The Beginning of a New Nation TCI Chapter 8.1 -8.3 The Beginning of a New Nation

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION 8.2 The first written plan of gov’t for the US. A confederation is an association of states that cooperate for a common purpose.  Says that “each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence”.  All 13 states participated and was run by a Congress in which each state had 1 vote. Colonists did not plan for how they would handle things (like how to run the govt) before the revolution leaving them to scramble upon their victory. The AOC did not solve all the problems that came up post war. New concerns surfaced including: taxes, leadership, voting, and what to do with newly acquired land. ***Problems: money

NORTHWEST TERRITORY 8.2 A region of the US bounded by the Ohio and MS Rivers and the Great Lakes. The region was given to the US by the Treaty of Paris of 1783. With this new acquisition of land, Congress, under the AofC, had to determine how to divide the land. With the passage of a new Land Ordinance, the territory was dived into townships, sections, and acres Eventually these townships/plots of land would be available for purchase. However, deciding whether they would be states or colonies was still up in the air.

Northwest Ordinance (8.2) A law passed by Congress in 1787 that specified how western lands would be governed. As a result from the disputes with the NW Territory, this Ordinance was passed giving a plan for how each plot could eventually gain statehood.  ***Under this ordinance, slavery was banned in the NW Territory.

Daniel Shay 8.3 He led a rebellion of farmers who were angry that they were forced to sell their land and livestock in order to pay back debts.  Previously had been a hero of the Battle of Bunker Hill. His leadership forced Congress to reconsider the AOC

Shay’s Rebellion 8.3 Farmers, led by Shay, closed down courthouses, marched and seized the Cont. Army’s weapons – in an effort to protest the fact they had to sell land/livestock to pay off debt. This rebellion was proof that the nation still had a long way to go as far as creating order and an effective government.

Processing questions What issue did the Land Ordinance of 1785 address? The Land Ordinance of 1785 addressed the issue of how to divide the western lands acquired by the US in the Treaty of Paris of 1783. Complete the list of rules for the Northwest Territory by filling in the blank:   When a territory has 5,000 free adult males, it can elect its own legislature. When the population reaches 60,000, a territory can apply for statehood Settlers have the same rights and privileges as other citizens. Slavery is banned.

Causes of Shay’s Rebellion Effects of Shay’s Rebellion   Congress didn’t have enough gold or silver to mint coins, which caused a money shortage Farmers had difficulty earning enough to pay their debts and taxes Farmers were required to sell their land and livestock to pay their debts. Many Americans saw these things as signs that the nation was falling apart. Congress called for a convention to revise the AofC. People like Madison concluded that a nation made up of many groups needs a strong central govt.