Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation In reference to the Articles of Confederation: The Articles are “a shadow without substance”—George Washington

Page 1 Systems of Government System What level has power? Federal System Shared (National and State) Unitary SystemNational Confederate System State Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

-As war in the colonies began, the “ new ” nation had to find a way to organize itself -John Dickinson was the primary author of the Articles of Confederation -The A.O.C. established a weak national government, where states had sovereignty -States held elections every year — as a way to avoid abuses of power Page 2 Setting up a Government What the Articles Did -Created a loose alliance of states -This national Congress had the power to: 1. Declare War 2. Raise an Army and Navy 3. Make Treaties Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

4. Borrow Money 5. Establish Post Office 6. Conduct business with Native Americans Page 3 (continued) The Weaknesses of the Articles -The Continental Congress had no power over individuals or state governments -The Articles lacked a court system to handle disputes amongst states -States had one vote in congress, meaning that larger states had less representation in congress than did smaller states -The C.C. had no power to collect taxes, leaving them broke and powerless Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Page 4 The Articles Create Problems -Needed 9 of 13 votes to pass a law (~70%) -Needed 13 of 13 votes to amend the A.O.C. -National laws had to be enforced by states -The national government had a vast debt -States argued over boundaries, currency and trade -Overseas the reputation of the U.S. suffered -Britain still had troops in U.S. territory Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter The Land Ordinance of The Land Ordinance of 1785 was passed to help deal with the surveying, sale and settling of the Northwest Territories Page 5 -The Northwest Ordinance (1787) made provisions for governing the new territories Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter The Land Ordinance of 1785 (CONT.) Page 6 -Prior to 1783, settlers merely claimed land in the West -Disputes (often violent) became common amongst settlers -As a result, and to raise money, the United States Congress passed the Land Ordinance of It stated: 1.Land would be surveyed and divided into townships 2.Each township would be 6 miles square Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter The Land Ordinance of 1785 (CONT.) Page 7 3. Each township would contain 36 sections 4. Each section would be 1 mile square, containing 640 acres 5. Congress stipulated that land would be sold at auction for a minimum of $1.00 per acre 6. The revenue from the sale of one section in each township would be used to fund the creation of a public school -To attract land speculators, Congress required speculators purchase one whole section, dividing it for sale later Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter Page 8 Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Taylor County

Chapter Range and Township -Every “ cell ” (township) in the grid is identified by a township and range -The range number identifies how many cells the property is to the east or west of a starting point or principal meridian Page 9 Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

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Chapter -The legal description of range is “ R18E ” -The township (or tier) number identifies how many cells the property is north or south of a starting point or the baseline Page 11 Range and Township -Only northern townships/tiers can exist in Wisconsin as the baseline is the southern boundary of the state -The legal description of township is “ T32N ” Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter -Where range and township/tier intersect creates a “ cell ” or a township -Sections (1 of 36) are arranged in a boustrophedonic manor “ as the cow plows ” -This was done for ease of surveying Page 12 Range and Township (CONT.) Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter Further Division -Each section is divided into quarters (quadrants), classified by the four principal directions (Southwest — SW) -Quarters are ½ mile by ½ mile or 160 acres Page 13 Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter Further Division (CONT.) -Each quarter is divided into quarter- quarter sections, classified by the four principal directions (Southwest — SW) -Quarter-quarters are ¼ mile by 1/4 mile or 40 acres Page 14 Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter Further Division (CONT.) -Each quarter-quarter is divided into half sections, classified by either North or South -Half quarter-quarter sections are ¼ mile by 1/8 mile or 20 acres Page 15 Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

Chapter Legal Description -Descriptions are stated and read from smallest parcel to largest, however best interpreted from largest to smallest (the last descriptor to the first) Page 16 Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation