1. Shaping a New Nation

2. Americans Debate Republicanism
Challenge to create a new government
Most people had allegiance to colony they lived in
War gave all people a common goal
After war -> not so much
Needed to balance interests of states with that of the nation

3. Unity Through a Republic
Democracy vs. Republic
Dem. gave to much power to uneducated people
Republicanism -> government based on consent of the people
Nation would only succeed if people put nations well-being over personal interests
Nation would benefit from own interests
Allow people to pursue their own economic and political interests

4. State Constitutions States create their own Constitutions
Most states limit power of government officials
Garunteed specific rights to people
Freedom of speech, religion, and press
Differed views in voting rights
Blacks generally not allowed to vote
Some states give all white males voting rights
Some states still use property as a must
Women still not able to vote

5. Continental Congress Debates
Continental Congress tries to draft a constitution for the nation
3 basic questions had to be answered
Representation by population or by state?
States unequal in size, wealth, and population
Each state would have one vote regardless of population
Can supreme power be divided?
Articles of Confederation (alliance) developed -> two levels of gov’t shared fundamental powers
States had power over some issues, fed. Gov’t over others
Who gets Western lands?
Fear of overpowering smaller states
Maryland would not accept Articles until all Western land claims were given up to federal gov’t

6. Governing Western Lands
How to govern land West of Appalachians and north of the Ohio River
Land Ordinance of 1787
Survey plan
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Divided land into territories
Set requirements for admission of new states
Congress would appoint a territorial governor
5,000 + voting residents -> wrote temporary constitution that had to be approved by Congress + elect their own governor
Total population 60,000+ free inhabitants = write a state constitution that had to be approved by Congress

7. Problems in the Confederation
Economic issues (taxation and national debt)
Political issues (nature of Congressional representation)
Foreign relations problems
Biggest problem = Confederation lacked unity
Each state functioned independently (pursued own interests)
Each state only had one vote
Amendments to Articles must be approved by EVERY state

8. Huge debt after Revolutionary War
$190 million
Borrowed money from other countries and began printing money (inflation)
Proposed plan to tax imports to repay loans
Rhode Island says no
Borrowers vs. Lenders
People who loaned money favored high taxes but caused farmers to go bankrupt
Lawsuits had farmland taken and animals were sold
Borrowers want more paper money printed
Foreign relations problems
Britain refuses to evacuate troops from Great Lakes region
U.S. could not pay back British merchants and would not compensate Loyalists for lands lost during war
Spain poses problem on Western U.S. border (expansion)