Adrianna Pappas
Notes
John Dickinson chosen to draft the new proposal for a new government
Wanted to unite everyone under a new government and to unite them under the republican form
It was a great challenge creating a new government
Fighting the revolutionary war gave the states a common goal but they remained reluctant to unite under a strong central government
They believed a democracy was a bad idea so they favored a republic
Democracy- government directly by the people, placed power on the hands of the uneducated masses
Republic- a government in which in which citizens rule through their elected representatives which placed power in the hands of capable leaders
Republicanism- the idea that governments should be based on the consent of the people meant different things to different Americans.
Some believed republic must be based on virtue
Some believed that the republic would benefit from self interest other thought it would never work unless people placed the good of the nation above their personal interests
States created their own constitutions the wrestled with how to put into practice the ideals of republicanism
They shared certain similarities
Limited powers of government leaders
Guaranteed specific rights for citizens including freedom of speech, religion, and the press.
The emphasized liberty over equality and reflected a fear of centralized authority rather than the need for effective general government
Differed widely in granting the right to vote
Penn let all white men vote other states like Maryland made property ownership a requirement of voting
Women had no right to vote on most states
New jersey gave voting rights to all free property owners neglecting to specify males
Some NJ women gained the right to vote until 1807
Continental congress tried to draft one for the states as a whole.
So much disagreement over what role of the congress should be
States has come to together as independent political units
Even though states were equal they were unequal state size, wealth, and population.
Should delegates to a nation congress represent people or states
Should each state elect the same number of representatives regardless of population or represent large populations who have more representatives than states with small populations
Congress representing independent states
Decision each state would have one vote regardless of population
Not share supreme power impossible No supreme power no function
Articles of confederation was introduced it was two levels of gov that shared fundamental powers
Delegates called their new form of gov a confederation or alliance
Articles of confederation gave government power to declare war, make peace and sign treaties
It could borrow money, set standards for coins and for weights and measures, establish a postal service, and deal with Native American peoples.
Articles created no separate executive department to enforce the acts of congress and no national court system to decide the meaning of laws
12 states agreed to new government
Conflict over western lands delayed final approval for two years
Some claimed land on Appalachian mountains
Maryland refused the Articles until all states turned over their western lands to the united states
Feared that states will land claims would expand and overpower smaller states
Landed states gave up their western claims and with Maryland’s approval the Articles of confederation wen into effect march 1781
Confederation congress faced how to govern public lands west of the Appalachians
North of Ohio river offered rich land for settlers
Congress passed the land ordinance of 1785 established a plan for surveying the land
North ordinance of 1787 congress provided a procedure for dividing the land into no less than three nor more than five territories
It also set requirements for the admission of new states Three basic requirements for becoming a state
North ordinance of 1787 and land ordinance of 1785 became the
