Chapter 7 Part 2

The Articles of Confederation Loose union of autonomous states Loose union of autonomous states November 1777 – formally adopted November 1777 – formally adopted Congress created Congress created Each state had one vote Each state had one vote Delegates had term limits Delegates had term limits Votes needed majority Votes needed majority Major issues needed 9 out of 13 Major issues needed 9 out of 13 President elected by Congress President elected by Congress Elected every year Elected every year 1 out of every 3 years 1 out of every 3 years

Financing the War Continental Currency – runaway inflation Continental Currency – runaway inflation States printing their own currency States printing their own currency “Not worth a Continental” “Not worth a Continental” Soldiers, landlords, merchants – bankrupt Soldiers, landlords, merchants – bankrupt Robert Morris – Superintendent of finance Robert Morris – Superintendent of finance Bank of North America – Philadelphia Bank of North America – Philadelphia Large deposits of Gold & Silver Large deposits of Gold & Silver New Paper currency New Paper currency Attempted to levy a 5% levy on imports Attempted to levy a 5% levy on imports Rhode Island objected – plan failed Rhode Island objected – plan failed

Negotiating Independence Britain acknowledged the United States as a free, sovereign, & independent nation Britain acknowledged the United States as a free, sovereign, & independent nation Britain guaranteed Americans fishing rights in North Atlantic Britain guaranteed Americans fishing rights in North Atlantic Received lands to the Mississippi Received lands to the Mississippi America agreed to unencumbered navigation of the Mississippi, recovery of debts, & to compensate Loyalists America agreed to unencumbered navigation of the Mississippi, recovery of debts, & to compensate Loyalists France & Spain France & Spain

Crisis of Demobilization Continental Army Continental Army Problems with pay Problems with pay Pensions for Officers Pensions for Officers Officers wanted pensions switched to a bonus Officers wanted pensions switched to a bonus Congress refused Congress refused Horatio Gates organized officers threatened intervention Horatio Gates organized officers threatened intervention Washington convinced officers to stand down Washington convinced officers to stand down Congress decided to convert pensions anyway Congress decided to convert pensions anyway Army dismissed – 1784 – few hundred remained Army dismissed – 1784 – few hundred remained

The Problem of the West After Yorktown the British abandoned Indian allies After Yorktown the British abandoned Indian allies Influx of Settlers to the Western Lands Influx of Settlers to the Western Lands Problems with remaining British, Indians & Spanish Problems with remaining British, Indians & Spanish Congress extended national authority over the west Congress extended national authority over the west Land Ordinance of 1785 Land Ordinance of Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Northwest Ordinance of e/ e/ e/ e/

Broadened Base of Politics More people participated in elections More people participated in elections Shift from the upper crust to the “common” man Shift from the upper crust to the “common” man Move toward a more “democratic” society Move toward a more “democratic” society The People the Best Governors – 1776 The People the Best Governors – 1776 Town halls – community makes all decisions Town halls – community makes all decisions Conservative Americans – similar to British Whig Party - Conservative Americans – similar to British Whig Party - Balanced Government

First State Constitutions 14 states adopted their own constitutions between states adopted their own constitutions between Most constitutions were formed from debates between Democrats & Whigs Most constitutions were formed from debates between Democrats & Whigs Pennsylvania – extremely democratic Pennsylvania – extremely democratic Roll call vote Roll call vote Unicameral assembly – elected by all male taxpayers Unicameral assembly – elected by all male taxpayers No governor No governor Maryland – very conservative Maryland – very conservative Small percentage of people were eligible to serve in office Small percentage of people were eligible to serve in office Judges were appointed for life Judges were appointed for life New York – bicameral assembly New York – bicameral assembly Mixture of PA and MD Mixture of PA and MD

Declaration of Rights June 1776 – Virginia Declaration of Rights June 1776 – Virginia Declaration of Rights Written by George Mason Written by George Mason Similar to Bill of Rights Similar to Bill of Rights 16 articles 16 articles 8 states adopted similar declarations 8 states adopted similar declarations

A Spirit of Reform New Jersey – Women suffrage – eventually reversed New Jersey – Women suffrage – eventually reversed Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson Abolished law of entails Abolished law of entails Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom Bill for Establishing Religious Freedom Many of his reform attempts failed Many of his reform attempts failed Tried to establish the gradual emancipation of slaves Tried to establish the gradual emancipation of slaves