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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?. - PowerPoint PPT Presentation
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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?
The Impact of the American Revolution on American Society
Changes to American Society 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 aristocracyaristocracy–Fighting British tyranny made
slavery seem hypocritical; Abolitionist sentiment grew
–Women gained increased status
States abolished “feudal” laws of primogeniture & entail
Many states lowered property qualifications to vote; but none offered universal male suffrageuniversal male suffrageMost states clearly separated church & state
Blacks demanded the right to freedom in petitions & lawsuits
Franklin, Jay, Hamilton founded abolition societies; Washington manumittedmanumitted his slaves
VT, PA, MA abolished slavery
Some Southern slave owners privately freed their slaves“Republican MotherhoodRepublican Motherhood”—mothers
should instill virtue in their children
Took greater control over family farms & businesses
Benjamin Banneker & Phillis Wheatley
Postponing Full LibertyThe 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
New State & National Governments
Forming New GovernmentsWhen independence was declared
from England in 1776, colonists considered themselves a new nation & needed a new gov’t:–Colonies became individually
sovereign statesstates governed by written state constitutions
–A national gov’tnational gov’t 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!
States ConstitutionsIn 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
The United States, 1783How “democratic” are these new state gov’ts?
Defining Republican Culture But, creating a national gov’t that
met everyone’s needs was hard:– How to balance individual libertyindividual liberty
with maintaining ordermaintaining order?– How to balance property rightsproperty rights
with equalityequality?– How to create a centralized centralized
gov’tgov’t without creating a new tyrannical authoritytyrannical authority?
Defining Republican Culture Americans set out to create a
republicanrepublican form of government after independence was declared:–Gov’t 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”
Civic virtuevirtue is now a necessity
The Articles of ConfederationIn 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
Articles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation was
adopted as America’s 1st national gov’t in 1777 (but ratified in 1781)–The Articles established an
intentionally weak central gov’t in order to protect state power
–The confederation-style gov’t 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
The Articles of ConfederationThe 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 statesAmending the gov’t required
agreement by all 13 states
The Articles were created to loosely tie the states together
““A firm league A firm league of friendship”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.…"
What is the significance of the following quote:
–“People do not chop off heads so readily when they can chop down trees.”
Western LandsThe “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 gov’t negotiated treaties with Indians to gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky
The United States, 1783The USA in the “Critical Period”
Western LandsVirginia took the lead to solve the
“West problem” by ceding its western claims to the national gov’t –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 gov’t finally ratified in 1781, Congress created the Departments of
War, Foreign Affairs, & Finance
Western Land
Claims
Ceded by the States
Don’t forget Indian lands tooDon’t forget Indian lands tooIndian Land Cessions:1768-1799
The Land Ordinance of 1785The U.S. gov’t was eager to sell
off Western lands to settlers to gain revenue (since the gov’t did not have the power to tax)
–The Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785 established an orderly process for laying out western townships
–Section 16 of the each township was dedicated to public schools
The Northwest OrdinanceThe Northwest OrdinanceNorthwest 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
The United States, 1783Because of the 1785 & 1787 ordinances, the Northwest territories
were well organized & orderly
Territories south of the Ohio River received less attention from Congress
Prospectors poured into Kentucky & Tennessee
By 1790, the region was plagued by land claims & counterclaims that generated lawsuits for years
The USA in
1787
ConclusionsThe Articles of Confederation
accomplished exactly what its framers intended:
–By creating a weak central gov’t, the power of the states was preserved & no tyrants emerged
–The weaknesses of the central gov’t failed to meet the long-term needs of the new USA