The Articles of Confederation --- The Nation’s first attempt at a Constitution.

The Articles of Confederation ---The Nation’s

first attempt at a Constitution.

Thursday 10-31-13Happy Halloween Folks!!

Introductory Statement

Yesterday, we wrapped up the Revolutionary War unit, where we basically focused on the major battles during that war. Keep in mind though, while the war was still raging, and just after the Declaration Independence was written, America was in need of a unifying, central government. That is when the 2nd Continental Congress gathered in order to form our country’s first constitution, known as The Articles of Confederation. We will learn that, although the Articles were written in order to help unify the nation, there were still many unresolved issues which the Articles of Confederation just could not solve…

DQ #4

Imagine that you were a delegate who was called to represent your state in the Continental Congress—take a minute to think about some of the rights you enjoy today, including life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness…

Make a list of at least 5 rights that you enjoy which you would hope the Articles of Confederation would include.

What was the purpose of the Articles of Confederation?

• The 2nd Continental Congress was organized, with one member (13 total) of each state (no longer colony) sent to help draft the Articles of Confederation, the nation’s first constitution, for the purpose of creating a national government.

• So what’s a confederation you ask: A group of people or states united together for a common purpose.

• Under the Articles of Confederation: Congress would become the single branch (unicameral) of the national government; but with limited powers, in order to protect the liberties of people…

• Why? Because Americans were in fear of a government which could become too powerful under a president, and thus resemble a monarch—like the king of England!

So, what laws were set under the Articles of Confederation anyway?

• In summary, the basics:

• Each state had one vote in Congress.

• Congress could settle conflicts, issue coins, borrow money, make treaties with other nations and Native Americans.

• Congress could ask states for money and soldiers.

• …on the other hand, state governments still held most of the power and could refuse these requests!

However, not all States were pleased to ratify the Articles of Confederation:

• Maryland refused to ratify (officially approve) the Articles because of conflicts over western land claims. Thomas Jefferson had to confirm that the west would not be used to make existing states bigger, rather, the west would be made into new states.

• Thus Maryland ratified the Articles in March 1781, nearly four years after it was passed by the 2nd Continental Congress in 1777.

Northwest Territory:

• So in keeping with its promise to Maryland and other apprehensive states, Congress made an agreement to sell off western lands in order to create more states, as well as pay off debts.

• Congress then passed the Land Ordinance of 1785:

• Set up a system of surveying and dividing western lands.

• Congress surveyed land in squares=6 miles/side.

Land Ordinance of 1785 led to: Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Western Land

• Split into Townships.

• Each township was then measured at 36 square miles.

Township of 36 Square miles:

• Then further divided this parcel into 36 lots.

• Each lot measured 640 acres each.

• One lot for public school.

• Four lots given to veterans.

• Remaining sold to public.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• Established the Northwest Territory, which are now modern day: Mich., Illinois, Indiana, Ohio, Minn., & Wis.

• Northwest Territory

• Divided into smaller territories, w/ governor appointed by Congress.

• When population of a territory reached 60,000, its settlers could draft their own constitution and ask to join the Union.

• Protected civil liberties & required public education.

• Banned slavery in the Territory & set standards for future territories.

• However, slavery continued to be a debated issue.

Even with Congress making concessions with the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and bringing Maryland on board, there still were a lot of issues which the Articles of Confederation could not solve…

The New Nation Faced Challenges

Internal problems:• Congress had trouble collecting taxes and economic growth.

• This led to protests and rebellion throughout the Nation.

External problems:• Congress had trouble with foreign trade & treaties.

• Britain was very slow in handing over their Forts to the U.S., especially along Great Lakes.

• These were valuable lands and rich in fur-trade routes, which would help U.S. raise revenue & boost economy.

• Trade with Britain was nearly impossible, as they closed most of their Ports, especially in the British West Indies, to U.S. ships.

• Additionally, Britain posed high tariffs (taxes on imports or exports) on U. S. merchants, forcing merchants to raise prices to cover tariff costs. Ultimately Americans had to pay high prices for goods.

• Then in 1784, Spain closed off the lower Mississippi River to Western farmers & merchants who used the River to send goods to Eastern states & foreign markets.

• Congress, using the Articles of Confederation as their guide, tried to reach an agreement w/Spain. Congress’s plan did not reach a majority vote, thus the plan could not be passed—Spain then broke off the negotiations!

• Some said, if U.S. had a strong, central military, Spain would have conceded!

• The economic condition of the U.S. was getting worse day by day!

Many states began to criticize the U.S. Government, calling it nothing more than a name, with no power!These Articles of Confederation do not seem to be working! Tomorrow, we will see how the nation took a turn for the worse and citizens began taking the law into their own hands!

Articles of Confederation & Northwest Ordinance

http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/the-articles-of-confederation-and-the-northwest-ordinance.html#lesson

VOCABULARY

• Confederation: : A group of people or states united together for a common purpose.

• Articles of Confederation: The document that created the first central government of the United States.

• Land Ordinance of 1785: This was legislation (law) passed by Congress authorizing surveys and the division of public lands in the western region of the country.

