1. Experimenting with Confederation
The Americans
Chapter 5, A New Nation,
Section 1
Experimenting with Confederation

2. Americans Debate Republicanism
Creating a new government was hard
Each colony (state) is different and had different rules
How can the new states connect with the new government and work together as one?

3. Colonies become States
Each colony had its own governor (leader), council, and colonial assembly
People thought each colony has its own government or a “primary political unit”
Most people were loyal to their colony rather than the country, except during the Revolutionary War, when they all worked together

4. Colonies become States
Colonies became states
Colonies were nervous about giving up their “state government” to a strong central government
A system of government had to be formed that was fair for all of the different interests of the states

5. Unity through a Republic
All of the people were not educated enough to run a country
Republic – citizens elect representatives for government
Republicanism – governments should be based on the consent or approval of the people
Value on the nation vs Value on personal interests?

6. State Constitutions
Each state created their own constitutions, but shared their desire for freedom of speech, religion and press, but didn’t want a “centralized authority” or one leader making decisions
States disagreed on who can vote (all white males, property owners, etc.)

7. Political Precedents
Most nations were ruled by kinds, so the new country had little models to refer to
Leaders researched history of governments but had difficulty
The US was different because the government had to balance the concerns of both the state and nation

8. The Continental Congress Debates
States developed individual constitutions
Continental Congress tried to create one for all of the states
There was much disagreement. The Congress has to answer 3 questions:
Representations by population or by state?
Supreme Power: Can it be divided?
Western Lands: Who gets them?

9. Representation by Population or by State?
States were equal in political power, but different in size, wealth, & population
Is it fair for the states to have more representatives in Congress because their state and population is larger?
Continental Congress decided each state would have one vote, no matter how large or small the population is

10. Supreme Power: Can It be Divided?
Most thought a central government couldn’t share power with the individual states
Articles of Confederation: 2 levels of government shared the power (State and National)
National: declare war, make peace, sign treaties, borrow money, create currency (money) standards, create a postal service, deal with Native Americans
This new government was called confederation, meaning alliance (join together as a team)

11. Western Lands: Who Gets Them?
12 of the 13 states agreed to the new government
Some states claimed land west of the Appalachian Mountains
Smaller states, like Maryland, worried that larger states would take over
Maryland refused to agree to the new government until states gave up Western lands
States gave up western lands and Maryland signed the Articles of Confederation in March 1781.

12. Governing the Western Lands
Land Ordinance of 1785 – survey or examine the land
Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – divided the lands into territories, and adding new states
This ordinance ignored the Native American’s claim to land
Conferation’s greatest achievement because it created future growth of the nation

13. Political & Economic Problems
Most serious problem: country lacked unity
Each state worried about itself only instead of the country
Changes in government was difficult, because each state had to vote and agree
Congress owed money from the Revolutionary War to foreign countries
Congress wanted to tax foreign goods to raise money, but one state said no

14. Borrowers vs. Lenders
Creditors (Lenders of Money) let people borrow money
Debtors (borrowers of Money) people who owed money and had to pay it back
Creditors wanted a high tax added to borrowed money, but debtors couldn’t afford the high tax and couldn’t pay them back
Creditors sued the debtors, and the government would take the debtor’s land

15. Borrowers vs. Lenders continued