America under the Articles of Confederation THE CONFEDERATION

2 nd Continental Congress ( ) Declared independence from England Governed colonies through first few years of war Wrote the Articles of Confederation Created BY the Articles of Confederation Governed colonies through last few years of war and after Wrote Northwest Ordinance A Tale of Two Congresses Confederation Congress ( )

Articles of Confederation America’s 1 st constitutionNovember 1777 – America’s 1 st constitution –Created DURING the Revolutionary War after the Declaration of Independence a national government –Provided a national government –States gave up little of their power firm league friendship“A firm league of friendship” States kept “sovereignty, freedom, & independence” Articles formally become our govt. on March 1, 1781

Settling the Public Domain The Articles of Confederation did not give congress the power to tax Many people wanted to give congress control of public lands in the west to raise revenue Some large states already had claims to land in the west Many of the smaller states refused to approve the Articles of Confederation unless they ceded them to the national government

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Territory Once congress had control of the western lands the had to figure out what to do with them Passed laws that provided a method to divide the land and distribute it Passed laws that set up an orderly method to govern these lands and bring them into the union of states.

Provided an orderly procedure to sell lands north of Ohio River Divided territory into townships  6 miles x 6 miles square Opportunity to a lot of land cheap Some land was reserved for Revolutionary War veterans Land Ordinance of 1785

miles A B C DD A – Half-section = 320 acres B – Quarter-section = 160 acres C – Half-quarter section = 80 acres D – Quarter-quarter section = 40 acres Land sold for $1 per acre

Northwest Ordinance (1787) Passed in 1787, it created a system of government for the Northwest Territory –Land north of Ohio River & west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River Created a method for organized settlement in the Northwest Territory Outlined the settlers’ rights. Set a pattern for the orderly growth of the United States. – this pattern would be followed in territories added after the Northwest Territory.

Lake Michigan Lake Superior LakeHuron Lake Erie Lake Ontario

STOP!

Northwest Ordinance (1787) Passed in 1787, it created a government for the Northwest Territory –Land north of Ohio River & west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River Section 1 Northwest Territory was to be divided into at least 3 but no more than 5 states Section 2 3-step process to achieve statehood; could petition for statehood –At first territory would be ruled by a governor, secretary and 3 judges appointed by Congress –When adult male population reached 5,000 they elect territorial legislature and a territorial delegate to Congress –When TOTAL population reached 60,000 they could apply for statehood –Would come into Union with all rights & privileges of original 13 states Set a precedent that new states would have equal status to old states

Northwest Ordinance (1787) Section 3 Created a Bill of rights for settlers Slavery would not be allowed in the Northwest territory –Insured that northern states would be free territory Protected freedom of religion Ensured trial by jury