Challenges facing the new Republic Flashcards
What laws were passed to deal with the addition of new territories to the USA?
1785: Land Ordinance Act
1787: Northwest Ordinance Act
What population size did a new territory need to reach before it could apply for statehood under the Northwest Ordinance Act?
60,000
What document had attempted to provide some structure to the new USA in this period?
Articles of Confederation
Who failed in his negotiations to get Britain to leave US territories in talks in London in 1785?
John Adams
What were the terms of John Jay’s 1786 treaty with Spain?
- US limited access to the Spanish markets
- US gave up access to the Mississippi river for 25 years
Why did Jay’s treaty with Spain fail?
5 southern states opposed it
Whose plan to create a National Bank to deal with US debt was blocked?
Robert Morris
Why did inflation rise across many states at the end of the War of Independence?
States printed more paper money to pay off their debts
Why were many farmers facing bankruptcy at the end of the War of Independence?
- They had been encouraged to take out loans during the war to help feed the army
What central difference existed between the north and south in this period?
Southern economy - based on slavery
Who led a rebellion of farmers in Massachusetts in 1787?
Daniel Shays
Why did soldiers in New York mutiny against Washington in 1782-3?
Anger at the fact that they had not been paid
What was the US national debt at the end of the War of Independence?
$41 million
What divisions existed with the population of the new USA at the end of the War of Independence?
- Stance during the war (patriots / loyalists)
- Wealth (richer property owners/professions / poor farmers)
- State by state - no national identity
- North v South - slavery
What issues existed with the Articles of Confederation?
- Equal voting representation of all states
- Any one state could block/veto any law/measure
