Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation

1. Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation In reference to the Articles of Confederation: The Articles are “a shadow without substance”—George Washington

2. Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Page 1

3. Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Setting up a Government -As war in the colonies began, the “new” nation had to find a way to organize itself -John Dickinson was the primary author of the Articles of Confederation -The A.O.C. established a weak national government, where states had sovereignty -States held elections every year—as a way to avoid abuses of power What the Articles Did -Created a loose alliance of states -This national Congress had the power to: 1. Declare War 2. Raise an Army and Navy 3. Make Treaties Page 2

4. Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation (continued) 4. Borrow Money 5. Establish Post Office 6. Conduct business with Native Americans The Weaknesses of the Articles -The Continental Congress had no power over individuals or state governments -The Articles lacked a court system to handle disputes amongst states -States had one vote in congress, meaning that larger states had less representation in congress than did smaller states -The C.C. had no power to collect taxes, leaving them broke and powerless Page 3

5. Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation The Articles Create Problems -Needed 9 of 13 votes to pass a law (~70%) -Needed 13 of 13 votes to amend the A.O.C. -National laws had to be enforced by states -The national government had a vast debt -States argued over boundaries, currency and trade -Overseas the reputation of the U.S. suffered -Britain still had troops in U.S. territory Page 4

6. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785 -The Land Ordinance of 1785 was passed to help deal with the surveying, sale and settling of the Northwest Territories -The Northwest Ordinance (1787) made provisions for governing the new territories Page 5

7. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785 (CONT.) • -Prior to 1783, settlers merely claimed land in the West • -Disputes (often violent) became common amongst settlers • -As a result, and to raise money, the United States Congress passed the Land Ordinance of 1785 • -It stated: • Land would be surveyed and divided into townships • Each township would be 6 miles square Page 6

8. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785 (CONT.) 3. Each township would contain 36 sections 4. Each section would be 1 mile square, containing 640 acres 5. Congress stipulated that land would be sold at auction for a minimum of $1.00 per acre 6. The revenue from the sale of one section in each township would be used to fund the creation of a public school -To attract land speculators, Congress required speculators purchase one whole section, dividing it for sale later Page 7

9. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Page 8

10. Taylor County

11. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Range and Township -Every “cell” (township) in the grid is identified by a township and range -The range number identifies how many cells the property is to the east or west of a starting point or principal meridian Page 9

12. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Page 10

13. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Range and Township -The legal description of range is “R18E” -The township (or tier) number identifies how many cells the property is north or south of a starting point or the baseline -Only northern townships/tiers can exist in Wisconsin as the baseline is the southern boundary of the state -The legal description of township is “T32N” Page 11

14. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Range and Township (CONT.) -Where range and township/tier intersect creates a “cell” or a township -Sections (1 of 36) are arranged in a boustrophedonic manor “as the cow plows” -This was done for ease of surveying Page 12

15. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Further Division -Each section is divided into quarters (quadrants), classified by the four principal directions (Southwest—SW) -Quarters are ½ mile by ½ mile or 160 acres Page 13

16. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Further Division (CONT.) -Each quarter is divided into quarter-quarter sections, classified by the four principal directions (Southwest—SW) -Quarter-quarters are ¼ mile by 1/4 mile or 40 acres Page 14

17. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Further Division (CONT.) -Each quarter-quarter is divided into half sections, classified by either North or South -Half quarter-quarter sections are ¼ mile by 1/8 mile or 20 acres Page 15

18. Chapter Chapter #9 Creating a Nation NOTES The Articles of Confederation Legal Description -Descriptions are stated and read from smallest parcel to largest, however best interpreted from largest to smallest (the last descriptor to the first) Page 16