8.1 The Confederation Era

Forming A New Government ► Republic –  A government where the people exercise control over their government  A country in which the people choose representatives to govern them ► Not a Republic for all – must be a citizen  African Americans, Females, Native Americans, and non- landowners some religious groups were denied voting rights in most states when the Articles of Confederation was ratified.  White, Landowning, Protestants most commonly had voting rights. ► Some states governments included different branches  To keep one group or person from gaining to much power  Some had a Bill of Rights based on the English Bill of Rights  Governor, Legislature, Judicial Branches

Articles of Confederation ► Each state had its own (Constitution) government the Articles were to add a layer of representation to assist the country run more effectively. ► The smaller populated and smaller sized states worried that they would be at a disadvantage in the new government unless the Frontier lands were placed under the control of the national government. ► States disagreed on who would control The Northwest Territory (The Frontier).  The states with Frontier lands could sell them to pay off debts left from the Revolution ► ► States also worried if Government representation were based on State Population Small States were concerned with the number of representatives in the New Confederation Congress

The Articles of Confederation are Ratified ► ► The Articles were sent to the States in November 1777   Ran the Country during the Revolutionary War even though they weren’t officially approved until   Small states refused to Ratify until all States gave control of their Frontier Land Claims to the National Government. ► ► These settled Land issues between the states. ► ► Confederation Congress Passed the Land Ordinance of 1785   Organized the Territory ► ► Confederation Congress Passed the Northwest Ordinance of 1787   Outlined how the Northwest Territory was to be governed.

Land Ordinance of 1785 ► The Land Ordinance of 1785 called for surveyors to stake out six-mile square plots, called townships, in the Western lands. ► Organized the Frontier Territory ► Became known as the Northwest Territory and over time created all or part of 6 states.  Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 ► Outlined how the Northwest Territory was to be governed.  As the territory grew in population, it would gain rights to self-government  When there were 5000 free adult males in an area and owned at least 50 acres of land could elect an assembly.  When there were 60,000 people they could apply to become a new state.  Slavery was outlawed  Rivers were to be open to navigation for all  Freedom of religion and trial by jury were guaranteed

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation ► Conduct foreign Affairs ► Declare war and make peace ► Issue or borrow money ► Control Western territories  The Land Ordinance of 1785  The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 ► Control Indian Affairs  The Northwest Ordinance promised Native Americans fair treatment and Native American lands were not to be taken from them  but as we know lands were very often stripped from the original inhabitants. ► Run Postal service

Weaknesses of the federal government under the Articles of Confederation ►T►T►T►There was no executive branch ((((no main identifiable leader of the country) ►C►C►C►Could not enforce national laws ((((No Army, Navy National Police force) ►C►C►C►Could not enact or collect taxes ((((had to request money from the states) ►C►C►C►Could not regulate interstate or foreign trade ((((States had their own money) ►N►N►N►No Federal courts ►I►I►I►It took 9 of 13 to pass a law. ►I►I►I►It took all 13 states to ratify a change to the Articles.

Problems with Great Britain and Spain ► Britain competed against the American fur trade by refusing to evacuate its military forts south of the Great Lakes  The US had no Military to make the British Leave ► Britain barred American-owned ships from British waters in the Caribbean  The US had no Navy to protect our shipping ► Spain put up barriers to American shipping in the Caribbean.  The US had no Navy to protect our shipping ► Spain refused to allow Americans to use the Mississippi River or deposit goods in New Orleans  The US had no Navy to protect our shipping ► Spain and Congress argued over the boundary of Florida ► In all the above The US had no defined leader to negotiate nor could it collect taxes to raise a military to defend itself.

Economic Problems and Shay’s Rebellion ► Many Revolutionary War soldiers were not paid for their service during the war. ► Congress could not pay the soldiers as it was unable to levy taxes.  One example was when 300 Soldiers forced the Confederation Congress to flee Philadelphia  A second example Shay’s Rebellion ► Massachusetts had some of the highest taxes in the Nation. ► Massachusetts was trying to pay off its Revolutionary War debts ► The Massachusetts government refused tax relief to its citizens. ► The National Government could do nothing to help the Soldiers

Shay’s Rebellion ► It was an armed uprising of farmers over what they considered unfair taxation in Massachusetts. ► Shay and his followers attacked county courts to keep them from selling farmers’ possessions and jailing people who couldn’t pay their debts. ► Shay and his followers also led a march on a federal arsenal. ► The Massachusetts Militia quickly put down the protesting soldiers ► This and other events showed many leaders that changes needed to be made to the Articles of Confederation