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INDEPENDENT STATES WITH NO HISTORY OF ENDURING COOPERATION

THE EVOLUTION OF AN INDEPENDENT NATION Obj: To recognize the gravity of the founding fathers’ position by identifying specific decisions made in the immediate aftermath of the Revolution. INDEPENDENT STATES WITH NO HISTORY OF ENDURING COOPERATION.

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INDEPENDENT STATES WITH NO HISTORY OF ENDURING COOPERATION

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  1. THE EVOLUTION OF AN INDEPENDENT NATIONObj: To recognize the gravity of the founding fathers’ position by identifying specific decisions made in the immediate aftermath of the Revolution.

  2. INDEPENDENT STATES WITH NO HISTORY OF ENDURING COOPERATION • Colonial Charters as guides – 1777 11 states had constitutions • Society came 1st & government must be subordinate to it • Arguments used to justify secession from GB undermined the legitimacy of any national gov’t • Written, elected legislature, bills of rights, voting qualifications in tact • Constitutionalism- peaceful method of orderly transition of political system

  3. MASSACHUSETTS SPECIAL CONVENTION 1780 • 12 states had provisional gov’t write state constitutions • MA called special convention – danger in having provisional gov’t write a constitution that they could then manipulate • The 1780 Massachusetts Constitution, though extensively amended, still serves her. It is the oldest continuously-used constitution of any state or nation in the world • Served as example for US Constitution

  4. WESTERN LANDS & REPRESENTATION • Another issue of contention between the newly formed states • Fairness? States with more land have more influence? power? • Major success in convincing states that cession of land to federal government served everyone’s interests • Property qualifications essential to vote: if you own something you’ll have a vested interest in taking care of it

  5. THE SECOND CONTINENTAL CONGRESS 1775 - 1781 • Finance the War: foreign investment, bonds, paper $ states • Legislative Body NOT complete government • Raise a Continental Army – George Washington Commander in Chief – to aid local militia’s • Long term prospects for the new nation hopeful, almost limitless • Short term prospects bleak due to size & scale of the national enterprise • John Adams “The lawgivers of antiquity…legislated for single cities, who can legislate for 20 or 30 states, each of which is greater than Greece or Rome at those times?”

  6. OUR FIRST FEDERAL FORM OF GOVERNMENT: THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION • Legal basis for authority already assumed • Firm league of friendship • Limited national powers: no central authority empowered to coerce or discipline the citizenry was permissible • Will NOT duplicate monarchical & aristocratic principles that revolutionary soldiers & political leaders fought for

  7. POWERS EMBODIED IN THE ARTICLES

  8. WEAKNESSES OF THE ARTICLES • No power to collect taxes • No power to regulate interstate or foreign trade • No power to enforce laws • Approval of 9 states to enact laws • Amendments unanimous approval • No executive branch • No national court system • Government never had enough $ • Economic quarrels among states & difficulty dealing w/ foreign states • Depend upon states to enforce laws • Difficulty passing laws • No practical way to change gov’t • No effective way to coordinate work of the government • No way to settle disputes among the several states

  9. Uniform procedures for surveying territory Orderly development of western territory Townships 6 mile sq., 36 sections, 1 reserved for public schools Favored speculators US Government needs $$ so this was a way to raise it – (can’t impose taxes) STRENGTHS OF ARTICLESLAND ORDINANCE 1785

  10. NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1787 • Bounded by Ohio & Mississippi Rivers & Great Lakes • Established 1st organized territory of the United States • No less than 3 no more than 5 states • Full rights & responsibilities of original 13 states • Set precedent for how US would expand westward • Slavery prohibited Wood? Zinn?

  11. REVOLUTIONARY CHANGES • SLAVERY: on the road to ultimate extinction – Founding Fathers can’t agree here & know it so take it off the table – union & survival 1st priority • PA 1st to abolish slavery & form 1st anti-slavery organization • Slavery died where it was not eco-nomically important • Easier laws of manumission • NW Ordinance 1787 • Banneker, Wheatley, R. Allen • RELIGION: Anglican church be-comes Episcopal, state support for churches continues BUT money goes to religion with most members • ABOLISH PRIMOGENITURE & ENTAIL: property inheritance more equitable • WOMEN: no uniform changes BUT ran farms, homes & businesses during war • Increasing legal rights: divorce, property & education • EMERGENCE OF NATIONAL SPIRIT & CULTURE: flag, national heroes, textbooks, nationalism a result NOT cause of Revolution, uniform postal system, currency, Academy of Arts & Science, mid 18th c. US as distinct from Europe

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