Chapter 9, Lesson 1

1. Chapter 9, Lesson 1 ACOS #9: List inadequacies of the Articles of Confederation and struggles over the ratification of the Constitution. ACOS #9a: List powers granted to Congress, the President, and those of the people. ACOS #9b: Discuss major ideas of the Constitution, including powers of the three branches of government. ACOS #9d: Describe the process by which territories achieve statehood under the Constitution.

2. Creating a Nation This chapter focuses on creating a nation. We will be exploring the government created by the Articles of Confederation, the Constitutional Convention, the Constitution and the Amendments, and President Washington.

3. A New Nation • During the Revolutionary War, each American colony became a separate state. • Each state had its own constitution. A constitution is a written plan for government.

4. A New Nation • Americans had fought the war for self-government, and they did not want to give up power to a strong central government. • A citizen is an official member of a city, state, or nation. • State governments let theircitizens make the laws.

5. Articles of Confederation • The Articles of Confederation were created to allow the country to work together, as one, when necessary. • The Articles created a weak national government that left most power with the states. • Advantages and Disadvantages of The Articles of Confederation: Congress had the power to: declare war, make peace treaties, and make treaties with other nations, including American Indian Nations. Congress did not have the power to: They could not set up an army, control trade, or create taxes.

6. The Northwest Territory • Congress had to decide what to do with land won in the Revolution. This land was known as the Northwest Territory. • A territory is land ruled by a national government but which has no representatives in the government. • Congress passed two ordinances to organize the Northwest Territory. • An ordinance is a law. • The Land Ordinance of 1785 explained how the land would be measured, divided, and sold. • The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 explained the government of this territory as well as made slavery against the law.

7. Problems of the New Nation • The Articles were weak and could not make the states work together. • Congress was having trouble paying their debt for the War for Independence. They were not allowed to tax so they had a hard time getting the money. They could not make states pay taxes. • Farmers were growing frustrated too. Many did not have money to pay state taxes and had to go to jail.

8. Shays’ Rebellion • Farmer Daniel Shays led a group of about 1,100 farmers in a protest. • They wanted the state government to give them more time to pay their debt. They wanted them to stop taking their farms and putting them in jail. • Congress could not form an army so they could not stop the farmers from fighting the state government. • The state government defeated the farmers. • Their rebellion showed that a weak national government could not keep order. • In 1787, Congress invited the states to send delegates to a meeting to discuss how to change the Articles of Confederation. • Many were worried the government was not strong enough to protect citizen’s rights.

9. Vocabulary Review A written plan for government. constitution citizen An official member of a city, a state, or a nation Land ruled by a national government but which has no representatives in the government. territory ordinance A law