The End of the Revolution

The End of the Revolution

Forging a New Nation

Independent Governed States

By 1777, ten of the former colonies had written constitutions

Maryland, Pennsylvania, and North Carolina had submitted their to a vote of the people for ratification.

Each state constitution began with a declaration listing basic rights and freedoms i.e. religion, jury trial

Powers of State Government

Legislative powers– Elected two house legislatureExecutive branch

elected governorJudicial Branch

system of courtsSafeguard against tyranny

VotingAll white males who owned some property

Office HoldingHigher property ownership qualification

New Central Government

Articles of ConfederationRatification was delayed (4 years) due to disputed

territoryEstablished a central government

consisted of one body – CongressEach state given one vote9 out of 13 needed to pass lawsTo amend unanimous vote required

POWERS of the Articles

Wage warMake treatiesSend diplomatic representativesCoin and borrow moneyMaintain an army and navyManage Indian Affairs

Accomplishments of the Articles

Winning the WarNegotiated favorable terms in the treaty of peace

Land Ordinance of 1785Established public policy for western lands

Northwest Ordinance 1787Granted self-government to territory and prohibited

slaveryEstablished rules for creating new states

Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance 1787

Western Lands – ownership?Congress received all lands west of

Appalachian MountainsUnder the Ordinance U.S. sold land to land

companies – established a government and Congress appointed governors

Western Land Claims Ceded by the Western Land Claims Ceded by the StatesStates

Northwest Ordinance: The Northwest Ordinance: The Confederation's Major AchievementConfederation's Major Achievement

Creates 3Creates 3--5 new territories in Northwest5 new territories in Northwest Population of 5,000 may elect AssemblyPopulation of 5,000 may elect Assembly Population of 60,000 may petition for Population of 60,000 may petition for

statehoodstatehood Bill of Rights providedBill of Rights provided Slavery outlawedSlavery outlawed

Social Change After the War

Abolition of Aristocratic Titles, Role of Women, Separation of Church and

State, and Slavery

Abolition of Aristocratic Titles Abolished old

institutions from Europe– No legislature could

grant titles of nobility– No court could

recognize the practice of primogeniture (the first born son’s right to inherit his parent’s property)

Separation of Church and State

Refused to give financial support to any religious group

New England – Congregational Church continued to receive state support in the form of religious tax

Women Revolution depended on

Women– Worked as cooks and

nurses on the battlefield

Women ran the family farms and businesses

Provided much of the food and clothing necessary for the war effort.

Slavery Contradicted the spirit of

the revolution For a time leaders

recognized this fact Some southern plantation

owners freed their slaves. Majority of slave owners

came to believe slavery was essential to their economy

Weakness of the Articles of Confederation

Financial*War debts unpaid – worthless paper money-

underlying problem Congress had no taxing power and could only request that the states donate money for national needs

Foreign Relations*European nations had little respect for the new nation

- could not pay debt- take effective and united action in a

crisisBritain and Spain threatened to take

advantage of U.S. weakness – interest in western lands

Domestic*Shay’s Rebellion

Rebellion of farmers against high state taxes, imprisonment over debts, and lack

of paper moneyThe farmers stopped the collection of taxes

and forced the closure of debtor courtMassachusetts militia stopped the Rebellion

Major Problems facing U.S. 1781-1787

Foreign Relations between U.S. and Europe troubledStates failed to adhere to the Treaty of Paris• required loyalist property to be restored and

debts to foreigners be repaidUnder the Articles the U.S. could do nothing to stop Britain from placing trade restrictions on trade and maintaining military outposts on western frontier.

Diplomatic HumiliationDiplomatic Humiliation

England keep troops on U.S. soil after 1783England keep troops on U.S. soil after 1783 Spain closes New Orleans to American Spain closes New Orleans to American

commerce in 1784commerce in 1784–– John Jay to negotiate reopening Mississippi John Jay to negotiate reopening Mississippi –– instead signs treaty favoring Northeastinstead signs treaty favoring Northeast–– West and South denounce, Congress rejects West and South denounce, Congress rejects

JayJay--Gardoqui Treaty Gardoqui Treaty

Economic Weakness and Quarrels Among States

Foreign trade reduced and limited credit due to nonpayment of war debts leads to widespread economic depression

Inability to levy taxes and printing of worthless paper money

States treated each other with suspicion and competed economic advantagePlaced tariffs and restricted movement of goods

across state linesBoundary disputes – increased rivalry and

tension

Annapolis ConventionGeorge Washington hosted a conference at his

home – Mt. Vernon – 1785Delegates from Virginia, Maryland, Delaware,

and Pennsylvania agreed problems were serious

Decide to invite all states to meeting in Annapolis, Maryland

In Annapolis, only 5 states sent delegatesMadison and Hamilton persuade others for a

convention to revise the Articles