Experimenting with Confederation

Experimenting with Confederation Chapter 5 Section 1

I Americans Debate Republicanism • Everyone understood they needed a republican gov’t but some reluctant to unite under a strong central gov’t WHY DO YOU THINK SOME ARE RELUCTANT TO SUPPORT A STRONG CENTRAL GOV’T?

A. Basis for a Republic • Favored republic because a democracy, gov’t directly by the ppl, put power in hands of uneducated mases • Republic=gov’t in which citizens rule through elected reps • Republicanism=the idea that gov’ts should be based on consent of its ppl • Meant diff. things to diff. ppl

Some believed the success would only come if ppl placed the good of the country before personal interest • Others argued that allowing citizens to pursue own econ. And pol. Interest would benefit the nation • States created their own constitutions which showed fear of centralized gov’t

II Continental Congress Debates • While states created their own constitutions, the Continental Congress began to draft its own • Had to answer 3 basic questions

A. Representation by Population or by State? • States came together but were not equal in land size, wealth, & population • Should each state elect the same # of reps or should states w. large pop have more reps then those w/ smaller pop • Members viewed themselves as reps of independent states • Decided each states would have 1 vote regardless of pop

B. Supreme Power: Can it be Divided? • Most ppl until then believed gov’t could not shar supreme power or it wouldn’t function • Congress created the Articles of Confederation • Articles of Confederation= gov’t in which 2 levels of gov’t shared fundamental powers • Under the Articles the national gov’t had right to… • Declare war/make peace • Sign treaties • Borrow $$ • Deal w/ Native Americans

ARTICLES DID NOT CREATE SEPARATE EXECUTIVE TO ENFORCE THE ACTS OF CONGRESS OR A COURT SYSTEN TO DECIDE THE MEANING OF LAWS • THIS MADE THE GOV;T AND THE ARTICLES WEAKTO PROBLEMS

C. Western Lands: Who Gets Them? • Arguments over western lands delayed new gov’t • Some wouldn’t sign until all claims to western lands were given up • Belief was that western claims would make some states largerover powering of smaller states • Land Ordinance of 1785= established plan for surveying western lands

Northwest Ordinance of 1787= procedure for dividing the land and set requirements for admission of new states • Congress appoints governor & judges • When ter. Has 5,000 voters they can write temp constitution & elect gov’t • Total pop reached 60,000 settlers could write state constitution which needs to be approved by Congress before statehood is granted

III the Confederation Encounters a Problems • Political & Economic Problems • Most serious prob = lack of unity • States pursued own interests rather then the nations • Did not recog. Diff. among pop of states • Georgia (25,000) & Mass. (270,000) same pol power • Amendment to Articles only with approval from ALL STATES • Changes were diff. to achieve • Most serious econ prob= debt from Revolution • Congress did not have power to taxcan’t pay debt

Congress asked approval from states to impose a tariff • Tariff=tax on imported goods • One state rejected it so Congress could not impose tariff

B. Foreign Relations Problems • Britain refused to evacuate military forts because US could not pay back war debt • Spain closes access to Miss. R which was vital to western and southern American farmers • These problems stemmed from the weakness of the Confederation gov’t

Experimenting with Confederation