Chapter 5-Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation

7/31/2019 Chapter 5-Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation

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June 7, 1776- Congress createsa plan of Confederation

A loose organization of states witha central government consisting ofa unicameral Congress


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Americas first written form of

government was adopted in

November 1777 and ratified bythe last of the states (MD) byMarch 1, 1781 Reason for the delay- Land rights in the West The area between the Appalachians and the

Mississippi River


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The Continental Congress acted ascentral government for America withoutconstitutional authority from 1776(Declaration of Independence until 1781(Ratification of the Articles ofConfederation) Issued the Declaration of Independence Advised the states to form governments

Conducted the war against the British


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During the Revolution the quality ofCongress declined as most returned totheir state governments to make those

governments strongerCongress faced many problems like the

war, avoiding capture, too few membersto pass laws, late arriving members,members leaving when they felt tired orhad something else to do


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Established the army, navy, and marines Appointed Washington as head of army Kept the army supplied

Created a diplomatic corps who won a greatvictory when France recognized America asan independent nation and entered the war

Created a postal service Created the Articles of Confederation


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Financing the war States did not give them the power to

taxPrinted non-backed paper money

Useless as the states did not accept it


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Confederacy- A loose organization of states in which the

central government consists of a

unicameral congress and the states aremore powerful than the central government

No Executive Branch and no FederalCourts

Memories of a tyrannical king prevented thecreation of an executive to oversee thegovernment


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Conduct foreign affairs Send ambassadors to foreign countries Negotiate treaties

Operate a national postal system Control and supply the army Coin money Establish standard weights and measures


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Department of Foreign Affairs Ambassadors

Treaties

Department of War Control and supply the army, navy, and

marines

Department of Finance Oversight of national finances

Department of the Post Office


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No Executive Branch to enforce thelaws

No Federal Court System to hearcases that arose between or amongthe states

Major decisions required approvalby at least 9 states


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One year terms of office forcongressmen did not allow forexpertise in decision-making

Lacked the power to tax its owncitizens directly

Paper money that they printed was

worthless and not accepted in thestates No Federal currency


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Could not regulate trade by the stateswith other nations No Federal import taxes

Could not protect its citizens abroad

Needed all states to unanimously voteto make changes to the Articles ofConfederation


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New land policy that was the only realsuccess of the Articles ofConfederation

Divided American land in the West intoterritories Subdivided into townships that were six

miles square

Further subdivided into 36 sections onesquare mile each 16th section was set aside for public

education


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Requirements for statehood werecreated Initially- Congress appointed a governor, a

secretary, and three judges at the creationof a territory

When the territory reached 5,000 adultwhite males it became eligible to elect arepresentative legislature

When the territory reached 60,000 adultwhite males it became eligible forapplication for statehood


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The first territory established west ofthe Appalachians was the NorthwestTerritory Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, and

Ohio

Slavery was outlawed

Provision for public education


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Documents

Chapter 5-Continental Congress and the Articles of Confederation