Impact of the American Revolution America’s First Constitution

Articles of Confederation Written in 1777 Governed the states during Revolution Not finally approved until 1781 “…a firm league of friendship” Approved the Treaty of Paris Sanctioned the name United States of America

Economic Problems Each state established tariffs on imports and duties States charged each other tariffs No set currency: each state printed money  Hyperinflation Excessive imports and very little exports Deep economic depression  high unemployment Record number of farm foreclosures Huge revolutionary war debts: states and national government: $65,000,000 1781-1788

Foreign Policy Spanish control Mississippi River and closed New Orleans to U.S. British do not leave forts Supply Indians with arms Congress failed to approve the Jay-Guardoqui Treaty: 1786: Spain’s right to navigate Mississippi R./Seaports to A. Shipping/Not ratified French and British harass American shipping Barbary pirates prey on American shipping Individual states establish own foreign policy 1781-1788

1781-1788 Social Problems High unemployment Shays’ Rebellion Indian problems Economic depression High foreclosure rates  social unrest Threat of military coup d’états: Newburg Conspiracy http://www.youtube.com/watch ?v=3ImIEcsTEVo

1781-1788 Social Changes Reduction of property requirements for voting Social hierarchies less defined (Mr. and Mrs. example) White servitude eliminated by 1800 More separation of church and state, more religious freedom Quakers form anti-slavery society; slavery abolished in Northern states by 1800 100,000 slaves freed in Chesapeake Some ideas changed— REPUBLICAN MOTHERHOOD “Remember the Ladies!”

Republican Motherhood New and Important role in the New Republic Responsible for educating children in the new “civic virtues”: common good over self-interest Women were permitted to receive more of an education than they previously had been allowed Mothers would encourage their sons to pursue liberty and new roles in the government, while their daughters would perpetuate the domestic sphere with the next generation Women—no political rights, still limited to women’s work.

Articles of Confederation: Northwest Ordinances* Northwest Ordinance of 1785 Surveyed the territory Provided revenue for the government: land sales 1/36 of revenue of land sales for education Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Provided process for admission of new states Slavery prohibited Freedom of religion *authored by Thomas Jefferson

Articles of Confederation Had no power to tax Hand no executive branch No means of national defense No court system Each state had one vote No way to settle disputes between states No authority to regulate commerce and trade Supermajority to pass laws Unanimous consent to revise A of C Annapolis Convention (1785)—utter failure Shays’ Rebellion (1786) − threat of anarchy & rule by the “mobocracy” Hamilton & Washington were alarmed by the crisis Convention in Philadelphia –12 states show in summer of 1787 Purpose: To amend the A of C

Articles Assignment Thesis

Thesis of Articles Although the Articles concluded a favorable peace with Britain and established wise policy for the N.W. Territory, its structural defects made solution of domestic and foreign problems almost impossible.