Title: Essential Question:
1- Essential Question
- Why did the Americans create the Articles of
Confederation what problems did the Articles
present? - Warm-Up Question
- What major decisions did the new American nation
have to answer after winning the war for
independence?
2The Impact of the American Revolution on American
Society
3Changes to American Society
States abolished feudal laws of primogeniture
entail
Blacks demanded the right to freedom in petitions
lawsuits
- The American Revolution led to unintended social
changes by forcing many Americans to question the
meaning of equality - Many wanted to eliminate the idea of an American
aristocracy - Fighting British tyranny made slavery seem
hypocritical Abolitionist sentiment grew - Women gained increased status
Many states lowered property qualifications to
vote but none offered universal male suffrage
Franklin, Jay, Hamilton founded abolition
societies Washington manumitted his slaves
Most states clearly separated church state
VT, PA, MA abolished slavery
Some Southern slave owners privately freed their
slaves
Republican Motherhoodmothers should instill
virtue in their children
Took greater control over family farms
businesses
4Benjamin Banneker Phillis Wheatley
5Postponing Full Liberty
- The Revolution was limited in its extension of
rights failed to abolish slavery, grant
universal male suffrage, or apply equality to
women But - it introduced the ideal of freedom and equality
that future generations would use to make these
ideals a reality
Lots of references to the Spirit of 76
World War I propaganda poster
6New State National Governments
7Forming New Governments
- When independence was declared from England in
1776, colonists considered themselves a new
nation needed a new govt - Colonies became individually sovereign states
governed by written state constitutions - A national govt was needed to provide basic
services like sign treaties develop a military
In 1776, the American Revolution has just
started The colonists did not wait to gain
British recognition of their independence before
creating new governments!
8States Constitutions
- In 1776, the new states created written
constitutions which - Clearly defined the citizens rights the limits
of government - Guaranteed natural rights Eight states had
bills of rights - Almost all states reduced the powers of the
governor kept most power in the hands of the
people via state legislatures
9The United States, 1783
How democratic are these new state govts?
10Defining Republican Culture
- But, creating a national govt that met
everyones needs was hard - How to balance individual liberty with
maintaining order? - How to balance property rights with equality?
- How to create a centralized govt without
creating a new tyrannical authority?
11Defining Republican Culture
Civic virtue is now a necessity
- Americans set out to create a republican form of
government after independence was declared - Govt with no king or aristocracy
- With power held by the citizens
- Even though all previous republics had failed,
Americans were optimistic this would be an
uncompromising commitment to liberty equality
12The Articles of Confederation
- In 1775, three committees were formed to sever
ties with England - Thomas Jefferson headed the committee to draft a
declaration of independence - John Adams headed committee to establish foreign
alliances - John Dickinson headed a committee to draft a new
central government
13Articles of Confederation
- The Articles of Confederation was adopted as
Americas 1st national govt in 1777 (but
ratified in 1781) - The Articles established an intentionally weak
central govt in order to protect state power - The confederation-style govt gave all 13 states
1 vote in a unicameral congress - There was no national president
Each states was treated as a pseudo-nation
Too similar to a monarch
14The Articles of Confederation
The Articles were created to loosely tie the
states together
- The only powers granted to the national
government were to - Settle disputes between states, negotiate
treaties, handle Indian affairs, oversee an
military - It could not tax citizens or states could only
request contributions - Laws required 9 of the 13 states
- Amending the govt required agreement by all 13
states
15A firm league of friendship
The colonies were loosely joined to address
common problems
"each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and
independence, and every power...which is not...
expressly delegated to the United States."
16- What is the significance of the following quote
- People do not chop off heads so readily when
they can chop down trees.
17Western Lands
- 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 govt negotiated treaties with Indians to
gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky
18The United States, 1783
The USA in the Critical Period
19Western Lands
- Virginia took the lead to solve the West
problem by ceding its western claims to the
national govt - Other states, especially NY, ceded their western
lands too - By 1781, Congress (not the states) gained control
over all lands west of the Appalachians - With dispute over, Maryland was the last state to
ratify the Articles
With the new govt finally ratified in 1781,
Congress created the Departments of War,
Foreign Affairs, Finance
20Western Land Claims Ceded
by the States
Dont forget Indian lands too Indian Land
Cessions1768-1799
21The Land Ordinance of 1785
- The U.S. govt was eager to sell off Western
lands to settlers to gain revenue (since the
govt did not have the power to tax) - The Land Ordinance of 1785 established an orderly
process for laying out western townships - Section 16 of the each township was dedicated to
public schools
22(No Transcript)
23The Northwest Ordinance
- The Northwest Ordinance (1787) gave structure to
the NW territory - Created new territories, ruled by a governor,
whose citizens were protected by a bill of rights
- Residents could create a legislative assembly
when the population reached 5,000 - Residents could apply for statehood with 60,000
people - Slavery outlawed in NW lands
24The United States, 1783
Because of the 1785 1787 ordinances, the
Northwest territories were well organized
orderly
Prospectors poured into Kentucky Tennessee
By 1790, the region was plagued by land claims
counterclaims that generated lawsuits for years
The USA in 1787
Territories south of the Ohio River received less
attention from Congress
25Conclusions
- The Articles of Confederation accomplished
exactly what its framers intended - By creating a weak central govt, the power of
the states was preserved no tyrants emerged - The weaknesses of the central govt failed to
meet the long-term needs of the new USA