The Articles of Confederation and the Birth of a Nation

• It’s to late to apologize • http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZfRaWAtBVg&feature=player_detailpage#t=4s

• War effectively comes to an end in October 1781 with the defeat of the British at Yorktown.

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jvGAE1JcGV4 • Washington Vs. Cornwallis• French aid with their navy.• Washington Wins.• Second Treaty of Paris signed in 1783 but took

so long to pass through the Confederate Congress, it wasn’t ratified until January 14th, 1784.

• Revolutionary War officially over.

• 13 different Colonies = 13 different Governments

• Formed a confederacy. (The 13 Friends)

• Every State• Wrote their own STATE Constitutions.• Most had three branches of Government• Each state had their own currency.• Each state regulated their own trade.

• Unfair trading for some states led to poor economies.

• The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a Penn. statesman

• The Articles were accepted by Congress in 1781 and is considered the first national constitution

• The fear of having too much power in one person’s hands reflects the experiences the colonies had under a monarchy

• In the Articles the state governments limit the power of the national Congress

• 1783 -1784 The Treaty of Paris was signed & Ratified

• The Articles had the power to • Declare war and peace (Ended Revolutionary War)

• Maintain a Army & Navy• Print money (US Mint 1786)• Make treaties (Treaty of Paris)• Ambassadors Sent Out http://

www.youtube.com/watch?v=GbhzrOV2HP8&feature=related

• Settle state disputes (…not so much.)

• The Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785, stated that land in the west was to be surveyed using a grid system to establish 6 mile blocks

• The Northwest OrdinanceNorthwest Ordinance 1787 1787 assisted in the orderly expansion of the United States, it outlined a plan for applying for statehood to western territories• 5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt

• Population of 60,000 could become a state

• The Northwest Ordinance 1787 provides an orderly settlement process in the West

• It promised• no slavery• education• freedom of religion• trial by jury

• The Northwest Territory was east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River.

• The states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin would be formed from this area.

• Unicameral - ______________________• Congress had no power to raise taxes• Congress had no power regulate

foreign or state trade• Laws had to be approved by 9 out of

13 states• Congress did not have the power to

enforce laws

• Example: Shay’s Rebelliion

• Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they have no money because they were not paid during the war.

• Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too and sought to get money from the farmers debts.

• Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws

• The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and close courts that are hearing cases against farmers

• “Rebellion against a king may be pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death”

• Adams will also write a law called the Riot Act, which prohibits 12 people or more from meeting and gives the government the power to shoot rioters!

• Samuel sure has changed since 1776!

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ImIEcsTEVo&feature=related

• The Mass militia is called out to stop it• Shay's Rebellion prompted national

leaders to create a stronger central government

• Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who support their stance and will close courthouses and demand financial help from the Congress

• "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion.“

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcWaCsvpikQ

• January 1786 Jefferson’s Ordinance if Religious Freedoms• No one forced to attend or support any one religious institution.

• No can be discriminated against because of their religious or non religious affiliation.

• Will later be used as a model for the First Amendment to the Constitution.

• What have we Learned about the AOC? What were it’s strong points? Where did it fail?

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1lj2UpUVqzE

• What are some things happening in current times that are similar to what happened then?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=obz1OeUMdqU