1) Explain the 3 key issues of
“Republicanism”
2) Identify and discuss the 3 basic issues
debated when drafting the Articles of
Confederation
3) Describe the weaknesses of the Articles
of Confederation
(our first formal plan of government)
Main Idea: With the end of the Revolutionary War, the new nation faced many new problems.
The biggest problem was most certainly creating a new government. The challenge was…
How do we create a system of government that would balance the interests of the states AND
the interest of the nation as a whole?
An idea that government is based on consent of the people.
States created their own constitutions. Many were very
similar. There are 2 similar themes:
1) liberty more than equality
2) fear of a central authority
No models existed for the new nations to use as an
example. Main Issue: balance
the needs/concerns of the states
VS
the needs/concerns of the nation
Representation by population or by state?
How much representation should each state get?
Should the number of representatives be the same for
every state?
How can power be divided? States rights VS national
government rights? Who will have the final say on
issues?
Who gets what in the west? Some states already held
land west of the Appalachian Mts., who controls it
now?
Once these three issues were addressed & answered, the
Continental Congress could move forward. The Articles of
Confederation were approved & went into effect March 1781.
- REPRESENTATION
- POWER
- LAND
Three basic
questions had to be
debated AND
answered before any
of the 13 states
would move forward
with a national
model!
Land Ordinance of 1785
Admission of States
Confederation Congress now had to settle
the LAND question. The land ordinance of
1785 established a plan for surveying lands.
 Congress appoint territorial governors
and judges
 5,000 voting residents = settlers could
write a temporary constitution and elect
their own govt.
 60,000 total residents = write a formal
constitution. When that was approved by
Congress, could become a state!
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Established procedure for dividing land into
territories. Also, set rules for admission of
new states.
Greatest Accomplishment
The two land ordinances were the greatest
achievement of the Articles of
Confederation.
1. Congress could not enact and collect TAXES
2. Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign TRADE
3. Regardless of population, each state had 1 VOTE
4. Two-thirds majority (9 out of 13 states had to agree to pass a law)
5. Articles could be amended only if ALL 13 states approved
6. There was NO EXECUTIVE branch to enforce the laws of Congress
7. There was NO JUDICIAL branch (judges/court system) to settle legal disputes
8. There were 13 separate states that lacked NATIONAL UNITY
With the person sitting next to you,
discuss…
1) What are the 3 key concepts of
Republicanism?
2) What were the 3 basic issues debated
when drafting the Articles of
Confederation?
3) What makes the Articles of
Confederations weak?