us history chapter 7 a more perfect union 1777-1790
DESCRIPTION
Lesson 1 – The Articles of Confederation Land Ordinance of 1785 Established the procedure for surveying & selling the western lands north of the Ohio River Set up the township system 6 miles x 6 miles 36 sections each 1 mile x 1 mile 1 section reserved for schools Lands sold at auction to raise money to pay off debt from Revolutionary WarTRANSCRIPT
US HISTORY
Chapter 7A More Perfect
Union1777-1790
Lesson 1 – The Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation Adopted by Second Continental Congress in November 1777 Became first constitution for US Under the Articles, states kept most of their power Congress could conduct foreign affairs, maintain armed
forces, borrow money, & issue currency Congress could NOT regulate trade, force citizens to join the
army, or impose taxes Under the Articles, each state had one vote in
Congress...9/13 states had to approve any laws...13/13 states had to approve amendments
Lesson 1 – The Articles of Confederation
Land Ordinance of 1785 Established the procedure
for surveying & selling the western lands north of the Ohio River
Set up the township system 6 miles x 6 miles 36 sections each 1 mile x
1 mile 1 section reserved for
schools Lands sold at auction to
raise money to pay off debt from Revolutionary War
Lesson 1 – The Articles of Confederation
Northwest Ordinance Passed in 1787 Created the Northwest
Territory (lands east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River)
NW Territory was to be divided into 3-5 smaller territories and each of the smaller territories could apply for statehood once their population reached 60,000
Slavery was made illegal here first attempt by the govt. to stop the spread of slavery
Lesson 1 – The Articles of Confederation
Land Act of 1800 Law written by William
Henry Harrison (NW Territory rep in the House of Representatives)
Law made it easier to buy land in NW Territory by setting up payment plan
Settler had to buy at least 320 acres for $2/acre…paid one-half of the cost up front and rest in four yearly payments
Lesson 1 – The Articles of Confederation
Problems with the Articles Value of currency
decreased, price of goods increased
Congress had huge debt with no power to pay it off (couldn’t tax)
Britain held onto forts in the Great Lakes region
Spain cut off access to the lower Mississippi River
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
Shays’ Rebellion Began in 1786 (MA) Farmers were thrown in
jail because they couldn’t pay their debts
Group of farmers, led by Daniel Shays, forced courts in western MA to close
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
Shays’ Rebellion Jan 1787 – Shays & 1000
followers marched to Springfield, MA to overtake the federal arsenal there
MA state militia fired on the men, killing four
Shays & his men scattered...end of the rebellion
Scared a lot of Americans...they believed the govt. was too weak to protect them
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
Constitutional Convention Many called for a change to the Articles Convention began in Philadelphia in May 1787 Purpose was to change the Articles 55 delegates...12/13 states represented (RI) George Washington selected as President of the Convention James Madison kept meticulous notes...later became known
as the “Father of the Constitution” Meetings were not public...delegates wanted to be free to
change their mind After the Convention began, decision was made to scrap the
Articles and write a new Constitution
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
Virginia Plan Plan was written by James
Madison, presented by Edmund Randolph
Called for a two-house legislature, a chief executive chosen by the legislature, and a court system
Legislature – both houses would be based on population
Small states immediately objected
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
New Jersey Plan Presented by William Paterson Called for a one-house
legislature based on equal representation
Legislature would be able to set taxes and regulate trade (unable to do these under the Articles)
Legislature would select executive branch (more than one person)
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
The Great Compromise Settled the debate b/w large
& small states Called for a two-house
legislature Lower House (House of
Representatives) – based on population
Upper House (Senate) – based on equal representation...each state gets two Senators
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
3/5 Compromise With one house being
based on population, question was raised on how to count slaves
Compromise was to count 3/5 of all slaves for representation & taxation purposes
Also agreed that Congress could not interfere with slave trade until 1808
Lesson 2 – Forging a New Constitution
Approval of the Constitution September 17, 1787 –
delegates assembled to sign the Constitution
Constitution was sent to the states...would become the law of the land once 9/13 states approved it
Lesson 3 – A New Plan of Government
Federalists v. Anti-Federalists Supporters of the new Constitution were called
Federalists included George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, & John Jay
Federalist Papers – series of essays written by Madison, Hamilton, & Jay explained why the Constitution should be ratified
Anti-Federalists – opposed the Constitution Thomas Jefferson & Patrick Henry...felt a strong national government would take away the individual liberties fought for in the Revolution
Lesson 3 – A New Plan of Government
Adopting the Constitution Dec 7, 1787 – Delaware became the first state
to ratify June 21, 1788 – New Hampshire became 9th
state, made the Constitution go into effect NY & VA (2 largest states) still needed to ratify Both ratified after getting assurances that a Bill
of Rights would be passed May 1790 – RI becomes 13th state to ratify