The Articles of Confederation:Chapter 3, Section 1

Political ideas and major events shape how people form governments. When the American colonies

broke their political ties with Great Britain, they faced the task of forming independent governments at both

the state and national levels.

Thirteen Independent States

● Main idea: As soon as the Declaration of Independence was signed, the 13 states began writing their own constitutions. ○ Quock Walker, an enslaved African American, took legal

action against a white man that assaulted him○ Case was brought to the state supreme court and resulted

in Massachusetts court ruling against slavery and causing it to cease existing in MA

State Constitutions

● Even before signing of Declaration, colonies discussed possibility of state constitutions replacing old charters○ State governments based on ideals of Declaration

■ life, liberty, pursuit of happiness■ Popular sovereignty (government ran by consent of

the people) and equal justice under law

Systems of Government

● New Hampshire was first colony to become a state and craft a constitution, with others following

● New state constitution set up government with○ Bicameral legislature creating laws○ Chief executive (governor) elected by citizens to carry out

laws, with limitations○ Judges/courts to interpret laws

Preserving Rights

● Power in hands of people○ Legislators popularly and frequently elected○ Only 21+ year old, white, landowning/tax paying males

could vote (few states allowed African American males too)● Most state constitutions included a bill of rights

○ Guaranteeing freedoms and legal protections ■ Trial by jury■ Protection of personal property

1. Describe the branches of government.2. What did the state constitutions value most, individual

freedoms or government power?

Forming the New Government

● Main idea: Americans realized the necessity of establishing a central, or national, government for the 13 states.○ Each state was prepared to govern itself, but they couldn’t

do everything on their own○ Second Continental Congress raised an army (war against

Britain) and made plans for union of states

A Confederation of States

● As Jefferson was drafting Declaration, Continental Congress was developing plan for new government in a document: the Articles of Confederation, the nation’s first constitution○ Formed a voluntary association where states agreed to let

government be in charge of certain things (forming army)○ Created one-house legislature, Congress, 2-7 delegates

from each state, but each state only had one vote○ Focused on supreme power, sovereignty, of each state

The Powers of Congress● Congress’s powers under Articles were limited but

included…○ Authority to conduct foreign affairs○ Maintain armed forces○ Borrow money/issue currency

● Due to negative experience with British, states refused to give Congress certain power○ Articles allowed congress to ask states for money, but

could not demand money from them or anything else really○ No money/power earned them little respect or participation

from its members

Weaknesses of the Articles● All states ratified Articles of Confederation, but it

wasn’t long before they realized its problems○ Congress couldn’t pass a law unless 9/13 approved○ Amendments required 100% voter approval

■ Nothing was ever accomplished○ Laws passed couldn’t be enforced, as Articles didn’t

provide chief executive for courts■ States could ignore laws with no consequence

● Despite weaknesses, government established fair policy for development of lands west of Appalachians

Western Land Policies● Following Revolutionary War, number of non-Indian

settlers living west of Appalachians increased, with the hope to organize land as states to join the union○ Articles had no protocol for adding states to union and

Congress needed to extended authority over territory● No power to tax/control trade, Confederation could

only sell land to make money○ Congress established system for dividing/selling land in

western region and governing new settlements○ Passed ordinance creating townships to be sold at public

auction, $1/acre

The Northwest Ordinance● Congress passed Northwest Ordinance creating

single Northwest Territory out of lands north of Ohio River and east of Mississippi River○ Lands then divided into 3-5 territories○ Provided a democratic model for national expansion; when

a territory reached 60,000 it could petition for statehood○ Each new state would enter with the same rights and

privileges as original 13○ Guaranteed freedom of religion, property rights, right to trial

by jury, limited slavery

Which States Were Formed?● Ordinance of 1785 and

Northwest Ordinance described steps to creating new states and opened settlement of Northwest Territory in clear/orderly manner○ Ohio was first, then

Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin

1. How did Congress’s need for money lead to laws about the western territories?

2. Why was it important for Congress to let new states enter the Union with the same rights and powers as the original states?

3. What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?

Trouble on Two Fronts● Main idea: The weaknesses of the Articles of

Confederation created problems for the new country.○ Success in establishing western land policies wasn’t

enough, Confederation was powerless to regulate trade■ Each state passed its own laws, taxing goods from its

neighbor states● NY taxed...firewood (CN), cabbage (NJ)● NJ retaliated with lighthouse fee

○ Couldn’t deal with country’s economic problems (tax/trade)

Economic Problems

● Money printed during war depreciated enough to become worthless○ No power to collect taxes, led both Congress and states

print their own money (causing depreciation)● As value of money fell, price of food/goods soared

○ Angry mobs seized overpriced sugar, tea, bread

Why did the Debt Grow?● War left Congress with debt…

○ Borrowed $ from citizens/foreign governments○ Owed soldier pay for service

● With no power to tax, Confederation had no way to pay debts○ Requested funds from states, but they contributed little

● Faced with potential financial collapse, department of finance created and was ran by Robert Morris○ 12/13 states approved a plan to give Congress the power

to tax to raise funds, but RI killed measure○ Second attempt failed too

Problems with Britain

● Government weaknesses spread and created problems with other nations○ Treaty of Paris - Britain promised to remove troops, but

didn’t, and Confederation couldn’t do anything about it○ British trade policy prevented Americans from making profit

■ Sent John Adams to work it out, British refused to meet with him, claiming Americans hadn’t upheld their end of the bargain either

Problems with Spain● Relations with Spain were worse than Britain

○ Spain held Florida, closing off lower Mississippi River (trade route) to Americans

○ John Jay, American secretary of foreign affairs, said it was their right to use River

● Westerners wanted the right of deposit at New Orleans, but Spain refused○ Instead created treaty with Spain to grant free navigation

along Mississippi River, but those living in Southern states blocked agreement and refused use of River

The Government Falters

● Weakness of Confederation and inability to deal with problems, worried American leaders○ Peace within the new nation was hard to come by

■ States bickered■ Few supported central government■ No central power or money

TIME FOR A NEW PLAN OF ACTION

THINK...

1. Why did Spain close the lower Mississippi River to American trade?

2. What did the Ordinance of 1785 accomplish?3. Why was the right of deposit at New Orleans

important for western farmers?4. List some of the strengths AND weaknesses of

the Articles of Confederation.

For next time...

two-house legislaturemanumissionShay’s RebellionThree-Fifths CompromiseJames MadisonRoger Sherman’s Great Compromise