Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union (1777-1790)

Lesson 1 The Articles of Confederation

Essential Question

• How effective was government under the articles of confederation?

How effective was government under 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 constitution (Plan of government)
• Each learned from British rule and did not want too much power on a single ruler
• Each had limited power on the governor
• Pennsylvania even had an elected council with 12 members

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
• 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 republic
• Citizens rule through elected representatives
• Disagreements arose on organization of the powers
• Most Americans wanted a weak central government
• 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

Discussion in pairs

• Why would most Americans want a weak central government following the Declaration of Independence?

Planning a New Government

• 1776- Congress appointed a committee to draw a constitution
• November 1777- The Articles of 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- 1^st President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation

Section 1

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could do which of the following?

A. Regulate trade

B. Force citizens to join � the army

C. Impose taxes

D. Conduct foreign affairs

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

More of the Articles

• The Articles were not fully supported by the states
• Each state got one vote, regardless of population
• All states had to approve the articles and any amendments
• Larger states believed they should have more votes
• Some states claimed land in the West
• Maryland refused to approve the Articles until these states abandoned these land claims
• The states did and all 13 states approved the Articles on March 1, 1781

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 of western territories

Exit Slip

Were the Articles of Confederation a success or a failure? Explain

Moving West

• Before the Revolutionary War, only a few thousand lived west of the Appalachian Mountains
• 1790- About 120,000
• 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 petition for statehood

The Ordinance of 1785

• 1785- Congress passed an ordinance (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 clause (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

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Financial Problems

• By 1781- The money printed during the Revolutionary War depreciated (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
• “Not worth a continental”- worthless
• War for independence left Congress with a huge debt
• Congress owed money to American citizens and foreign nations
• Still owed money to soldiers
• States did not send money

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 the Articles to be changed 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 didn’t 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 Adams was sent to London to discuss the problems
• The British responded that the United States didn’t live up to their side of the Treaty
• The states never paid the loyalists that lost their land and property

Section 1

1. A
2. B
3. C
4. D

Who honored all the promises they made in the Treaty of Paris?

A. Both Britain and the � United States

B. Just Britain

C. Just the United States

D. Neither Britain nor the � United States

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 deal with these problems
• These problems worried many leaders and they saw that there was a need for a stronger government

Essential Question

• How effective was government under the articles of confederation?

How effective was government under the Articles of Confederation?

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-Ineffective because the Congress lacked important economic and diplomatic powers.

Chapter 7 Lesson 1 Quiz

The Americans were ready to concentrate power in the hands of one ruler.

1. True
2. False

The war left the Continental Congress with a large debt.

1. True
2. False

The Americans formed a republic, a government in which citizens rule through

1. elected representatives.
2. monarchies.
3. kingships.
4. appointed representatives.

What was the single territory that was created out of the lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River?

1. Mississippi Territory
2. Western Territory
3. Northwest Territory
4. Ohio Territory

One major weakness of the Confederation was that it could not deal with

1. drawing maps.
2. new states.
3. Native Americans.
4. the nation's finances.