1. Essential Question:
What were the long-term problems with the Articles of Confederation?
CPUSH Agenda for Unit 3.1:
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Articles of Confederation notes
Today’s HW: 5.1
Unit 3 Test: September 24

3. The American republic would be a more “enlightened” version of the Roman Senate
When Americans declared independence in 1776, they needed to form a new government
They wanted to form a republic where citizens vote for elected leaders to represent them
They wanted to protect citizens & individual states from a powerful national government
King George III

4. When independence was declared, the 13 colonies became independent states
Each state had its own constitution, legislature, & an elected governor; 8 states had Bills of Rights
But, the USA needed a national gov’t to do things that states could not, like sign treaties & form a military
America’s 1st national gov’t was the Articles of Confederation ( )

5. This “confederation” style gov’t loosely connected the states under a weak national government

6. To pass a law, 9 of the 13 states had to agree
Each state could send between 2-7 representatives to the national congress, but each state had only 1 vote
To pass a law, 9 of the 13 states had to agree
Confederation Government in New York City
The national congress could make laws, settle disputes between states, negotiate treaties, handle Indian affairs, oversee a military
But all other powers were left up to the states

7. So, the national gov’t had
Americans did not want to re-create a powerful gov’t like the one they just fought the Revolutionary War to break away from
So, the national gov’t had
no president & could not tax the states or citizens
Confederation Government in New York City

9. Western Lands, 1783
Western Land Claims, 1783
The lands between the Appalachian Mountains & Mississippi River that were acquired from the British in 1783 were claimed by numerous states. Many of these land claims overlap. How should we solve this problem?

10. The Articles established a good system of settling western lands
The United States, 1783
Areas of Settlement, 1783
The Articles established a good system of settling western lands

11. Western Land Claims Ceded by the States
First, states had to cede (give up) their claims to lands in the west to the national gov’t
The “West” presented a problem:
Many states had overlapping land claims in the West
Some “landless” states (MD, NJ, DE) wanted part of West & refused to ratify the Articles without this issue resolved
The US gov’t negotiated treaties with Indians to gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky

12. Congress passed the Land Ordinance of to create an orderly way to divide the west into townships & farms
Selling western lands was the only way the national gov’t could generate money since it did not have the power to tax

13. Section 16 of the each township was set aside for a public school
Land Ordinance of 1785
Section 16 of the each township was set aside for a public school

14. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 gave government to the territories
When a territory had 5,000 residents, it could create a self-governing legislature
When a territory had 60,000 residents, it could apply to become a U.S. state
Slavery was outlawed in the NW

15. Closure Questions
The Articles of Confederation were created intentionally weak
What powers does the national government have?
What powers do the individual state governments have?
What problems do you predict will occur because of these political weaknesses?