5.1 Articles of Confederation

Egalitarian movements:Quakers found antislavery society in 1775

Anglican church is disestablished

Primogeniture laws repealed (less hereditary)

Trade organizations spreading (political power for lower classes)

Property-holding voting requirements reduced or abolished

NOTE: Departure of many prominent Loyalists and Tories means that there are few “conservative” elements

Revolution or Evolution?

Americans after the revolution believed: Power arises from the consent of the

governed = the people DID NOT WANT a direct democracy. Fear of Tyranny (limit power of executive

branch)

THEREFORE, a Republic was the best form of government

Defn: Government without a King. Citizens rule through elected officials.

REPUBLICANISM

Republic, YES. Supreme power? NO!!! SOLUTION a confederation

How is a confederation different from a federal government (what we have today)?

HOW TO RULE?

1775, Colonies form state constitutions 1780, Massachusetts holds first constitutional

convention 1781, Articles of Confederation approved Economic Democracy spreading as Loyalist

estates divided, pensions to rev. soldiers, Land Ordinance of 1785 Western Lands opened

w/o slavery Northwest Ordinance of 1787 ensures that land

rich and land poor states share equally in debts and riches of independence

Confederation to Constitution

The most powerful states (VA, NY, MA) claim lands in Ohio and beyond old line of demarcation

MD refuses to sign Articles. WHY? SOLUTION: Lands become property of the UNITED states

One way to raise money sell land

LAWS: Land Ordinance of 1785= rules for surveying the new landsNorthwest Ordinance of 1787= rules for dividing the land into states and admitting

them to the union.

THE WESTERN LANDS PROBLEM

Map: The Northwest Territory, 1785-1787

The Northwest Territory, 1785-1787The Ordinance of 1785 provided for surveying land into townships of thirty-six sections, each supporting four families on 160-acre plots (approximately twenty-five people per square mile). In 1787 the Northwest Ordinance stipulated that states would ultimately be created in the region. Copyright © Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.

The Limits of Limited Government:1. No common currency or banking laws

made interstate comm. difficult2. Unable to settle disputes over commerce

between states3. Unable to have stable govt. funding or to

collect taxes4. Unanimity necessary to amend 9 votes to

pass laws5. One house leg. 1 vote each and no

executive branch6. Unable to deal with foreign powers, 7. Weak army and navy8. Unable to respond to Shay’s rebellion

Articles of Confederation

Political and Economic1. States are unbalanced politically in regards to population2. War debt (160 Million)3. Continental Currency is worthless4. No trade regulations, taxes, or tariffs

Borrowers vs. Lenders1. Lenders favored High taxes (to get paid back)2. Borrowers favored Cheap currency to help lower their debt

Foreign Relations1. Spain menaces borders2. France demands repayment3. N. African Piracy a growing problem

Free ain’t EasyProblems in the Confederation