The Articles of ConfederationThe Articles of Confederation

J.A.SACCOJ.A.SACCO

The End of the American Revolution?

“The American Revolution is only the first act of the play”

Republican Ideology?Republican Ideology?• RepublicanismRepublicanism: political leaders receive : political leaders receive

authority to make and enforce laws from the authority to make and enforce laws from the public who vote/must be controlled by the public who vote/must be controlled by the people or freedom and liberty is in dangerpeople or freedom and liberty is in danger

• Reject monarchy/hierarchical authorityReject monarchy/hierarchical authority• During the Revolutionary War most states During the Revolutionary War most states

wrote their own Constitutionswrote their own Constitutions• Society based on virtue/factions must be Society based on virtue/factions must be

avoidedavoided• Depends on people doing the best thing for Depends on people doing the best thing for

all the people (Locke)- if this breaks down the all the people (Locke)- if this breaks down the republic is in perilrepublic is in peril

What was the “true” Revolution?

Who Should Lead?

All citizens an equal voice/publicoffice open to all. (small farmers,laborers, artisans)

Need strong men of ability/Experience to lead the newrepublic (businessmen, planters)

Theory of “republican” government

Essentials of a “republican” government

Limit the powers of government with written constitutions

Hold gov’t officials closely accountable

Theory of “republican” government

Written Constitutions needed!Sovereignty with people where their

ideas are embodied in a written constitution

Gov’ts function within clear constitutional limits

Theory of “republican” Government

Holding Government officials accountable! Power given to people embodied in state governments Power of state governors limited State governments divided into three branches Bill of Rights included in state constitutions New national government would be weak with limited

powers Land requirement ends- to vote hold public office/only

have to pay tax Jefferson’s “Va. Statute for Religious Freedom” (no

official church/non-tax supported church)

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

• Led by John Dickinson, with the help of Led by John Dickinson, with the help of Benjamin Franklin, a committee drafted Benjamin Franklin, a committee drafted a plan for a “loose” uniona plan for a “loose” union

• Document that creates an association Document that creates an association of states while guaranteeing each state of states while guaranteeing each state its “sovereignty, freedom and its “sovereignty, freedom and independence”independence”

• States have control of the Power!States have control of the Power!

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

Reflects the worries/experiences of colonies under British rule.

To ensure republican ideology created in the state constitutions, must limit the power of the national government

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

Established 13 colonies united in a league of independent states

A national congress called the Confederation Congress to make laws for the good of the nation.

Each state given one vote in Confederation Congress

Powers Of the Confederation Congress

Declare WarMake treatiesRegulate currencyBorrow moneyEstablish a postal systemManage Indian affairsSettle disputes between states

Successes of the Articles of Confederation

RatificationNeed all 13 states to put Articles

into power, but first must pay off war debt. All 13 states must pay their share.

Problem:Solution:

Successes of the Articles of Confederation

• Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Define each!

Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

• Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785: : divided western land into divided western land into townships (6mi. Sq.), eventually townships (6mi. Sq.), eventually sold at a dollar an acre, sold at a dollar an acre, reserved one section for public reserved one section for public schoolsschools

Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

NW Ordinanance of 1787-NW Ordinanance of 1787-Steps to StatehoodSteps to Statehood

• Territories have a governor appointed by Territories have a governor appointed by CongressCongress

• When a territory has 5,000 eligible voters When a territory has 5,000 eligible voters they can send a nonvoting member to they can send a nonvoting member to CongressCongress

• Once a territory has 60,000 free inhabitants it Once a territory has 60,000 free inhabitants it is eligible for statehood and can draft a is eligible for statehood and can draft a constitutionconstitution

• Congress approves the constitution and the Congress approves the constitution and the territory becomes a stateterritory becomes a state

• Freedom of speech, religion, trial by jury, Freedom of speech, religion, trial by jury, prohibited slavery, encourage public prohibited slavery, encourage public educationeducation

Northwest Ordinance of 1787Northwest Ordinance of 1787

The United States in The United States in 17871787