The Articles of Confederation Chapter 4 Section 1

Background At the time of the Revolution, each colony had its own government. Rules were different in each colony. In order to form a new government, the American people looked to early forms of government to get ideas from.

The Mayflower Compact, 1620 Colonial Assemblies Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom, 1786 Magna Carta, 1215 The English Bill of Rights, 1689 Enlightenment Use page 118-119 to write a short description of each

Vocabulary Controversial- subject to debate Ordinance-official law or rule Egalitarian-characterized by the belief in human equality Natural law-an Enlightenment ideal of governing society; principles derived from nature that govern human society in the absence of legislated rules Constitution-set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government. Suffrage-the right to vote

Articles of Confederation The Continental Congress appointed a “Committee of Thirteen” with one member of each colony to draft a new national constitution. Articles of Confederation: the document that created the first central government for the United States.

What did it say? Articles of Confederation Single branch of government Each state had one vote in congress Congress could: settle conflicts among the states Make coins Borrow money Make treaties with other countries and Native Americans Ask states for money and soldiers

Strengths Weaknesses Limited government Congress could settle conflict States could refuse requests from Congress No president No national court system

Articles passed November 15, 1777 Northwest Territory Congress had to decide what to do with western lands and how to pay debts-decided to sell off land. Land Ordinance of 1785-set up a system for surveying and dividing public lands Land was sold and split into townships Northwest Ordinance of 1787-created a system for bringing new states into the Union Northwest Territory-included areas that are now in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. Had a governor appointed by Congress When population reached 60,000, settlers could draft their own constitution and apply to become a state Public education No slavery