Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union (1777-1790)

Lesson 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 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

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

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