Chapter 7

Creating a Republic

State Constitutions

During the Revolution most states wrote their own constitutions

Constitution: a document that sets out the laws and principles of a government

State Constitutions

States wanted written constitutions for 2 reason

Spelled out the right of all citizens Set limits on the power of government States often followed the basic of their

colonial charters which written according to English law

Dividing Power States divided the power of government

between a legislature and an executive Concerned with putting too much power

in the hands of a few people Every state had a legislature to pass laws

› Elected by voters› Divided amongst an upper house called a

senate and lower house Every state (except PA ) had a governor :

to execute or carry out the laws

Protecting freedoms

Bill of rights: lists freedoms that the government promises to protect

Started in Virginia (religion, press, trial by jury)

Expanding the Right to Vote More people could vote than in

colonial times› White, male, citizen, over age 21,

own a certain amount of property or pay a certain amount of taxes

› Few states allowed free blacks to vote

› For a time, NJ allowed women to vote

Forming a National Government

Continental Congress drafted a plan for the nation as a whole

Feared they colonies could not succeed in their struggle for independence without a national government

The First National Constitution

Citizens felt loyal to their own states and not fell like citizens of one nation

States were unwilling to turn over power to the national government

They feared a strong government rule like that of the British

The First National Constitution

Articles of Confederation: first American constitution written by the Continental Congress in 1777› Created a “firm league of friendship”

among the 13 states› Each state would send a delegate to a

Confederation Congress› Each state had one vote in Congress

The First National Constitution

Congressional Power› pass laws with 9 out of 13 states

approval› declare war› Appoint military officers› Coin money

The First National Constitution

Congressional Limits› not regulate trade between states or

states and foreign countries› not pass laws regarding taxes

To raise money Congress had to ask the states for it and states could not be forced to contribute

The First National Constitution

National government powers were weak compared to those of the states

A loose alliance

The Articles did not provide for a president to carry out laws

States enforced laws passed by Congress

Many disputes arose between states› Article did not set up a system of courts

to settle disputes

Disputes Over Western Lands

Maryland refused to ratify The Articles until all land from the Appalachian Mountain to the Mississippi River was turned over to the federal government

MD worried that states would become too powerful if they were allowed to keep their land

Disputes Over Western Lands

All states eventually accept MD demand except VA

In VA, Thomas Jefferson and other leaders believed a national government was needed and convinced VA lawmakers to give up their land claims.

1781 MD ratified the Articles of Confederation and the first American government went into effect

Serious Challenges for the Articles of Confederation

Troubles with Money› The U.S. owed millions of dollars borrowed

during the Revolutionary War› Congress could not tax the states only ask

for money› States often turned Congress down

Serious Challenges for the Articles of Confederation

Printed money call “Continental” had no gold or silver to back up its worth

States began printing their own money Confusing; whose dollars were worth

what? States often refused to accept other

states money Made trade difficult

Other troubles

NY and NH both claimed Vermont States had no way to settle their

disputes under the Articles of Confederation

Foreign countries took advantage of the U.S. weaknesses› Britain refused to withdraw troops from

the Ohio Valley as agreed to in the Treaty of Paris

› Spain closed its port in New Orleans to farmers in the western lands

A Farsighted Policy for Western Lands

Articles said nothing about admitting new states to the U.S.

Congress passed two laws concerning the Northwest Territory: lands lying north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi

A Farsighted Policy for Western Lands

1. Land Ordinance of 1785: system for settling the Northwest territory

The land would be surveyed and divided into townships

Each township had 36 sections Each section was 1 square mile= 640 acres

each Congress planned to sell each section for

$640.00 One section in each townships was set aside

to create public schools

A Farsighted Policy for Western Lands

2. Northwest Ordinance Set up a government for the Northwest

territory Outlawed slavery Provided for three vast area to be

divided into 3 to 5 territories in the future

When a territory had 60,000 free settlers they could ask Congress to be admitted as a new state

A Farsighted Policy for Western Lands

In time 5 states would be carved out of the Northwest Territory

Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan , and Wisconsin

Northwest Territory

A Farmers’ Revolt

Economic depression: A period when business activity slows, prices and wages fall, and unemployment rises

Hard times for farmers

Demand for farm products was high during the war

As soldiers returned home, demand fell

Massachusetts raised farmers’ taxes› Courts seized farms when they could

not pay taxes› Farmers protested

Rebellion in Massachusetts

Daniels Shay’s Rebellion: Massachusetts farmer gathers nearly 2,000 farmers and attacked courthouses preventing the sale of property for debt

Massachusetts sent militia to end the rebellion

Time for action

American’s saw Shay’s Rebellion as a sign the Articles of Confederation did not work

Several States called for a convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation