1. The Confederation Era Objectives:
Explain the ideas and documents that helped shape American beliefs about government.
Describe how state constitutions contributed to the development of a representative government.
List the powers the central government had under the Articles of Confederation.
Explain the accomplishments of the Northwest Ordinance

2. I. Forming a New Government
A. Ideas about Government
English Laws
a. limited power for the monarchy
1) Magna Carta (Great Charter) 1215
a) King had to follow laws like the rest
2) English Bill of Rights
a) monarchy could not pass laws without the approval of Parliament

3. Enlightenment a. called for reason and belief in human goodness
John Locke believed there is a social contract between the leaders and the people they rule
Government is to protect people’s rights and if not the people should replace them
b. Political traditions
town meetings
state assemblies (Va. House of Burgesses)
Great traditions—Christian traditions

4. Colonial Written Documents
a. documents supporting principles of self government
1) Mayflower Compact (1620)
2) Fundamental Orders of Connecticut (1639)
a) first written constitution in America
b) states the powers & duties of the government
3) Declaration of Independence

5. (Colonial Documents Continued)
b. State Constitutions
1. Set up republics
a) elected representatives
b) kept leaders from gaining to much power
c)limited government—no one has total power
2. Protected individual rights
a) trial by jury, freedom of the press, private ownership

6. b) by 1833 no state supported an official church
c) expanded suffrage
(voting rights)
C. Forming a Union
1. National Government was needed
a. The Articles of Confederation
1) a central national government

7. 2) a Confederation Congress
a) Each state gets one vote
b) Had limited power
(1) Could issue or borrow money
(2) Negotiate & make treaties with other countries & the Indians
(3) Settle conflicts between the states or western territories
(4) Can ask state to provide money & soldiers for an army

8. (5) could run a postal service
c) Weakness of the Confederation
(1) Could not collect taxes
(2) Had no executive branch
(3) Could not enforce laws passed by congress
(4) Had no federal court system
(5) Could not regulate foreign or interstate trade

9. 3) government adopted in 1777—it took 4 years for all the states to approve it
4) There was a dispute over who would control the western land claims
2. Northwest Territory
a. Major Problems for the government
1) What to do with western land claims?
2) How to pay the war debt!!!

10. b. The Ordinance of 1785
1) divided the western land into townships of 36 square miles
a) Each township divided into 36 lots of 640 acres
(1) One lot for a public school
(2) Four lots for Revolutionary Soldiers
(3) The rest for public sale
b) This allowed the Congress to raise money to help pay for the war
c) Created a model for orderly growth through the 19th century

11. c. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
1) formed a political system for the territory
2) Included the areas that are now the states of:
Ohio
a)_______________ b)______________
c)_______________ d)______________
e)_______________ f)______________
Indiana
Michigan
Wisconsin
Illinois
Minnesota
3) Divided areas and appointed governors

12. 4) made a system for territories to become states
a) 60,000 to become a state
b) Must provide a public school
c) Slavery was forbidden in the NW Territory
Objectives:
1. Describe how other nations treated the new U.S. Government.
2. Explain the economic problems that arose under the Articles of Confederation
3. Explain the causes & consequences of Shay’s Rebellion

13. A. Lack of Respect
1. Foreign governments treated the U.S. with no respect
a.__________________________________
b.__________________________________
c.__________________________________
d.__________________________________
e.__________________________________
Britain would not leave forts south of lakes
Britain barred U.S. ships in the Caribbean
Spain stopped use of the Mississippi River
Spain barred U.S. ships in the Caribbean
Spain argued over Florida’s boundary
2. Government viewed as weak & powerless

14. B. Economic Problems under the Articles of Confederation
International trade issues
2. Domestic problems
3. Unequal exports and imports
4. No power to pass tariffs or regulate interstate trade
5. Inflation and depression

15. C. Causes & Consequences of Shay’s Rebellion
High taxes
2. Heavy debt
3. Farm fore closures
4. Imprisonment
CONSEQUENCES
1. Revolt
2. Demand for a strong central government