Chapter 5 A Confederation of States

Focus Question What form o f government did the Patriots initially create? The new government consisted of a Congress with very limited powers, no President or executive branch, and nor federal court system

Early Government After declaring their independence from Great Britain, the colonists had to decide how they would govern themselves

Early Government In 1776, each of the newly independent states created it own government A national government was also created to unite the states and establish relation with the rest of the world

Articles of Confederation 1 st government of the United States Two levels of government shared fundamental powers State governments were supreme in some matters, federal was supreme in others

Articles of Confederation Powers given to the central government Unicameral (Legislative body only), 1 vote per state, unanimous voted needed on all issues OK for war, raised an army, negotiated peace, borrow $, negotiate between the states

Articles of Confederation Articles proved unworkable in peace time Congress cannot collect taxes to raise money States refused to provide funds No National Court system to interpret laws Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce States cut deals with foreign countries One vote for each state, regardless of size

The Articles General agreement on democracy, government by the people Created a republic, a government run by the people through elected officials

Opposition to the Articles Concerns About Weak Government 1.Each state received one vote in Congress, did not recognize population of a state 2.Articles could not be amended without consensus of all states Very difficult Each state functioned with its own interests in mind

Opposition to the Articles 3.Foreign-Relations Problems Lack of support by states causes problems –Britain refused to evacuate its military forts on the Great Lakes –US could not repay debts to British merchants –US would not compensate Loyalists for property losses Spain posed a threat on the borders –1784 Spain closed Mississippi River to navigation –Western farmers could not ship goods to market thru New Orleans

Northwest Ordinance of 1785 System for distributing public land 640 acre sections Favored the wealthy because land tract were large and expensive

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 How to govern the new land Established a process by which new territories in the West could become states

Northwest Ordinance of Congress appoints a Territorial governor and judges

Northwest Ordinance of when a territory had 5,000 registered voters, settlers could write a temporary constitution and elect their own government

Northwest Ordinance of When total population reaches 60,000, settlers can write a state constitution, approved by Congress before granted statehood

Northwest Ordinance of 1785 and 1787 Articles of Confederation went into effect Issue was how to distribute and govern western land

The Annapolis Convention 1786, Nationalists held a convention to discuss the economic issues under the Articles Only 12 delegates from 5 states attended Agreed to call another convention in Philadelphia in 1787 to fix the Articles

Shay’s Rebellion Daniel Shays a former Revolutionary Army captain, led a rebellion by farmers against unsettled economic conditions which were unfair to farmers and working people. Taxes were to be paid in gold or silver coin – rather than paper money.

Results of Shay’s Rebellion The rebellion demonstrated to many prominent Americans that action had to be taken to strengthen the national government May 1787, Philadelphia Convention 12 states sent delegates Amend the Articles of Confederation

Daily Quiz

What did Shays’ Rebellion grow out of unrest among Massachusetts farmers over taxes.

How did the Nationalists regard Shays’ Rebellion? as proof that only a strong national government could prevent social disorder

1 st government of the United States Articles of Confederation

What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 establish a clear, orderly process by which new territories in the West could become states

a government run by the people through elected officials Republic

government by the people Democracy

Illustrating Terms Working with a partner – illustrate one of the following terms, you may draw more than one picture or use a combination of words and pictures Write the definition on the back 1.Constitution11. Legislative branch 2.Checks and balances12. Louisiana Purchase 3.Precedent13. Separation of powers 4.judicial review14. Virginia Plan 5.Bill of Rights15. Articles of Confederation 6.Electoral college16. Judicial branch 7.Executive branch17. Federalists 8.XYZ affair18. Anti-Federalists 9.Great Compromise19. Jay’s Treaty 10.Three-Fifths Compromise20. Popular Sovereignty