Republicanism 7.1 The Articles of Confederation

How effective was the government under the Articles of Confederation? Conduct foreign affairs Maintain army and navy Declare war Borrow money Establish a post office Make Treaties Coin (print) money Powers of the National government under the Articles

Strengths and Weaknesses of the National Government under the Articles Won independence from Britain Expanded foreign trade Settled and governed the western territories No authority to raise money by collecting taxes No control over foreign trade Could not force states to carry out its laws or to pay taxes All 13 states had to agree to any amendments or changes No chief executive Not entirely supported by the states 9 out of 13 states required to pass laws Could not force citizens to join military

Definitions ConstitutionPlan of government Bicameral2-house legislature RepublicGovernment in which citizens rule through elected representatives ClauseCondition added to a document

Planning a New Government p The Second Continental Congress“Led” American Revolution Created the Articles of Confederation in November 1777 Articles of Confederation1 st form of government, formally began March 1, 1781 Each state retained, sovereignty, freedom and independence ConfederationType of government where the states have more power than the National government SovereigntyFreedom from external control, in other words, self-governing state

The Ordinance of 1785 p. 190 OrdinanceLaw or regulation PetitionFormal request The Ordinance of 1785Establish a procedure for surveying and selling the western lands north of the Ohio River. Divided the territory into townships, which were further divided into sections that would be sold for at least $1 per acre

The Northwest Ordinance p. 191 Created a single territory (Northwest Territory) out of the lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River Lands divided into smaller territories When territory reached population of 60,000, they could apply for statehood Stated that new states would have same rights and privileges as the original 13 states Provided bill of rights for settlers

Financial Problems p Money printed during Revolutionary War depreciated (to fall in value) States and Congress printed own money, no real value to them since gold and silver didn’t back them up Price of goods and food rose Congress had huge debt due to war, without power to tax could not repay debts

Robert Morris’s Import Tax p. 192 Philadelphia merchant Proposed 5% tax on imported goods to help pay for national debt 12 states approved, but Rhode Island opposed it and killed the bill…never passed

John Adams Asked Thomas Jefferson to write Declaration of Independence recommended George Washington to be army commander Important part of the 2 nd Continental Congress Sent to Britain to discuss problems before Revolution

Problems with Britain p. 193 British rule over US while they were colonies made Americans cautious about giving too much power to a single ruler Unwilling to remove troops because they felt US failed to honor promises it made in treaty, such as paying Loyalists for property taken during war British trade policy: kept Americans out of West Indies and other profitable British markets

Problems with Spain p. 193 Spain wanted to keep Americans out of territory they owned Closed lower Mississippi River off to trade