Topic 4 Lesson 1

John Dickinson

(1732-1808) worked as an attorney in Philadelphia before becoming involved in politics and devoting himself to the Patriot cause. In 1765, he served as Pennsylvania's representative to the Stamp Act Congress and wrote its declaration of rights and grievances. Later, he served as a delegate to the Continental Congress. In 1776-1777, he helped draft the Articles of Confederation. In 1787, he served as a delegate from Delaware to the Constitutional Convention to revise the Articles.

Open the website listed above to help you. Identify the provisions of the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.

- temporary government = 1 district but divided into 2 districts - stated how estates would be divided if owner dies - no less than 3 and greater than 5 states are formed in territory - no slavery/ involuntary servitude in territory

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was an important piece of legislature that had a significant impact on the development of the United States. Give three details that support this main idea.

1. citizens enjoyed freedom of religion, trial by jury, the rights of common law (including habeas corpus) 2. the 5 new states would enter the Union as free states rather than slave states 3. territory had 5,000 men - territory could establish an elected assembly territory had 60,000 - could request admissions to the Union as a state on equal terms with the original 13 states

Identify the five (5) provisions of the Land Ordinance of 1785.

1. dispensing/ distributing public lands 2. divided land into hundred of townships 3. subdivided each township into 36 sections 4. sold sections $1 per acre 5. ordinary farmers had to buy from the favored speculators

What chain of events led to America's near bankruptcy in the years after the Revolutionary War?

Congress couldn't establish a common currency and couldn't regulate interstate commerce. They also relied on the contributions of the states.

In what significant way did most state governments differ from the federal government under the Articles of Confederation?

The federal government did not have an executive branch.

Did the federal government under the Articles of Confederation have a bicameral or a unicameral legislature? Explain.

The government consisted of a unicameral legislature. The federal government did not have an executive branch.

Why did some political leaders oppose allowing all men to vote? Cite evidence to support your answer.

John Adams and others believed that allowing poor men to vote would "confound and destroy all distinctions, and prostate all ranks to the common level." (he opposed political equality as foolish/ unworkable)

How do the Mount Vernon Conference, the Annapolis Convention, and Shays' Rebellion lead to a call for a convention to redo the existing Articles of Confederation?

They realize that the Articles of Confederation are weak and not useful so they decide to redo them.

Why was New Orleans an important city for Americans in the late 1700s?

To discourage settlement west of the Appalachian Mountains, the Spanish to forbade American trade with New Orleans. American settlers expected to ship their produce the Mississippi River to market in Spanish-held New Orleans. The Congress lost support from western settlers when it almost accepted the closure on New Orleans in return for commercial agreements to benefit northeastern merchants. New Orleans has a major port so they can send it by water instead of the Appalachian Mountain. If Spain closes the port then they are unable to do that.

What did James Madison mean when he said, "Liberty may be endangered by the abuses of liberty as well as [by] the abuses of power." Cite at least one example that supports Madison's position.

When a single branch of government has all the power, they tend to abuse it. The liberty of the people are at risk when one branch has the the power.

Shays' Rebellion

a farmers' rebellion, led by Daniel Shays, against higher taxes in Massachusetts

republic

a form of government in which officials are elected by the people

Land Ordinance of 1785

a law which designed a system for managing and settling lands in the Northwest Territory

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

a law which provided a basis for governing the Northwest Territory

unicameral legislature

a lawmaking body made up of a single house

bicameral legislature

a lawmaking body made up of two houses

Northwest Territory

a vast territory north of the Ohio River and west of Pennsylvania as far as the Mississippi River

Following the American Revolution, Britain tried to retaliate against the United States through

mercantilist trade policies.

federal

national

Identify nine (9) weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

no power to draft soldiers no power to enforce treaties no power to collect taxes from the states no chief executive no national currency difficult to pass laws (2/3 vote; 9 states) difficult to amend (unanimous votes need to change articles)

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 provided a plan for

statehood for territories.

After the Revolution, the national government lacked the funds it needed to repay its war debts because

the Articles failed to give Congress the power to tax.

Articles of Confederation

the original federal constitution drafted by the Continental Congress in 1777

Explain the difference between a unicameral and a bicameral legislature, including the advantages of each.

unicameral - lawmaking body of a single house - strong legislatures and weak governors - greater rights for the people bicameral - lawmaking body of two houses - conservative state constitutions and strong govenor - counterbalanced power of common voters in the House and power of wealthy, well-educated gentlemen in the Senate

Which form of state government was considered the most democratic and the least conservative?

unicameral legislature with weak governor

How did the passage of the Northwest Ordinance affect relations with the American Indians?

The American Indians were expected to give up their land and relocate for America's freedom and opportunity. The American Indians resisted and federal government couldn't defeat them.

Explain how the British treated the American colonies after the Revolutionary War.

The British did not take the United States seriously. The British renewed their traditional mercantilism, which means that Americans could only trade with the British Empire under rules that favored British interests. Also, Britain's hold on the forts angered Americans, but they could do nothing because they could not afford to raise and keep an army.

In what ways did the Articles of Confederation limit the power of the federal government?

The Congress had no power to raise money through taxes. So it relied on contributions from the states.