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Forming
a Union
The Period of Confederation
Confederation Government
The Articles of Confederation was the name of the plan for governing the
colonies and was drawn up in 1777.
The two major accomplishments of the Congress of the Confederation were
the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
Western Lands
Land Ordinance of 1785: Surveyors divided the land into townships along
north-south and east-west lines forming six-mile squares. The townships
were then divided into 36 sections of 640 acres. Each section was sold
to one buyer. In each township, one section was set aside for the support
of public education in the township. This became the country's policy for
organizing new lands.
Northwest Ordinance: When there were 5,000 free adult males of voting
age living in the territory, they could elect a legislature for deciding
local matters. When there were 60,000 free settlers in an area of the territory,
the people could apply to the Congress to have the area become a state.
This plan provided for organizing areas that would become part of the United
States in the future.
Problems of Confederation
Problems in Foreign Affairs: Great Britain broke the terms of the Treaty
of Paris of 1783 by stationing forts in the Northwest Territory.
Problems at Home: Each state controlled its own trade. This caused problems
as separate treaties had to be signed with each state and another country.
Plus, each state taxed each others goods.
Annapolis Convention
The purpose of this meeting was to come up with ways to revise the Articles
of Confederation so that the national government would be able to deal
more effectively with all the various problems faced by the United States.
Shay's Rebellion
The basic cause of Shay's Rebellion was state tax laws.
Making the Constitution
Conflicting Plans of Government
States that sent delegates to the meeting in Philadelphia were all states
except Rhode Island.
The Virginia Plan differed from the New Jersey Plan in that the Virginia
Plan called for representation based on size; the New Jersey Plan called
for equal representation for all states.
The Great Compromise
The Great Compromise settled the issue of representation by establishing
two houses of Congress, combining parts of the Virginia (House of Representatives)
and New Jersey (Senate) Plan.
Other Compromises
The Three-fifths Compromise stated three-fifths of the number of slaves
would be counted to determine representation and taxation.
Protection provided in the Constitution for the slave trade was Congress
could not interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.
Nine states had to ratify the Constitution before it went into effect.
Struggle for Ratification
Federalists and Anti-Federalists
Anti-Federalists opposed the Constitution because they wanted to keep
their liberties and the rights of the states more secure, a weak central
government seemed safer to them.
Patrick Henry, Samuel Adams, George Mason, and George Clinton were some
of the Anti-Federalists who had been strong supporters of American independence.
Federalists wanted a strong central government.
George Washington, Benjamin Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton,
and John Jay were some of the Federalists who had been strong supporters
of American independence.
The purpose of The Federalist Papers was to express support for the Constitution.
Ratification
By 1790, all thirteen original states ratified the Constitution.
Bill of Rights
The first ten amendments are included in the Bill of Rights.
Among the basic rights guaranteed to all citizens in the Bill of Rights
were freedom of speech, freedom of religion, freedom of the press, and
the right to a trial by jury. Also included were the right of assembly,
the right to bear arms, protection from unreasonable searches and seizures,
and protection from cruel and unusual punishments.
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