THE CONFEDERATION GOVERNMENT

REVOLUTION’S EFFECTS IN SOCIAL REFORM

Greater freedom of religion◦ States move toward

a full separation of church & state

◦ States that continued to support religion apportioned funds between all the different churches

◦ Titles of nobility Titles of nobility denounced!denounced!

• Moves to abolish slavery• Military service earned

freedom for some slaves• By 1780, abolished in

Northern states with gradual emancipation / manumission manumission laws

• In South, all but GA & SC removed laws that kept owners from manumitting slaves

• So why not abolish slavery entirely?

REVOLUTION’S EFFECTS ON WOMEN Small move toward increasing women’s legal rights◦ easier to get a divorce◦ BUT, really very small changes in male attitudes

Abigail Adams asks John to Abigail Adams asks John to “remember the ladies”“remember the ladies”◦ Home front efforts during War increased their influence

More educationeducation for women because:◦ Republican gov’t demands well-educated citizenry

◦ Their role in training next generation in republican values – “Republican “Republican Motherhood”Motherhood”

Query: Was the American Revolution a strong social revolution?

GROWTH OFNATIONALISM:

Resulting from shared sacrifices, & need to find common solutions to wartime problems

Manufacturing & interstate trade stimulated by war & encouraged pride in American self-sufficiency

National heroes from the War – George!

Strengthened desire for distinct American culture- Noah Webster, speller / reader- John Trumbull, art

JOHN TRUMBULL PAINTINGS

Most states had constitutions even before Dec. of Ind.

Why did many move their capitals westward?

All 13 states had:

elected legislatures power concentrated

in an executive branch – Governor

1 yr terms, strong veto power

State Court systems Most had their own

Bill of Rights Voter qualifications:

still property owners/taxpayers

ARTICLES OFCONFEDERATION

Unicameral Congress

Only one branch

One vote per state

State sovereignty

Ratification & amendment requires all 13 states

Sent to states for approval in 1777; won’t get it until 1781 – Why?Western land claimsUnanimous approval required

ORGANIZATION:

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION“A Firm League of Friendship”

No power to tax

No executive branch

No federal courts

No power to regulate interstate commerce

No national currency

LACK OF A STRONG LACK OF A STRONG CENTRAL GOVERNMENTCENTRAL GOVERNMENT

WEAKNESSES OFTHE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

LAND ORDINANCE ACT OF 1785

Purpose: sell off western land to pay off the national debt

Provided an orderly method tosettle land N of the Ohio River by division into

townships- 6 miles square with 36 sections, 1 square mile each

Provided first federal $ forpublic education (Sec. 16proceeds went to public ed.)

A major achievement of the Confederation!A major achievement of the Confederation!

NORTHWEST ORDINANCEOF 1787:

5,000 citizens in a territory gives it territorial status territorial legislatures

Once population of 60,000 persons reached, could then apply for statehoodProhibited slavery north of Ohio River!

Economic ConcernsLoyalists’ property….supposed to be returned but ….

Dependent on farming, British Navigation Acts really hurt American economy post independence

Able to trade with other nations; lucrative trade opens up with China and others

Debts from war, inflation, & speculation were problems during and after the war

American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789

THE CONFEDERATION GOVERNMENTTHE CONFEDERATION GOVERNMENT’S FOREIGN RELATIONS:

TREATYOF PARIS OF 1783 – ◦ A major accomplishment!

RELATIONS WITH GREAT BRITAIN:◦ John Adams as foreign minister from U.S. / None from GB to U.S. – why not?

◦ BR remaining in frontier military posts / fur trade

TRADE SUFFERS◦ New England excluded from West Indies; shipbuilding declines

◦ British dump low-priced manufactured goods on American market

◦ Why didn’t U.S. impose import restrictions on GB?

WITH SPAIN:WITH SPAIN:◦ SPAIN WAS A “CO-

BELLIGERENT,”

NOT AN ALLY

◦ CLAIMS U.S. BOUNDARIES ARE

WRONG

◦ CONTROLLED NEW ORLEANS &

THREATENED WESTERN TRADE

BY U.S.

◦ WESTERNERS DEMAND “right “right

of deposit”of deposit” AT NEW ORLEANS

◦ SPAIN REFUSES

Relations with France

U.S. is unable to repay war loans France had expected commercial opportunities after the war … special trading status ……..◦Didn’t get it; should they have?

:Problems, Problems, Problems!

States taxing goods from their neighbors:◦ Congress had no power to regulate interstate commerce

◦ Some states levied tariffs on British goods, so BR would just bring goods in through states that didn’t

Confederation Gov’t didn’t have authority to put national tariffs on BR goods - would have helped American economy (INFLATION!) & cash flow

Confederation Congress sought 5% tariff duty in 1781 – but required approval of all 13 states and… RI wouldn’t approve

No national currency so states issue their own:◦ print too much; values differed; not accepted outside state

SHAY’S REBELLION – “Mobocracy”

MA Farmers returning from War couldn’t pay taxes (60% increase) -jailed or their land confiscated◦ Over 1200 rebelled by closing 2

Springfield, MA courts & then attacking arsenal

◦ MA appeals to Congress for help -- no power to do so

Captain Daniel Shays & his regulars are ultimately defeated by a privately raised MA militia

SignificanceSignificance: pointed out lack of authority, order & power of the Confederation Government

Liberty Run Mad!

“There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders.” -- George Washington

ANNAPOLIS CONVENTION

1785, reps from VA & MD meet in Mt. Vernon, VA

Suggest conference in Annapolis of all states to discuss common problems of commercecommerce

Only 5 states sent reps (not even MD!)

Alexander Hamilton suggests Philadelphia Convention to revise Articles of Confederation ..and address all problems, not just commerce