Chapter 8: Confederation to Chapter 8: Confederation to ConstitutionConstitution

Section 1: The Confederation EraSection 1: The Confederation Era

So… the war is overSo… the war is over

America is now an independent America is now an independent country, and has some decisions to country, and has some decisions to

makemake

What does independence What does independence mean to you as a person?mean to you as a person?

Good thingsGood things ““Bad” thingsBad” things

What does independence What does independence mean for a country / mean for a country /

government?government? Some new responsibilities:Some new responsibilities:

Borrow and coin moneyBorrow and coin money Deal with other countriesDeal with other countries

War / Peace / Defense issuesWar / Peace / Defense issues Develop and maintain an Army/NavyDevelop and maintain an Army/Navy

Develop a system of weights and measuresDevelop a system of weights and measures Develop a Post Office / communicationsDevelop a Post Office / communications

Figure out ways to deal with IndiansFigure out ways to deal with Indians Settle disputes between statesSettle disputes between states

Develop a system to maintain peace and Develop a system to maintain peace and orderorder..

Also, one result of winning the Also, one result of winning the revolution was: more landrevolution was: more land

What should the What should the country do with it?country do with it?

The first place open to The first place open to settlement was an area settlement was an area called “the Northwest called “the Northwest

Territory”Territory” The area we live in The area we live in

today is part of the today is part of the Northwest Ordinance Northwest Ordinance

(21)(21) of 1787 of 1787

The Ordinance of July 13, The Ordinance of July 13, 1787 provided "...there 1787 provided "...there shall be formed in said shall be formed in said territory, not less than territory, not less than three nor more than five three nor more than five states..." The original states..." The original boundaries were defined boundaries were defined as: Eastern State as: Eastern State (numbers 1,2,3,4); (numbers 1,2,3,4); Middle State (numbers Middle State (numbers 5,6,7,8,9) and Western 5,6,7,8,9) and Western State (numbers State (numbers 10,11,12,13,14,15). 10,11,12,13,14,15). These divisions are These divisions are marked by broken lines marked by broken lines on the map.on the map.

The big thing was:The big thing was:

This territory This territory would be set up:would be set up:

as as new statesnew states

With democratic With democratic governments - governments -

and and would notwould not be be colonies to the colonies to the

other original statesother original states

Our first new plan for running the Our first new plan for running the United States of America:United States of America:

The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation (16)(16)

This plan pretty much set up the new government to This plan pretty much set up the new government to run completely opposite of everything England and run completely opposite of everything England and

King George had done in running the colonies. King George had done in running the colonies. Most people wanted a Most people wanted a republic (12)republic (12) form of form of

government:government:(where the people choose representatives to speak for them)(where the people choose representatives to speak for them)

This plan had some positives and This plan had some positives and negativesnegatives

(39-40)(39-40) Governed the nation Governed the nation

during the Revolutionary during the Revolutionary WarWar

Negotiated The Treaty of Negotiated The Treaty of ParisParis

Took care of the Northwest Took care of the Northwest TerritoryTerritory

(36-38)(36-38) Lacked the power to Lacked the power to

enforce lawsenforce laws Lacked power to taxLacked power to tax Lacked power to regulate Lacked power to regulate

tradetrade Required approval of all 13 Required approval of all 13

states to change “the states to change “the Articles”Articles”

Some people got real upset with the Some people got real upset with the money problems the new government money problems the new government

was havingwas having The average family The average family

actually owed more in actually owed more in taxes each year than taxes each year than they made each year.they made each year.

If you couldn’t pay If you couldn’t pay your taxes, you could your taxes, you could be put in prison. A be put in prison. A group of farmers got group of farmers got so made they tried to so made they tried to steal some weapons steal some weapons and have a rebellion – and have a rebellion – Shay’s Rebellion (46).Shay’s Rebellion (46).

The new government sent in The new government sent in troops and stopped the troops and stopped the

uprisinguprising This was important.This was important. It showed the It showed the

government would government would use force if necessary use force if necessary to keep people in to keep people in line.line.

It showed the It showed the government was government was serious about its new serious about its new laws and taxes.laws and taxes.

One our One our 6 essential questions6 essential questions is: is: Is the American Dream available to Is the American Dream available to

everyone?everyone?

Name two ways the Northwest Name two ways the Northwest Ordinance allowed some people to Ordinance allowed some people to live the American dream.live the American dream.