Articles of Confederation Flashcards
Questions facing the new union
Future
English threat is gone. Can we succeed? How will the new government look without holding too much power. How will the economy fare with. Tariffs with Britain. How will we find new markets with Spain, France, Latin America? What should foreign policy be with France after they got snubbed during the Treaty of Paris? Who’s the new threat?Th
The Spirit of ‘76 Changes Society
Exodus of Loyalists
Top layer of wealth is gone, 180,000 left. New elites take over, conservative elements gone. Liberal minded policies, less government control. Democracy is on the rise. Property requirements decrease. Primogeniture aren’t super large laws anymore. State capitals are named in the west so the west are appeased by their new power over the elites. Established churches, who are tax supported, are going to lose their status, people aren’t forced to pay for them. Gives Virginia Statue for Religious Freedom. Suggests separation of church and state.
The Spirit of ‘76 Changes Society
Abolition
Ben Franklin and Quakers create anti-slavery society in 1775. Slave trade wants to be abolish. Northern states pass gradual emancipation laws, or outright emancipation. Slow down for the Union’s state as there is contention of the the unions states. Leave it to state’s hands
The Spirit of ‘76 Changes Society
Exodus of Loyalists
Republican Motherhood
Don’t get anymore rights, but new title. Women need to educate their sons to be aware of how to be members of a republic. More educational opportunities for women
New State Constitutions Created
Commonalities
Republicanism- representative democracy
Bill of rights dictating their rights
Branches of government for each state. Strength lies with the legislative group, have weak judicial and executive branches
Make elections frequent. Make constitution a lot easier as we have these bill of rights have common factors. Massachusetts creates important ideas of conventions where you elect people to elect and vote on who will write the constitution, and Supreme law of the land, part of a system that looks at level of government and make it difficult to change. Constitution shouldn’t be changed so easily
Articles of Confederation
Created by the 2nd contitnental Congress
1781 Ratified, as western land is disputed by colonies. States had debt after the war as they couldn’t sell their land. States want the federal government to take control of their debt and sell the land for the benefit of the people. Binding the states together after the land is sold. States looking to federal government to pay off their debt. People now moving out west and looking to federal government for guidance.
Articles of Confederation
Makeup of POwers
“League of Powers”, want to be separately and be left alone. Come together in times of need. Executive and judicial branches are weak, have no power to enforce laws by the legistlative branch. One vote for each state, although population disparities creates tension. 2/3 vote for important legislation, which is difficult. it needs to be unanimous to pass amendments. Have no power to tax, raise army, commerce, regulate trade, sell land to states, created a weak government
Articles of Confederation
External problems
England- major trading partner, cuts off trade with west indies, British merchants dump cheap supply on the shore, and kills emerging American industries. People don’t boycott anymore. British didn’t leave the forts despite stated in the Treaty of Paris
France- Cuts off trade for the west indies because of the Treaty of Paris
Spain- In control of Louisiana. Want the right of deposit down the Mississippi river with Spain. They can’t sell their stuff if they cant get out of new Orleans.
Articles of Confederation
Internal Problems
Bad Credit, can’t collect taxes, can’t create revenue. No more loans from other countries. Boundaries and taxes issues between states, as the AOC can’t control interstate trade. Farmers are asked to pay more taxes to support the debt issues. Farmers can’t pay in Massachusetts because trade has been cut off with France and British, have surplus of goods they can’t sell. Shay’s Rebellion is farmers upset with foreclosers, shutting down ports of wealthy coastlines. US Gov. can’t raise an army. Eastern elites raise their own armies. Wealthy easterners are convinced that they need to be run by a strong governemnt who can protect them and not be run by the Mobocracy.
Articles of Confederation
Annapolis Convention 1786
5/13 show. Alexander Hamilton from NY, uses it as a reason to call another meeting to make changes to the AOC. Wants a stronger gov. to support business and create revenue. Meet in Philadelphia in 1787, and need all 13 states
Articles of Confederation
Accomplishments-Land Ordinance of 1785
Land Ordinance of 1785- Land is survey and measured out in equal parts and called townships. Some of it is reserved for private controlled lands. New England, some public education is reserved for this land. Land private companies are selling the land for higher prices and creates land speculation. land south of the Ohio river aren’t ordered like this.
