Articles of Confederation

1
Articles of Confederation

• What we didnt like about the British . . .
• Taxation without representation
• Large central government had all the power
• States always had to listen to the king
• All power in the Kings Hands
• King could change rules/laws anytime

• So the Articles of Confederation. . . .
• Federal government could not tax
• States didnt have to follow laws and treaties
• States had their own laws and didnt have to
  listen to other states
• No executive branch or national court system
• Any amendment required all 13 states

2
Articles of Confederation

• Because the government of the United States was
  so weak, there was a push to create a New
  Constitution for the United States!!!

3
Significance

• Federalist Papers
• Supported the Constitution
• Powerful central government. 2-house legislature
  with one house (Senate) being more removed from
  the people
• Property owners, merchants from the North, landed
  rich
• John Adams, James Madison,
• Alexander Hamilton

• Anti-Federalist Papers
• Against the Constitution
• Wanted stronger state governments, more
  elections, more direct democracy
• Small farmers, shopkeepers,laborers
• Thomas Jefferson
• Many of their beliefs found their way into the
  Bill of Rights! (1st 10 Amendments)

4
Significance of Declaration of Independence

• Created the first ever Declared Independence from
  a Monarchy!
• Influenced Rest of the world by describing how
  unjust governments could be replaced by revolution

5
Significance of the Constitution

• Creates checks and balances
• Creates a Federal System of Government that is
  found in each state!
• Creates separation of powers Executive,
  Judicial, Legislative Branches

6
Significance of Northwest Ordinance

• Creates a plan for new territories to become
  states one day!
• Divides up land through surveys!

7
Homestead Act of 1862

• Government provides 160 acres of free land to any
  citizen or person who wants to become one
• 1862 1900 600,000 took advantage
• Helps settle the West!
• Land came from railroads that did not need all
  the land

8
Dawes Act of 1887

• Goal How to Americanize the Indians
• Broke up Indian Reservations and gave some of the
  land to Indians 160 Acres
• Result 2/3rds of Land set aside for Indians sold
  to settlers!!

9
Effects of Reconstruction

• Creates the 13th, 14th, and 15th Amendments
  Civil war Amendments
• Some Radical Republicans wanted to Punish the
  South!
• Slaves were free and southern states could not
  secede!