The articles of confederation Chapter 4 Section 1 Pages 114-117

We won! Now what…? The colonies were now independent but needed a form of government. Each of the 13 STATES had it’s own government. Citizen’s rights varied from state to state. To form a new government, the Americans had lots of inspiration.

Inspiration came from… The Magna Carta. Signed in 1215 It made the English King subject to laws. The English Bill of Rights. Drafted in 1689. Limited the power of the king. Made Parliament more powerful.

Inspiration also came from… John Locke. He believed a social contract existed between political rulers and the people they ruled. The enlightenment-using reason to examine old ideas and traditions.

American Forms of Government Mayflower Compact Town meetings The Connecticut colony was the first colony to draft a constitution. A constitution is a set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government.

State Constitutions and Statutes State constitutions were designed to limit the power of individual leaders. Some had laws prohibiting slavery Most had rules to protect citizens’ rights. The Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom declared that no one could be forced to attend a particular church or be required to pay for a church with tax money.

But who could vote??? Under British rule, ONLY free, white men that owned land could vote. Most states expanded suffrage, or the right to vote to non-land owners. Some states allowed women and free African-Americans to vote, but these were taken away eventually.

The Second Continental Congress The 2nd continental congress appointed 1 representative from each colony to form committee. This committee was assigned to discuss and draft the Articles of Confederation. Under the Articles, Congress would become the national government but it would have limited powers in order to protect the liberties of the people.

What did the Articles establish? Each state had one vote. Congress could settle among states. Congress could make coins and borrow money. Congress could make treaties with other countries and the Native Americans. Congress could ask states for money and request soldiers STATES HAD THE POWER TO REFUSE THESE REQUESTS. There was also no president or court system.

OK, now what? The articles were passed in 1777. The articles were then sent to each state for ratification, or official approval. Conflicts over western lands slowed the process down. By 1779, every state had ratified the Articles EXCEPT for Maryland.

Maryland creates problems Maryland refused to ratify the articles unless other states gave up their western land claims. Thomas Jefferson promised that these claims would become other states, not increase the size of existing states. Finally, Maryland ratified the Articles in 1781.

What to do with all that land!!?? Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785. It set up a system for surveying western lands so they could be sold to pay debts. Land was split into townships via a grid system. Townships were split into lots to be sold.

Who’s going to run these territories? Congress passes the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. This established the Northwest Territory. Set up a system of bringing new states into the Union. When the population of a territory reached 60,000, it could draft a constitution and ask to join the Union.