–What major questions did the
new American nation have to
answer after declaring and
winning independence?
• Local ties remain predominant.
– Most Americans still consider themselves as citizens of
their states, not as Americans.
– Belief that the sovereignty of the state was more
important than that of the power of the central
government.
• Western land claims.
• Slavery.
• Issues with foreign nations and Indians.
• Prewar and postwar debts of individual states.
• Merchants and producers vs. agriculture.
• Interstate trade.
America After
Independence:
“The Critical Period”
Changes to American Society

The American Revolution led to unintended social changes by
forcing many Americans to question the meaning of “equality”
– Many wanted to eliminate the idea of an American aristocracy
• Eliminated primogeniture
• Lowered property qualifications for voting, but none offered
universal male suffrage
• Most states clearly separated church and state
– Fighting British tyranny made slavery seem hypocritical;
Abolitionist sentiment grew
• Blacks demanded the right to freedom in petitions and
lawsuits
• MA, VT, and PA outlawed slavery
– Women gained increased status
• Took greater control over family farms & businesses
• “Republican Motherhood” – mothers should instill virtue in
their children
Postponing Full Liberty
The Revolution was limited in its
extension of rights & failed to abolish
slavery, grant universal male suffrage, or
apply equality to women; But…
 …it introduced the ideal of freedom and
equality that future generations would use
to make these ideals a reality
– “Spirit of ‘76”

New State &
National Governments
Forming New Governments
 When
independence was declared
from England in 1776, colonists
considered themselves a new
nation & needed a new gov’t:
–Colonies became individually
sovereign states governed by
written state constitutions
–A national gov’t was needed to
provide basic services like sign
treaties & develop a military
States Constitutions
 In
1776, the new states created
written constitutions which:
–Clearly defined the citizens’
rights & the limits of government
–Guaranteed natural rights;
Eight states had bills of rights
–Almost all states reduced the
powers of the governor & kept
most power in the hands of the
people via state legislatures
Defining Republican Culture
a national gov’t that met
everyone’s needs was hard:
– How to balance individual liberty
with maintaining order?
– How to balance property rights
with equality?
– How to create a centralized
gov’t without creating a new
tyrannical authority?
 Creating
Defining Republican Culture
 Americans
set out to create a
republican form of government after
independence was declared:
–Gov’t with no king or aristocracy
–With power held by the citizens
• Civic virtue now a necessity
 Even though all previous republics
had failed, Americans were optimistic
this would be an “uncompromising
commitment to liberty & equality”
The Articles of Confederation
 In
1775, three committees were
formed to sever ties with England:
–Thomas Jefferson headed the
committee to draft a declaration
of independence
–John Adams headed committee
to establish foreign alliances
–John Dickinson headed a
committee to draft a new central
government
Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was adopted
as America’s 1st national gov’t in 1777 (but
ratified in 1781)
– The Articles established an intentionally
weak central gov’t in order to protect
state power
– The confederation-style gov’t gave all 13
states 1 vote in a unicameral congress
• Each state treated as a pseudo-nation
– There was no national president
• Too monarchical
The Articles of Confederation
 The
only powers granted to the
national government were to
–Settle disputes between states,
negotiate treaties, handle Indian
affairs, oversee a military
 It could not tax citizens or states;
could only request contributions
 Laws required 9 of the 13 states
 Amending the gov’t required
agreement by all 13 states
“A firm league
of friendship”
The colonies were
loosely joined to
address common
problems
"each State retains its sovereignty,
freedom and independence, and
every power...which is not...
expressly delegated to the United
States.…"
What
is the significance of the
following quote:
–“People do not chop off
heads so readily when they
can chop down trees.”
 The
Western Lands
“West” presented a problem:
–Many states had overlapping
land claims in the West
–Some “landless” states (MD,
NJ, DE) wanted part of West &
refused to ratify the Articles
without this issue resolved
–The US gov’t negotiated treaties
with Indians to gain land in
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky
The USA
in the
“Critical
Period”
The
United
States,
1783
Western Lands
 Virginia
took the lead to solve the
“West problem” by ceding its
western claims to the national gov’t
–Other states, especially NY,
ceded their western lands too
–By 1781, Congress (not the
states) gained control over all
lands west of the Appalachians
 With dispute over, Maryland was
the last state to ratify the Articles
The Land Ordinance of 1785
 The
U.S. gov’t was eager to sell
off Western lands to settlers to
gain revenue (since the gov’t did
not have the power to tax)
–The Land Ordinance of 1785
established an orderly process
for laying out western townships
–Section 16 of the each township
was dedicated to public schools
The Northwest Ordinance

The Northwest Ordinance (1787) gave
structure to the NW territory:
– Created new territories, ruled by a
governor, & whose citizens were
protected by a bill of rights
– Residents could create a legislative
assembly when the population reached
5,000
– Residents could apply for statehood with
60,000 people
• Not less than three nor more than 5
– Slavery outlawed in NW lands
Conclusions
 The
Articles of Confederation
accomplished exactly what its
framers intended:
–By creating a weak central gov’t,
the power of the states was
preserved & no tyrants emerged
–The weaknesses of the central
gov’t failed to meet the longterm needs of the new USA