change to the Articles Convention began in Philadelphia in May 1787 Purpose was to change the Articles 55 delegates...12/13 states represented (RI) George Washington selected as President of the Convention James Madison kept meticulous notes...later became known

as the “Father of the Constitution” Meetings were not public...delegates wanted to be free to

change their mind After the Convention began, decision was made to scrap the

Articles and write a new Constitution


Virginia Plan Plan was written by James

Madison, presented by Edmund Randolph

Called for a two-house legislature, a chief executive chosen by the legislature, and a court system

Legislature – both houses would be based on population

Small states immediately objected


New Jersey Plan Presented by William Paterson Called for a one-house

legislature based on equal representation

Legislature would be able to set taxes and regulate trade (unable to do these under the Articles)

Legislature would select executive branch (more than one person)


The Great Compromise Settled the debate b/w large

& small states Called for a two-house

legislature Lower House (House of

Representatives) – based on population

Upper House (Senate) – based on equal representation...each state gets two Senators


3/5 Compromise With one house being

based on population, question was raised on how to count slaves

Compromise was to count 3/5 of all slaves for representation & taxation purposes

Also agreed that Congress could not interfere with slave trade until 1808


Approval of the Constitution September 17, 1787 –

delegates assembled to sign the Constitution

Constitution was sent to the states...would become the law of the land once 9/13 states approved it

Lesson 3 – A New Plan of Government

Federalists v. Anti-Federalists Supporters of the new Constitution were called

Federalists included George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay

Federalist Papers – series of essays written by Madison, Hamilton, & Jay explained why the Constitution should be ratified

Anti-Federalists – opposed the Constitution Thomas Jefferson & Patrick Henry...felt a strong national government would take away the individual liberties fought for in the Revolution

Lesson 3 – A New Plan of Government

Adopting the Constitution Dec 7, 1787 – Delaware became the first state

to ratify June 21, 1788 – New Hampshire became 9th

state, made the Constitution go into effect NY & VA (2 largest states) still needed to ratify Both ratified after getting assurances that a Bill

of Rights would be passed May 1790 – RI becomes 13th state to ratify

US HISTORY Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union 1777-1790.

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