LESSON 5 Shaping a New

Nation

LESSON 5 Shaping a New Nation

How did the Articles of Confederation both fail and succeed as our first government?

America: One Nation, or Thirteen?

Were the colonies ready to come together?I. THE CRITICAL PERIOD (1781-1789)

A. America: One nation, or thirteen?THINGS THAT UNIFIED THE

COLONIESTHINGS THAT KEPT THEM

APART

Common language

Common culture

Single geographic unit

No hostility towards each other

Strong state loyalties

Limited contact due to poor transportation

Not economically dependent on each other for trade

No common enemy anymore

B. Issues the colonies had to resolve after the Revolution1. Who was equal?2. Should the church be

linked to the state?3. Where did slavery fit

in the new United States?

4. How much power should a government have?

Were the colonies ready to come together?

How did democracy begin in the states?

C. STATE GOVERNMENT: The First Constitutions1. Constitutions were written and faced popular

ratification2. States pursued likewise goals

• Legislatures given sweeping powers• Annual elections for representatives• Limits to executive power weaker governors• Fundamental rights spelled out• End to state-dominated churches

3. Problem: Dominated by elites• ELITES: Wealthy, experienced, powerful members of

society• Protection against mobocracy: They didn’t want the

average man to rule they were too dumb and too emotional!

• Protection of economic gains

The Articles of Confederation: First attempt at unifying the colonies

II. THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1781)

A. Loose confederation to protect states’ individual sovereignty

B. Chief problem: claims on western lands

C. Focus on preventing strong executive

D. Immediately challenged and proven weak

• Shays’ Rebellion (1786-1787): Revolt of farmers in Western Massachusetts that could not be put down by state government

CONFEDERATION: A loose union of states

CONFEDERATION: A loose union of states

Shay’s Rebellion 1786-87

How should the Articles be judged?

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Attempt at unity at least by

name Proved states could give up

sovereignty (independence)

Provided for growth of nation1. LAND ORDINANCE (1785):

Helped divide western territory into townships

2. NORTHWEST ORDINANCE (1787)

– Divided Northwest Territory into five territories

– Provided guidelines for establishing legislatures and granting statehood

Congress: unicameral legislature (one house)

Unanimous vote for passing amendments

No executive or judicial branches

No power to tax State refusal to contribute

money No control over commerce No military Congress could not control

interstate trade (between states)

Congress could not control foreign trade