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LESSON 5 Shaping a New
Nation
LESSON 5 Shaping a New Nation
How did the Articles of Confederation both fail and succeed as our first government?
America: One Nation, or Thirteen?
Were the colonies ready to come together?I. THE CRITICAL PERIOD (1781-1789)
A. America: One nation, or thirteen?THINGS THAT UNIFIED THE
COLONIESTHINGS THAT KEPT THEM
APART
Common language
Common culture
Single geographic unit
No hostility towards each other
Strong state loyalties
Limited contact due to poor transportation
Not economically dependent on each other for trade
No common enemy anymore
B. Issues the colonies had to resolve after the Revolution1. Who was equal?2. Should the church be
linked to the state?3. Where did slavery fit
in the new United States?
4. How much power should a government have?
Were the colonies ready to come together?
How did democracy begin in the states?
C. STATE GOVERNMENT: The First Constitutions1. Constitutions were written and faced popular
ratification2. States pursued likewise goals
• Legislatures given sweeping powers• Annual elections for representatives• Limits to executive power weaker governors• Fundamental rights spelled out• End to state-dominated churches
3. Problem: Dominated by elites• ELITES: Wealthy, experienced, powerful members of
society• Protection against mobocracy: They didn’t want the
average man to rule they were too dumb and too emotional!
• Protection of economic gains
The Articles of Confederation: First attempt at unifying the colonies
II. THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1781)
A. Loose confederation to protect states’ individual sovereignty
B. Chief problem: claims on western lands
C. Focus on preventing strong executive
D. Immediately challenged and proven weak
• Shays’ Rebellion (1786-1787): Revolt of farmers in Western Massachusetts that could not be put down by state government
CONFEDERATION: A loose union of states
CONFEDERATION: A loose union of states
Shay’s Rebellion 1786-87
How should the Articles be judged?
STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Attempt at unity at least by
name Proved states could give up
sovereignty (independence)
Provided for growth of nation1. LAND ORDINANCE (1785):
Helped divide western territory into townships
2. NORTHWEST ORDINANCE (1787)
– Divided Northwest Territory into five territories
– Provided guidelines for establishing legislatures and granting statehood
Congress: unicameral legislature (one house)
Unanimous vote for passing amendments
No executive or judicial branches
No power to tax State refusal to contribute
money No control over commerce No military Congress could not control
interstate trade (between states)
Congress could not control foreign trade
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