The United States gained a huge new area after the Revolutionary War Now had to decide how to divide it up into existing states or new ones

A New National Government Question? How would the newly acquired western lands be divided? Congress would need to decide. They create the Land and Northwest Ordinance: Land Ordinance of 1785 Land would be surveyed and divided into a neat grid of townships, each 6 miles square. Each township had 36 sections, each 1 mile square. Government owned four of the sections. One section would be sold to support public schools. This same regular grid was used in other territories. It ended any boundary disputes.

Under the Land Ordinance, the Northwest Territory was surveyed into organized sections a TOWNSHIP was a 36 square mile area

TOWNSHIP 6 miles

1 TOWNSHIP = 36 SQUARE MILES Section #16 was usually reserved for the public school of the township

A New National Government Northwest Ordinance was passed in –Provided for the orderly settlement and the formation of new states. –Promised settlers religious freedom –Did not allow slavery in the Northwest Territory The Law: A district could become territory with a population of 5,000 adult males. Then could send a nonvoting representative to Congress A territory could write a constitution and apply for statehood with a population of 60,000.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 The original states gave up land west Paving way for the future states –Ohio –Michigan –Indiana –Illinois –Wisconsin –Part of Minnesota

The _____________________________ (1787) described how the Northwest Territory was to be governed. As the territory grew in population, it would gain the rights to self-government. When there were ______ free males in an area, men who owned at least _______ acres of land could elect an assembly. When they were _________ people, they could apply to become a new state. NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 5, ,000

Minnesota Wisconsin Illinois Michigan Ohio Indiana

The Northwest Ordinance was important because it created an orderly plan to admit new states. This plan was used for the admission of 37 States.

The Constitutional Convention (1787)

What is a Constitution? A Constitution is an expression of how the people want to be governed. A Constitution establishes the basic organization of government. It is a plan for government

Background  The 13 original colonies were united by the Articles of Confederation.  There were problems because the Articles did not provide a strong central government.  The government had no power to collect taxes, no power over trade or commerce and no control over money -- each state could print its own.  On May 25, 1787 in Philadelphia, PA, delegates from 12 states gathered to begin a convention. The original intent was to revise the Articles of Confederation. These delegates are known as “The Framers.”  Philadelphia, the largest and most modern city at the time, was picked to host the convention because it was in the geographic middle of the states.

Philadelphia met in absolute secrecy They met at the state house. On average their were about 30 delegates their every day. James Madison was the only delegate to never miss a day and he kept a diary with details of each meeting. - HE is known as the “Father of the Constitution.”

Some general points about the Constitution: –Short document compared with that of states –Oldest National constitution now in use –Little changed in contrasts to that of states 27 amendments in over 200 years 1st Ten Amendments made almost immediately –Americans hold Constitution in high regard But most never read it or know what’s in it 19

The Constitution Composition The Constitution is comprised of the following:  Preamble  7 Articles  27 Amendments

Preamble: What does it mean?  The preamble is the introduction to the Constitution.  It outlines the general goals of the framers: to create a just government, insure peace, provide an adequate national defense, and promote a healthy, free nation.  With its first three words, “We the People,” the preamble emphasizes that the nation is to be ruled by the people - not a king or dictator, not the president, Supreme Court Justices, members of Congress or state legislators.  All rights and powers are set out in the articles and amendments that follow.

Preamble to the Constitution “We the People of the United States, in Order to form a more perfect Union, establish Justice, insure domestic Tranquility, provide for the common defence, promote the general Welfare, and secure the Blessings of Liberty to ourselves and our Posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.”

Two main Questions for the Preamble: 1. Why they are writing it? (to form a more perfect union) 2. What are the goals to be reached? (establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty)

 Article I covers the Congress or legislative branch.  Article II covers the President or executive branch.  Article III covers the judicial branch.  Article IV covers how the states relate to each other and the national government.  Article V covers how the Constitution can be changed or amended.  Article VI states the Constitution is the supreme law of the land.  Article VII covers ratification of the document. The 7 Articles

Federalists vs. Anti Federalists Federalists - people who supported the Constitution. – in favor of a strong central government - loose interpretation of Constitution Federalists: Supporters of the New Constitution Alexander Hamilton – Leader George Washington Ben Franklin James Madison John Jay - Debate over the creation of the Constitution leads to the Two Party System that exists today.

Thomas Jefferson - Leader Thomas Paine Patrick Henry Sam Adams Anti-Federalists - Opposed ratification of the new Constitution favored revising the Articles of Confederation. Opposed a strong federal government strict interpretation of the Constitution 1800 – They become Democratic-Republicans (Jeffersonian) -historical beginnings of Democratic Party -WANTED a BILL of RIGHTS to secure individual liberties!!