Chapter 8 Section 1 Notes

The Articles of Confederation

Chapter 8 Section 1 Terms Natural Rights Constitution Republic Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom Suffrage Articles of Confederation Ratification Land Ordinance of 1785 NW Ordinance of 1787 NW Territory

Ideas Behind Government Americans were influenced by earlier

government models like the Magna Carta (which limited central power) and the English BOR (which gave people a stronger voice in gov)

Another influence was John Locke, who said that there was a “contract” between leaders and the people and that the leaders had to protect the people’s natural rights (freedom and equality before the law)

Ideas Behind Government Cont.

Americans also looked to their own ideas like New England Town Meetings and the Virginia House of Burgessess, which was an effective legislative government

They wanted a constitution, or set of basic principles and laws that determine powers and duties of gov

The State Constitutions After independence, many states set up

their own constitutions based on the idea of a republic, or a gov where the head is elected and people hold political power

The states also set up a protection of liberties. In the Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, Thomas Jefferson set up the concept of freedom of religion and the separation of Church and State

They also extended voting rights (suffrage) to their citizens

Forming a Union

In June of 1776, the Continental Congress set of a “Committee of 13” to draft a new gov document

The result was the Articles of Confederation, which set up a central gov with limited powers

All 13 states had to ratify, or formally approve the document

Forming a Union Continued

The legislative body under the Articles was the Confederation Congress

Congress could: coin and borrow money, make treaties and solve disputes between states

There was no executive or court system

Western Lands To raise money, Congress passed the Land

Ordinance of 1785, which divided up the western lands into 36 lots of 640 acres.

The NW Ordinance of 1787 established that in the NW Territory (MI, WI, OH, IN, IL), there would be a system of limited self government and areas or 60,000 people or more could petition for state-hood by setting up their own constitutions and bills of rights. It also banned slavery in the region.