Cornwallis’ Surrender at Yorktown: Painted by John Trumbull, 1797 “The World Turned Upside Down!”

The Aftermath Treaty of ParisTreaty of Paris –Brits acknowledge Amer Indep –New borders: S: FloridaS: Florida W: Miss RW: Miss R N: CanadaN: Canada –Amers agreed to protect Loyalists property and British creditors.

North America After the Treaty of Paris, 1783

What is a Republic? A gov’t in which citizens rule through elected officialsA gov’t in which citizens rule through elected officials Why choose this over a direct democracy?Why choose this over a direct democracy? –Concern over too much power in the hands of an uneducated people Two thoughts on republicanism:Two thoughts on republicanism: –Place the nation above the self –self-interest will benefit the whole

State Constitutions Most had strong governors with veto power. Most had bicameral legislatures. Property required for voting. Some had universal white male suffrage. Most had bills of rights. Many had a continuation of state- established religions while others disestablished religion.

Confederation Confederation: loose agreementConfederation: loose agreement –League of friendship Allowed the states to maintain their power BUT share some power with a national gov’tAllowed the states to maintain their power BUT share some power with a national gov’t

Articles of Confederation New gov’t system with shared powers between states and national gov’tNew gov’t system with shared powers between states and national gov’t –One-house legislature with one vote per state –National gov’t primarily deal with its debt and foreign relations

Powers of the National Gov Declare warDeclare war Make peaceMake peace Sign treatiesSign treaties Borrow moneyBorrow money Set standards for coins, weights, measuresSet standards for coins, weights, measures Est post officeEst post office Deal with NA’sDeal with NA’s

Powers denied to the Nat Gov No Separate executive deptNo Separate executive dept No national court system to interpret lawsNo national court system to interpret laws

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Political: No president Too hard to pass laws No court system Economic: No power to collect taxes No power to regulate trade No power to coin money

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Foreign relations problems American gov’t could not repay its debts and would not compensate loyalists for property destruction

Debt problems Why did the gov’t seize farms?Why did the gov’t seize farms? –States raised taxes to pay off creditors –farmers could not pay taxes –farmers in debt get sued and lose land

Shays’ Rebellion: Uprising led by Daniel Shays in Western Mass. Small farmers angered by crushing debts, taxes, and lost land.

Shays’ Rebellion:

There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders. -- George Washington

Settling Western Land

Indian Land Cessions:

Disputed Territorial Claims Between Spain & the U. S.:

State Claims to Western Lands

The United States in 1787

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress! Statehood achievd in three stages: 1.Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory. 2.When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners  elect territorial legislature. 3.When population reached 60,000  elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.

Land Ordinance of 1785 Creation of a system for surveying land in order for the gov’t to sell it.

Remember Shays’ Rebellion? What was it evidence of?

Shays’ Rebellion: There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders. -- George Washington

Annapolis Convention (1786) 12 reps from 5 states meet to talk about trade problems. Realized that delegates needed to meet in Philadelphia to discuss the whole sorry mess.