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Experimenting with Confederation

Experimenting with Confederation. C & E. Key Terms. Republicanism Confederation Land Ordinance of 1785 Northwest Ordinance of 1787. Key Concepts. Characteristics of the Articles of Confederation Organization & governance of new lands. Americans Debate Republicanism.

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Experimenting with Confederation

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  1. Experimenting with Confederation C & E

  2. Key Terms • Republicanism • Confederation • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Northwest Ordinance of 1787

  3. Key Concepts • Characteristics of the Articles of Confederation • Organization & governance of new lands

  4. Americans Debate Republicanism • Relationship btwn new states & nat’l gov’t – tough to define • Colonies become states • Belief in ind. states • Loyalty to state • Reluctant to unite under strong central gov’t • Unity through Republic • Democracy placed too much power w/ uneducated masses • Chose republic • Meant different things to people • If gov’t allowed ind. citizens to pursue own ec. & pol. interests, the whole nation benefits

  5. Americans Debate Republicanism • State constitutions • Limited power of gov’t leaders • Guaranteed specific rights • Free speech, religion, press • Emphasized liberty rather than equality • Reflected fear of centralized authority • Voting rights differed • Prop. Owners • All white males

  6. Continental Congress Debates • What should be role of nat’l gov’t? • States unequal in pop., size, & wealth • Each state given 1 vote regardless of  • New gov’t – Articles of Confederation • 2 levels of gov’t share power • Confederation = alliance

  7. The Articles • Nat’l gov’t had the power to: • Declare war, make peace, & sign treaties • Borrow money, set standards for weights & measures, est. postal service, & deal w/ Native Americans • No separate executive dept. • No nat’l court system • Only legislative body • Effective March 1781

  8. Western Lands • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Plan for surveying new lands • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Procedure for dividing land into territories • Set requirements for admission of new states • Territorial governor appt’d by Congress • 5,000 voting residents  temp const. & temp gov’t • 60,000 in free inhabitants settlers write a state const. – must be approved by Congress • Blueprint for future growth of nation

  9. Problems • Lacked nat’l unity • Conf. Did not recognize difference in pop. of states • Articles had to have consent of every state to be amended • War debt from rev. was $190 million • Congress lacked power to tax • Congress asked states to impose tariff – tax on imports • 1 state rejected it • Unable to tax

  10. Problems • Borrowers vs. Lenders • Creditors vs. debtors • Foreign-Relations • US could not repay debt to Brit. Merchants • No compensation for Loyalist prop. Losses • So… • Brit refused to evacuate forts on Great Lakes • Spain was on borders – threat to expansion • Prob’s encountered by Congress dealing w/ foreign nations – revealed basic flaws in Articles

  11. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

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