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?

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The Impact of the American Revolution on American
Society
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Changes 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
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Benjamin Banneker Phillis Wheatley
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Postponing 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
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New State National Governments
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Forming 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!
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States 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

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The United States, 1783
How democratic are these new state govts?
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Defining 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?

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Defining 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

12
The 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

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Articles 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 state was treated as a pseudo-nation
Too similar to a monarch
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The 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 a
  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

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A 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.

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Western 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

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The United States, 1783
The USA in the Critical Period
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Western 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
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Western Land Claims Ceded
by the States
Dont forget Indian lands too Indian Land
Cessions1768-1799
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The 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

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(No Transcript)
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The 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

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The 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
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Conclusions

• 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