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Legislation passed by Congress to establish a political structure for the Northwest Territory and create a system for the admission of new states.

• Northwest Territory: Lands including present day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, and Wisconsin; organized by the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

Lesson #2Economic Woes and Rebellion!

The Articles of Confederation just aren’t cutting it!

Introductory Statement:By the way, please take out your DQs

Alright, so yesterday we saw how American formed a central government with the creation of the Articles of Confederation. Then we found out that these Articles of Confederation were far from perfect. As a matter of fact, they were quite weak. The Articles did not set any strong foundation to build the nation’s economy, which led to a lot of disorder and unrest with its citizens…

Friday, 11-1-13DQ #5

It’s time for our vocabulary presentations:

*number your pages 1 – 5.

TGIF! 11-01-13DQ #5

Imagine you own a family farm, but the economy is bad & you can’t sell any crops…you can barely feed your family. You have not been able to pay the property taxes to the government because you simply can’t afford it. Government leaders, through local courts began forcing farmers to sell their property to pay the taxes! Rumors around the township is that your farm is next to be seized by the government!

Take a minute to think about how you would react…would you be extremely angry? Would you try to talk to your neighbors to come up with ways to stop the government? Please give an explanation and then we will share in a couple minutes

Challenges!Impact of closed markets:

• Farmers couldn’t sell their goods to British West Indies. Because they’d hire British ships to carry their goods, very expensive!

• American exports dropped, because British could import and sell at much lower prices than U.S.

Economic Problems kept Growing:• Interstate Commerce: Trade between states, was not regulated, making

trade difficult for merchants.

• Inflation: Occurs when there are increased prices for goods & services combined w/reduced value of the money being used to purchase these products!!! So basically it’s harder for you to buy things because prices are going up and the value of your money is not!!

• Congress had no power to stop states from making and using low valued money, that had no gold/silver reserves to back it up, causing further inflation!

• Weak economy: The loss of trade w/Britain, combined w/inflation created a depression: A depression is a period of low economic activities combined w/a rise in unemployment.

Thanks to the failing economy, things are getting bad

Remember each state was printing money with absolutely no value to pay off debts, except for the state of Massachusetts, they tried to pay off their war debts by taxing their citizens!!

Hmmmm, does that remind you of someone, in a distant country???

Alright take a look at that picture, why do you think that even a beggar would not want American money?

August 1786

Shays' Rebellion:

• While each state was printing worthless money, Massachusetts was the only state who tried to pay off their war debts through taxation on land.

• Heavy Debts for Farmers:

• Tax policy difficult for poor farmers

• Courts began making farmers sell their property, or sending them to debtors prison, still others had to sell their own labor!

• Farmers Rebel:

• Daniel Shays: Poor farmer & Revolution War veteran led revolt, closing down courts, known as Shays’ Rebellion: the uprising of farmers to protest high taxes & heavy debt.

• Reason: no court, no one’s property could be taken!

• Shays’ forces were defeated by state troops in January 1787.

• They were tried, some were imprisoned, 14 were put to death.

• The state soon freed most of the prisoners, including Shays.

• Majority of the citizens agreed w/Shays and their cause for rebellion.

Changes Needed:

• Shays’ Rebellion, along with so many other challenges proved the weakness of government under the Articles of Confederation.

• In 1786 the Virginia legislature called for a national conference, but only nine states decided to send delegates to the meeting in Annapolis, MD.

• Due to the poor attendance, those participating, including James Madison & Alexander Hamilton, called on the 13 states to attend a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia in May 1787.

• Their goal: Revise the Articles of Confederation to meet the needs of the nation!

Please open up your Work Packets, on the

back of page #1, number from 1-3.

Weaknesses of the Articles that the 2nd Continental Congress had to contend with:

The Articles of ConfederationAlexander Hamilton, James Wilson, James Madison

and Benjamin Franklin

1. There was only one vote per state, regardless of its size

2. There was no power to regulate commerce or trade between the states - each state could put tariffs on trade between states

3. The National Government did not have the independent power to tax. Its revenue would come from the states, each contributing according to the value of privately owned land within its borders

4. The national government could not force the states to obey its laws and notices for taxation were ignored because they could not be enforced

5. There was no national army or navy

6. There was no system of national courts

7. Each state could issue its own paper money

8. Congress lacked strong and solid leadership - there was no President

9. Congress did not have the power to raise money to pay for action against border encroachments by the British and Spanish

10. Any changes to the Articles required a unanimous vote leading to long delays in implementation

Video clip time!!!http://education-portal.com/academy/lesson/weaknesses-of-the-articles-of-

confederation-and-shays-rebellion.html#lesson

VOCABULARY

• Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom: This document declared that no person could be forced to attend a particular church or be required to pay for a church with tax money.

• Constitution: A set of basic principles that determines the powers and duties of a government.

• Interstate Commerce: Trade between two or more states.

• Ratification: An official approval.

• Unicameral: (of a legislative body) having a single legislative chamber.

Franky Dobie

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