The Confederation Era Ch. 8 sec. 1 Mrs. Brennan-Stover

Moving West The Wilderness Road – a 250 mile trail into Kentucky built by Daniel Boone and 30 woodsmen Settlers moved into Kentucky’s rich river valleys where few Native Americans lived Tensions with Native Americans grew as more settlers moved into the area

New State Governments Each state set up its own government Did not want to destroy the political systems they had as colonies – wanted to make them more democratic Some states created separate branches with different powers to keep them from becoming to powerful Some states included a bill of rights All had a republican form of governemnt

The Articles of Confederation Needed to create a new national government The Continental Congress began to develop a plan in 1776 – Agreed on a republic – Disagreed about voting One vote per state Voting based on population – Disagreed about control of western lands National government control Control by individual states

The Articles of Confederation Created a weak national government because Americans were afraid of tyrranny National government run by a Confederation Congress – One vote per state National government had the power to wage war, make peace, sign treaties, and issue money

Articles of Confederation Strong states States had most of the important powers including taxation and enforcing national laws original proposal was to let the states control the western lands

Articles of Confederation The Articles were passed by Congress in November 1777 Small states w/o western lands refused to ratify – Disadvantaged because western lands could be sold to pay off war debts States gave up western lands to national government and the Articles were passed

Control of Western Lands The Continental Congress had to determine what to do with the western lands it now controlled Passed laws to divide and govern the land – Land Ordinance of 1785 – Northwest Ordinance (1787)

Land Ordinance of 1785 Land was divided into six-mile square plots called townships Land became known as the Northwest Territory Included present day Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota

Northwest Ordinance (1787) Described how the Northwest Territory would be governed As the population grew, it would gain rights to self government – 5,000 free males who owned 50 acres or more could elect an assembly – 60,000 people they could apply for statehood

Northwest Ordinance Set the conditions for settlement Outlined settlers rights – Slavery was outlawed – Rivers were open to navigation by all – Freedom or religion and trial by jury were guaranteed Set a patter for the orderly growth of the United States

Weaknesses of the Articles The Confederation Congress had few successes aside from its handling of land issues The United States had serious problems Congress lacked the power to solve – Congress was in debt from the revolutionary war and couldn’t pay the soldiers leading to protests – Congress couldn’t pay because they couldn’t levy taxes

Continental Congress Successes Governed the nation during the revolutionary war Negotiated the Treaty of Paris that ended the war Passed the Land Ordinance of 1785 Passed the Northwest Ordinance (1787) Failures Lacked power to enforce laws Lacked power to levy taxes Lacked power to regulate trade among the states Required all 13 states to approve changes in the Articles

Shay’s Rebellion Massachusetts faced economic problems People had little money but the state levied high taxes – The average family owed more than most farmers made – Failure to pay debts led to property being auctioned for payment, and jail if enough money wasn’t raised – In western Massachusetts jails were filled w/ debtors

Shay’s Rebellion Farmers asked for debt relief – The legislature refused – Farmers rebelled Daniel Shay’s a Revolutionary War veteran commanded a group of 1,500 rebels who attacked an arsenal The rebellion was quickly put down by the militia Leaders realized an armed uprising of farmers spelled danger for the nation