U.S. History I - Creating a New Nation - Quick Guides

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Study GuideU.S. History I–Creating a New Nation1. Governing the New NationAfter winning independence, the United States faced a new and difficult challenge:how to governitself. The war had lasted eight years and followed more than a decade of political tension. Evenbefore the fighting ended, Americans were already debating what kind of government they wantedand how power should be shared between the national government and the states.1.1Creating New State GovernmentsWhen the Revolutionary War began,colonial governments collapsed. Royal governors fled, andBritain’s authority disappeared. In response,11 of the 13 statesheld revolutionary conventions towritenew state constitutions.Most of these new governments shared similar features:•Astrong legislaturewith two houses•The legislature usuallychose the governor•Governors hadlimited powerBecause Americans distrusted strong executive authority, governors often:•Served onlyone-year terms•Hadno veto power•Could not appoint officials without legislative approvalVoting and holding office requiredowning property, so political power was limited to a portion ofwhite men. These governments werenot democratic by modern standards. At the time,“democracy” was associated with chaos and mob rule, which people feared as much as monarchy.However, many states did include abill of rightsin their constitutions to protect basic freedoms suchas speech and religion.

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Study Guide1.2The Articles of Confederation: America’s First National GovernmentThe new nation’s first national government was created by theArticles of Confederation, adopted in1777and fully ratified in1781. Until then, theContinental Congresscontinued running thegovernment and the war effort.Why Ratification Took So LongThe delay was caused by disagreements overwestern land claims. Some states, likeVirginia andNew York, claimed land all the way to the Mississippi River. Smaller states, especiallyMaryland,worried these states would become too powerful. Maryland finally ratified the Articles after thoseclaims were given up.1.3How the Articles of Confederation WorkedUnder the Articles:•The national government hadone legislative body(a unicameral Congress)•There wasno presidentandno national court system•States appointed delegates to Congress•Each state hadone vote, no matter its size•Nine out of thirteen voteswere needed to pass laws•All thirteen stateshad to agree to amend the ArticlesCongress had the power to:•Declare war•Conduct foreign policy•Coin money•Manage Native American affairs in the territories•Run the post office•Borrow money•Appoint military officersMost importantly,any power not given to Congress stayed with the states.

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Study Guide1.4Weaknesses of the ArticlesThe Articles created avery weak national government, and problems quickly became clear.Congress:•Could not taxthe states (it could only ask for money)•Could not regulate tradebetween states or with other countries•Could not raise an armyon its own, only request troops from statesAs a result:•States taxed each other’s goods•Trade suffered•The national government struggled to pay its debts or enforce laws1.5Money Problems and Shays’s RebellionAfter the war, the United States owed about$160 million. To create a national currency, Congressprinted paper money backed by foreign loans. However, too much money was printed, causing:•Inflation•A sharp drop in the value of moneyStates printed their own money as well, which made the problem worse. High taxes and debts led tofarm foreclosures, especially in Massachusetts.In1786,Daniel Shays, a former Revolutionary War captain and struggling farmer, led about2,000mento shut down courthouses to stop foreclosures. When Shays marched on an arsenal inSpringfield, the rebellion ended quickly after the militia intervened.Although the rebellion failed, it frightened many leaders. Massachusetts responded by:•Lowering taxes•Protecting essential personal property from seizureShays’s Rebellion convinced many Americans that the country needed astronger nationalgovernment.

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Study Guide1.6Successes of the Confederation CongressDespite its weaknesses, the Confederation Congress achieved important successes, especially inorganizing western lands.The Land Ordinance of 1785This law created a clear system for surveying land:•Townships were6 miles by 6 miles•Each township had36 sections, each 640 acres•Sections could be divided into smaller farms•160 acreswas considered enough for a family to live independently•One section in each township was set aside to fundpublic education1.7The Northwest Ordinance of 1787This ordinance created theNorthwest Territory, which later became:•Ohio•Indiana•Illinois•Wisconsin•MichiganIt also established a clear process for becoming a state:1.Congress appointed a governor and judges2.When 5,000 adult males lived there, residents elected a legislature3.At 60,000 people, residents wrote a state constitution4.Congress could then admit the territory as a stateThis process became a model for future expansion.

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