Transcript Chapter 5
Chapter 5 A Confederation of States Focus Question • What form o f government did the Patriots initially create? • The new government consisted of a Congress with very limited powers, no President or executive branch, and nor federal court system Early Government • After declaring their independence from Great Britain, the colonists had to decide how they would govern themselves Early Government • In 1776, each of the newly independent states created it own government • A national government was also created to unite the states and establish relation with the rest of the world Articles of Confederation • 1st government of the United States • Two levels of government shared fundamental powers • State governments were supreme in some matters, federal was supreme in others Articles of Confederation • Powers given to the central government • Unicameral (Legislative body only), • 1 vote per state, unanimous voted needed on all issues • OK for war, raised an army, negotiated peace, • borrow $, negotiate between the states Articles of Confederation • • • • • Articles proved unworkable in peace time Congress cannot collect taxes to raise money States refused to provide funds No National Court system to interpret laws Congress powerless to regulate foreign and interstate commerce • States cut deals with foreign countries • One vote for each state, regardless of size The Articles • General agreement on democracy, government by the people • Created a republic, a government run by the people through elected officials Opposition to the Articles • Concerns About Weak Government 1. Each state received one vote in Congress, did not recognize population of a state 2. Articles could not be amended without consensus of all states • Very difficult • Each state functioned with its own interests in mind Opposition to the Articles 3. Foreign-Relations Problems • Lack of support by states causes problems – Britain refused to evacuate its military forts on the Great Lakes – US could not repay debts to British merchants – US would not compensate Loyalists for property losses • Spain posed a threat on the borders – 1784 Spain closed Mississippi River to navigation – Western farmers could not ship goods to market thru New Orleans Northwest Ordinance of 1785 • System for distributing public land • 640 acre sections • Favored the wealthy because land tract were large and expensive Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • How to govern the new land • Established a process by which new territories in the West could become states Northwest Ordinance of 1787 1. Congress appoints a Territorial governor and judges Northwest Ordinance of 1787 2. when a territory had 5,000 registered voters, settlers could write a temporary constitution and elect their own government Northwest Ordinance of 1787 3. When total population reaches 60,000, settlers can write a state constitution, approved by Congress before granted statehood Northwest Ordinance of 1785 and 1787 • Articles of Confederation went into effect • Issue was how to distribute and govern western land The Annapolis Convention • 1786, Nationalists held a convention to discuss the economic issues under the Articles • Only 12 delegates from 5 states attended • Agreed to call another convention in Philadelphia in 1787 to fix the Articles Shay’s Rebellion • Daniel Shays a former Revolutionary Army captain, led a rebellion by farmers against unsettled economic conditions which were unfair to farmers and working people. • Taxes were to be paid in gold or silver coin – rather than paper money. Results of Shay’s Rebellion • The rebellion demonstrated to many prominent Americans that action had to be taken to strengthen the national government • May 1787, Philadelphia Convention 12 states sent delegates • Amend the Articles of Confederation Daily Quiz What did Shays’ Rebellion grow out of • unrest among Massachusetts farmers over taxes. How did the Nationalists regard Shays’ Rebellion? • as proof that only a strong national government could prevent social disorder st 1 government of the United States • Articles of Confederation What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 establish • a clear, orderly process by which new territories in the West could become states a government run by the people through elected officials • Republic government by the people • Democracy Illustrating Terms • Working with a partner – illustrate one of the following terms, you may draw more than one picture or use a combination of words and pictures • Write the definition on the back 1. Constitution 2. Checks and balances 3. Precedent 4. judicial review 5. Bill of Rights 6. Electoral college 7. Executive branch 8. XYZ affair 9. Great Compromise 10. Three-Fifths Compromise 11. Legislative branch 12. Louisiana Purchase 13. Separation of powers 14. Virginia Plan 15. Articles of Confederation 16. Judicial branch 17. Federalists 18. Anti-Federalists 19. Jay’s Treaty 20. Popular Sovereignty