1. A Loose Confederation

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

3. 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.

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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

8. 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

9. 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

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

11. 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

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

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

15. 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 ,000 free settlers it could ask Congress to
be admitted as a state

16. 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