1. Experimenting with Confederation
C & E

2. Key Terms Republicanism Confederation Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance of 1787

3. Key Concepts Characteristics of the Articles of Confederation
Organization & governance of new lands

4. Americans Debate Republicanism
Relationship btwn new states & nat’l gov’t – tough to define
Colonies become states
Belief in ind. states
Loyalty to state
Reluctant to unite under strong central gov’t
Unity through Republic
Democracy placed too much power w/ uneducated masses
Chose republic
Meant different things to people
If gov’t allowed ind. citizens to pursue own ec. & pol. interests, the whole nation benefits

5. Americans Debate Republicanism
State constitutions
Limited power of gov’t leaders
Guaranteed specific rights
Free speech, religion, press
Emphasized liberty rather than equality
Reflected fear of centralized authority
Voting rights differed
Prop. Owners
All white males

6. Continental Congress Debates
What should be role of nat’l gov’t?
States unequal in pop., size, & wealth
Each state given 1 vote regardless of 
New gov’t – Articles of Confederation
2 levels of gov’t share power
Confederation = alliance

8. The Articles Nat’l gov’t had the power to: No separate executive dept.
Declare war, make peace, & sign treaties
Borrow money, set standards for weights & measures, est. postal service, & deal w/ Native Americans
No separate executive dept.
No nat’l court system
Only legislative body
Effective March 1781

9. Western Lands Land Ordinance of 1785 Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Plan for surveying new lands
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Procedure for dividing land into territories
Set requirements for admission of new states
Territorial governor appt’d by Congress
5,000 voting residents  temp const. & temp gov’t
60,000 in free inhabitants settlers write a state const. – must be approved by Congress
Blueprint for future growth of nation

11. Problems Lacked nat’l unity
Conf. Did not recognize difference in pop. of states
Articles had to have consent of every state to be amended
War debt from rev. was $190 million
Congress lacked power to tax
Congress asked states to impose tariff – tax on imports
1 state rejected it
Unable to tax

13. Problems Borrowers vs. Lenders Foreign-Relations Creditors vs. debtors
US could not repay debt to Brit. Merchants
No compensation for Loyalist prop. Losses
So…
Brit refused to evacuate forts on Great Lakes
Spain was on borders – threat to expansion
Prob’s encountered by Congress dealing w/ foreign nations – revealed basic flaws in Articles

14. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation