The Articles of Confederation

1. The Articles of Confederation Why are revisions necessary?

2. 13 Independent States • Trouble getting Brit respect, ignored Treaty of Paris, Brits keep troops on frontier • 5/1776 Congress asked states to organize their gov’t and adopt a state constitution, by 1780 all states had followed through, except CT and RI which kept their colonial charters in place • Cautious to place too much power in hands of single ruler, limited power of Gov. in state constitutions, PA replaced Gov. w/ a 12 member Council • Divided power between Gov. and legislature, most divided legislature, called bicameral(Two Houses), wanted to keep power in hands of people, Legislatures were elected and frequent elections, 21 yrs old to vote, had to own property or pay taxes, some allowed free African Americans to vote • Legislatures became most powerful branch of gov’t, struggled to make taxes fair, many disagreements • Creating separate state Gov’ts easier than a central Gov’t, agreed should be a Republic, gov’t created and ruled by elected reps, organization and power were still and issue

3. Articles of Confederation • Most Americans favored a weak Central Gov’t, assumed states would be like Europe, small independent countries, working independently except for war and foreign relations • 1776 Cont. Cong. Appointed committee to draw up a plan for the new gov’t, needed to fight Brits, 11/1777 adopted Articles of Confederation, America’s 1st Constitution • Weak ctrl govt and states retained most of power, a league of friendship, state retained sovereignty • Central Gov’t , Congress authority to conduct foreign affairs, maintain armed forces, borrow money, issue currency, and distribute mail • Could not regulate trade, draft for army, or impose taxes, Congress had to ask states to raise troops or funds, no chief executive • Congress sold land in the West, each state had one vote, regardless of population, all states had to approve the Articles and amendments • Lrgr states felt they deserved more votes, debate over who claimed land west of Appalachians • MD last state to ratify(approve) 3/1/1781 Confederation approved

5. Land Policies • At beginning of Revolution, a few 1,000 lived past the Appalachains, by 1790’s 120,000, hoped to organize new land into states, but the Articles of Confederation, no way to add states, Congress had to extend power over the states, everyone claiming land had to give it up except GA • 1784- Congress divided territory into self governing district under Jefferson’s plan, when population reached that of smallest state they could petition for statehood • 1785 Congress passed a law or ordinance for surveying and selling western land north of Ohio River, divided into townships 6 miles sq.,36 sections of 640 acres, sold at auction for at least $1 / acre, land speculators , Richard Henry Lee made a plea for property rights • Northwest Ordinance passed in 1787, single territory north of Ohio River and East of Mississippi, divided into 3-5 smaller territories, reach 60,000 apply for statehood, same rights as the states, bill of rights for settlers, guaranteeing freedom of religion and trial by jury, banned slavery or indentured servants

6. Problems with Britain and Spain • Confederation could not deal w/ countries financial problems and foreign relations w/ England and Spain • Money printed during the revolution depreciated to almost worthless, Congress and states printed own money, no taxes collected by Congress, no gold or silver to back • Continental Dollars required to buy 1 Spanish Dollar rose from 40-146, led to food riots • Revolution left a huge debt, Congress borrowed from American citizens, foreign gov’ts, from states, still owed soldiers for service during the war, could not tax, could not pay debts, 1781, total financial collapse coming Robert Morris and newly created finance dept taxed 5% on all imported goods, RI only state to oppose killed measure, made things worse • Brits continued to occupy Great Lakes region, plus kept Americans out of Caribbean, John Adams sent to England, Brits would not talk, no return of loyalist land • Spain wanted to halt American expansionism, closed lower Mississippi river for trade, sent John Jay, agreement reached blocked by Southern states because Mississippi not open

7. Activity • Draw the Township on pg. 195 • Explain why there is a movement for public schools