America's Confederation Transition: A Historical Evolution

1. THE CONFEDERATION America under the Articles of Confederation

2. A Tale of Two Congresses • Created BY the Articles of Confederation • Declared independence from England 2nd Continental Congress (1775-1781) Confederation Congress (1781-1789) • Governed colonies through last few years of war and after • Governed colonies through first few years of war • Wrote Northwest Ordinance • Wrote the Articles of Confederation

3. Articles of Confederation • November 1777 – America’s 1st constitution • Created DURING the Revolutionary War after the Declaration of Independence • Provideda national government • States gave up little of their power • “A firm leagueof friendship” • States kept “sovereignty, freedom, & independence” All 13 states had to ratify the Articles Articles formally become our govt. on March 1, 1781

4. Settling the Public Domain • The Articles of Confederation did not give congress the power to tax • Many people wanted to give congress control of public lands in the west to raise revenue • Some large states already had claims to land in the west • Many of the smaller states refused to approve the Articles of Confederation unless they ceded them to the national government

5. The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Territory • Once congress had control of the western lands the had to figure out what to do with them • Passed laws that provided a method to divide the land and distribute it • Passed laws that set up an orderly method to govern these lands and bring them into the union of states.

6. Land Ordinance of 1785 • Provided an orderly procedure to sell lands north of Ohio River • Divided territory into townships • 6 miles x 6 miles square • Opportunity toa lot of land cheap • Some land was reserved for Revolutionary War veterans

7. Land Ordinance of 1785 6 miles 6 miles Land sold for $1 per acre A A – Half-section = 320 acres B – Quarter-section = 160 acres C – Half-quarter section = 80 acres D – Quarter-quarter section = 40 acres C B D D

8. Northwest Ordinance (1787) • Passed in 1787, it created a system of government for the Northwest Territory • Land north of Ohio River & west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River • Created a method for organized settlement in the Northwest Territory • Outlined the settlers’ rights. • Set a pattern for the orderly growth of the United States. • this pattern would be followed in territories added after the Northwest Territory.

9. Lake Superior Lake Huron Lake Ontario Lake Michigan Lake Erie

10. STOP!

11. Northwest Ordinance (1787) • Passed in 1787, it created a government for the Northwest Territory • Land north of Ohio River & west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River Section 1 • Northwest Territory was to be divided into at least 3 but no more than 5 states Section 2 • 3-step process to achieve statehood; could petition for statehood • At first territory would be ruled by a governor, secretary and 3 judges appointed by Congress • When adult male population reached 5,000 they elect territorial legislature and a territorial delegate to Congress • When TOTALpopulation reached 60,000 they could apply for statehood • Would come into Union with all rights & privileges of original 13 states • Set a precedent that new states would have equal status to old states

12. Northwest Ordinance (1787) Section 3 • Created a Bill of rights for settlers • Slavery would not be allowed in the Northwest territory • Insured that northern states would be free territory • Protected freedom of religion • Ensured trial by jury