A Loose Confederation

State Written Constitutions I. State Written Constitutions A. Reasons for writing 1. Spell out rights of all citizens 2. Limit the power of Government

1. Legislative-elected to enact laws 2. Executive a. Governor B. Make-up similar to Colonial Government 1. Legislative-elected to enact laws 2. Executive a. Governor b. All states but PA c. executes or carries out laws.

Articles of Confederation II. Articles of Confederation A. Plan Drafted by Continental Congress 1. Plan for nation as a whole 2. Citizens reluctant to give up power from the states 3. Most saw themselves as citizens of the state not the nation

B. Approved in 1777 C. Very loose alliance of 13 independent states D. Limited Powers 1. States sent delegates to Congress 2. Each state had one vote

5. Responsible for foreign affairs E. Powers of Congress 1. Declare war 2. Make Treaties 3. Appoint military officers 4. Coin/Make money 5. Responsible for foreign affairs

1. 9 states had to approve a law 2. Cannot regulate trade F. Limits to Power 1. 9 states had to approve a law 2. Cannot regulate trade 3. no power to tax 4. Congress had to ask states for money 5. No president or executive 6. No court system

G. Dispute over Western Lands 1. Maryland refused to ratify unless VA + other states ceded their rights to lands West of Appalachian Mountains 2. Virginia last hold out 3. Maryland ratified in 1781

states--NY and NH over Vermont H. Weaknesses of Confederation 1. Conflict between states--NY and NH over Vermont 2. Money problems-states printed their own currency

3. Other nations take advantage a. Britain in Ohio Valley b. Spain closed Port of New Orleans to American shipping

III. Admitting New States A. Land ordinance of 1785 1. System for settling NW territory 2. Territory surveyed and divided into townships 3. Townships divided into 36 sections of 1 square mile each

sections sold to settlers for $640 a piece One section set aside for public schools

B. Northwest ordinance 1. Passed in 1787 2.government for Northwest Territory 3.Guaranteed basic rights to settlers and outlawed slavery

4. provided rules to divide vast territory in the future 5. Provided a way to admit new states to the union a. once a territory has 60,000 free settlers it could ask Congress to be admitted as a state

b. Each state would be on an “equal footing with the original states in all respects whatsoever” 6. 5 full states created: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin 7. Partial state: Minnesota