Objectives Explain the 3 key issues of “Republicanism” Identify and discuss the 3 basic issues debated when drafting the Articles of Confederation Describe the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation (our first formal plan of government)

Struggles of a New Nation Main Idea: With the end of the Revolutionary War, the new nation faced many new problems. The biggest problem was most certainly creating a new government. The challenge was… How do we create a system of government that would balance the interests of the states AND the interest of the nation as a whole? An idea that government is based on consent of the people. States created their own constitutions. Many were very similar. There are 2 similar themes: 1) liberty more than equality 2) fear of a central authority Republicanism No models existed for the new nations to use as an example. Main Issue: balance the needs/concerns of the states VS the needs/concerns of the nation

Questions for Debate REPRESENTATION POWER LAND Representation by population or by state? How much representation should each state get? Should the number of representatives be the same for every state? Three basic questions had to be debated AND answered before any of the 13 states would move forward with a national model! How can power be divided? States rights VS national government rights? Who will have the final say on issues? Who gets what in the west? Some states already held land west of the Appalachian Mts., who controls it now? Once these three issues were addressed & answered, the Continental Congress could move forward. The Articles of Confederation were approved & went into effect March 1781.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Greatest Accomplishment Western Land Claims Land Ordinance of 1785 Admission of States Congress appoint territorial governors and judges 5,000 voting residents = settlers could write a temporary constitution and elect their own govt. 60,000 total residents = write a formal constitution. When that was approved by Congress, could become a state! Confederation Congress now had to settle the LAND question. The land ordinance of 1785 established a plan for surveying lands. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Established procedure for dividing land into territories. Also, set rules for admission of new states. Greatest Accomplishment The two land ordinances were the greatest achievement of the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Congress could not enact and collect TAXES Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign TRADE Regardless of population, each state had 1 VOTE Two-thirds majority (9 out of 13 states had to agree to pass a law) Articles could be amended only if ALL 13 states approved There was NO EXECUTIVE branch to enforce the laws of Congress There was NO JUDICIAL branch (judges/court system) to settle legal disputes There were 13 separate states that lacked NATIONAL UNITY

With the person sitting next to you, discuss… Closure With the person sitting next to you, discuss… What are the 3 key concepts of Republicanism? What were the 3 basic issues debated when drafting the Articles of Confederation? What makes the Articles of Confederations weak?