Chapter 5: Forming a New Government

1. Chapter 5: Forming a New Government Section 1: The Articles of Confederation

2. Ideas About Government • By declaring their independence from Great Britain, America made a bold move • America’s next goal: to form a new government • To do so, American leaders drew from a wide range of ideas

3. English Laws and the Enlightenment • Rule of Law: source of inspiration for the formation of the new American Government • Makes government officials subject to law • England has limited the power of monarchs in 2 documents • Magna Carta: Signed by King John in 1215, made the king subject to law • English Bill of Rights: passed in 1689, declared the supremacy of Parliament • Monarchs could not pass any laws without the consent of Parliament

4. English Laws and the Enlightenment • Enlightenment: a philosophical movement that emphasized the use of reason to examine old ideas and traditions • John Locke • Philosopher • Believed there was a social contract between political rulers and the people • Baron de Montesquieu • Argued that the only way to achieve liberty was through a separation of governmental powers

5. American Models of Government • Virginia House of Burgesses • Mayflower Compact • Connecticut drew up the first written colonial constitution • Set of basic principles and laws that states the powers and duties of the government • Declaration of Independence

6. American Models of Government • State governments were limited to prevent any one individual from gaining too much power • All leaders had to obey laws • Laws protected the rights of citizens • Some banned slavery • Thomas Jefferson • Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom • Declared that no person could be forced to attend a particular church or be required to pay for a church with tax money

7. Right to Vote • Under British rule, only free, white, property-owning males could vote • Suffrage • The Right to Vote • Only landowners could hold public office

8. The Articles of Confederation • Second Continental Congress appointed a Committee of Thirteen (one member from each colony) to draft the Articles of Confederation • Under the Articles of Confederation • Congress was the only branch of government • Limited powers to protect the liberties of the people • Each state had only 1 vote in Congress, regardless of population

9. The Articles of Confederation • Congress could: • Settle conflicts between states • Issue Coins • Borrow money • Make treaties • Ask states for money and soldiers • States had the power to refuse all requests • Government did not have an executive or judicial branch (President or Court System)

10. The Articles of Confederation • The Second Continental Congress passed the Articles of Confederation in 1777 • Sent to each state for ratification • Official approval • Conflicts over land slowed the approval

12. Northwest Territory • After the American War of Revolution, Congress had to decided 2 things • What to do with western lands now under their control • How to pay war debts • Land Ordinance of 1785 • System for surveying and dividing western lands • Land split into 36 square mile townships • Townships divided into 36 lots of 640 acres each • 1 lot for a public school • 4 lots for Revolutionary War Veterans • Rest of lots sold to the public

13. Northwest Territory • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Established the Northwest Territory • Present day Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin • Created a political system for the region • Territory would be divided into several smaller territories with a governor appointed by Congress • When territory population reached 60,000, settlers could draft their own constitution and ask to join the Union • Protected Civil Liberties • Banned Slavery