THE CONFEDERATION America under the Articles of Confederation

THE CONFEDERATION America under the Articles of Confederation

A Tale of Two Congresses Created BY the Articles of Confederation Declared independence from England Governed colonies through first few years of war Wrote the Articles of Confederation 2 nd Continental Congress (1775 -1781) Confederation Congress (1781 -1789) Governed colonies through last few years of war and after Wrote Northwest Ordinance

Articles of Confederation • November 1777 – America’s 1 st constitution – Created DURING the Revolutionary War after the Declaration of Independence – Provided a national government – States gave up little of their power • “A firm league of friendship” friendship • States kept “sovereignty, freedom, & independence” All 13 states had to ratify the Articles formally become our govt. on March 1, 1781

Settling the Public Domain • The Articles of Confederation did not give congress the power to tax • Many people wanted to give congress control of public lands in the west to raise revenue • Some large states already had claims to land in the west • Many of the smaller states refused to approve the Articles of Confederation unless they ceded them to the national government

The Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Territory • Once congress had control of the western lands the had to figure out what to do with them • Passed laws that provided a method to divide the land distribute it • Passed laws that set up an orderly method to govern these lands and bring them into the union of states.

Land Ordinance of 1785 • Provided an orderly procedure to sell lands north of Ohio River • Divided territory into townships Ø 6 miles x 6 miles square • Opportunity to a lot of land cheap • Some land was reserved for Revolutionary War veterans

6 miles 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 6 miles 35 36 A Land sold for $1 per acre C B D D A – Half-section = 320 acres B – Quarter-section = 160 acres C – Half-quarter section = 80 acres D – Quarter-quarter section = 40 acres

Northwest Ordinance (1787) • Passed in 1787, it created a system of government for the Northwest Territory – Land north of Ohio River & west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River • Created a method for organized settlement in the Northwest Territory • Outlined the settlers’ rights. • Set a pattern for the orderly growth of the United States. – this pattern would be followed in territories added after the Northwest Territory.

Lake Michigan Lake Superior Lake Huron rie E ke La ario t n e. O k a L

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Northwest Ordinance (1787) • Passed in 1787, it created a government for the Northwest Territory – Land north of Ohio River & west of Pennsylvania to the Mississippi River Section 1 • Northwest Territory was to be divided into at least 3 but no more than 5 states Section 2 • 3 -step process to achieve statehood; could petition for statehood – At first territory would be ruled by a governor, secretary and 3 judges appointed by Congress – When adult male population reached 5, 000 they elect territorial legislature and a territorial delegate to Congress – When TOTAL population reached 60, 000 they could apply for statehood – Would come into Union with all rights & privileges of original 13 states • Set a precedent that new states would have equal status to old states

Northwest Ordinance (1787) Section 3 • Created a Bill of rights for settlers • Slavery would not be allowed in the Northwest territory – Insured that northern states would be free territory • Protected freedom of religion • Ensured trial by jury