New State Governments

After declaring independence, each

state set out to create their own government

Their governments are considered

Democracies. In a Democracy the people elect representatives

to govern them.

New State Governments

After declaring independence, each

state set out to create their own government

Their governments are considered

Democracies. In a Democracy the people elect representatives

to govern them.

1

Members of the Continental Congress

agreed that a national plan of government had to be created not just state

governments.

The Articles of Confederation were the

first plan for our national government.

It gives the national government few powers.2

Why do you think

Americans gave little

power to the National

government?

They had just become free from the powerful British and many felt that it would lead to tyranny or one person having all the

power again.

3

Under the Articles of Confederation the National Government had the power

to:

1.declare war 2.make peace3.sign treaties4.issue money

4

The Articles of Confederation left most of the power to State Governments.

1.enforce national laws2.set taxes3.control the western lands4.have one vote in congress

4, 5

Most states ratified the Articles of Confederation, but Maryland refused.

Maryland was concerned because states like Virginia were claiming land in the west.

They feared that larger states would become extremely powerful.

They also feared that states that claimed land in the west could sell the land to make money and avoid high taxes. If that happened, they feared, citizens of Maryland would move to places like Virginia to avoid high taxes.6

Maryland demanded that all of the land west of the Appalachian Mountains be turned over to the Congress/National Government

The larger states rejected the demand

Thomas Jefferson and other respected leaders stepped forward and convinced states to give up their claims to western lands

They were successful and Maryland ratified the Articles of Confederation and they went into effect in 1781

Thomas Jefferson

7, 8

Settlers in the Settlers in the frontier began to frontier began to feel neglected feel neglected and tried to form and tried to form their own states.their own states.

The biggest The biggest question was how question was how congress was congress was going to going to dividedivide and and governgovern the the western land.western land.

This was also This was also creating tensions creating tensions between settlers between settlers and and Native Native Americans.Americans.

9, 10

Congress decided to pass 2 laws to deal with Northwestern land:

The 1st was the Land Ordinance of 1785 which dealt with settling areas of land:

1 . It divided the territory into 36 square mile townships

2.Each township was then divided into 36 one square mile sections which contained 640 acres

3.Congress planned to sell each section for $640 each

Half Section320 Acres

Quarter Section

160 Acres

1 mile

1 m

ile

11

The 2nd was the Northwest Ordinance passed in 1787

described how the Northwest Territory was to be governed.

Rules for attaining self-government, statehood1. When the adult male population

reached 5,000 they could elect an assembly

2. It allowed territories to apply for statehood once the adult male population reached 60,000

Set conditions for settlement1. Outlaws slavery2. Rivers are open for navigation by all3. It also guaranteed some basic rights

such as freedom of religion and trial by jury to the settlers

12

The National GovernmentStrength1.Organized and governed the Northwest Territory. Setting the stage for orderly growth in the US

Weaknesses COULD NOT…1.tax the people and depended on money from the states.

2.pay their debts, they were even unable to pay the soldiers who fought in the Revolution!

3.regulate trade among the states.

4.Pass laws, all 13 states had to vote yes.

5.enforce laws.

United States of America

Articles of Confederation

One strength and all of the

Weaknesses of the Articles

13, 14

In Massachusetts, farmers were outraged when their state raised taxes on them

The courts began to take land and put farmers in jail for not paying off their loans

15

Shays’ Rebellion 1786Shays’ Rebellion 1786The National Government was so broke they could not even pay their soldiers who fought in the Revolution.

National Government could not impose or collect taxes.

An average family paid $200 a year in taxes. To individual states. More than what most people made in a year.

Daniel Shays leads a rebellion of about 1,500 men, mostly farmers, who are upset about the high taxes and want debt relief from the government. 16

Shays’ Rebellion proved:1. The national government under the Articles

of Confederation was powerless to raise money to pay back debt.

2. Out of all this came a general agreement that a stronger federal government was needed.

17

Vocabulary from Notes 1:

1. Articles of Confederation

2. Democracy