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SECTION 1 The Articles of TEKS 1A, 4C, 5A, 10A, 10C, 15A, Confederation 15B, 15C

What You Will Learn . . . If YOU were there... Main Ideas You live in a town in New England during the 1770s. In the town 1. The American people meeting, people are hotly debating about who will have the right examined many ideas about government. to vote. Most think that only men who own property should be able 2. The Articles of Confederation to vote. Some think that all property owners—men and women— laid the base for the first national government of the should have that right. A few others want all free men to have the United States. vote. Now it is time for the meeting to decide. 3. The Confederation Congress established the Northwest Territory. How would you have voted on this issue?

The Big Idea The Articles of Confederation Building Background At the time of the Revolution, each provided a framework for a national government. of the 13 states had its own government. The rights of citizens varied from state to state. In their town meetings, people often argued about exactly what those rights ought to be. Solving such issues was one step Key Terms and People Magna Carta, p. 152 in moving toward a national government. constitution, p. 153 Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom, p. 153 Ideas about Government suffrage, p. 153 Articles of Confederation, p. 154 The American colonies had taken a bold step in declaring their ratification, p. 154 independence from Great Britain in July 1776. Their next political Land Ordinance of 1785, p. 155 goal was to form a new government. To do so, the American people Northwest Ordinance of 1787, p. 155 drew from a wide range of political ideas. Northwest Territory, p. 155 English Laws and the Enlightenment One source of inspiration was the rule of law. This rule makes even government officials subject to law. England had limited the power Use the graphic organizer online of its kings and queens in two documents. These were Magna Carta to take notes on the new American and the English Bill of Rights. Magna Carta, a document signed by government. King John in 1215, made the king subject to law. The English Bill of rights, passed in 1689, declared the supremacy of Parliament. It kept the king or queen from changing laws without Parliament’s consent. As a result, the people’s representatives had a strong voice in England’s government. Many Americans were also influenced by the Enlightenment— a philosophical movement that emphasized the use of reason to

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examine old ideas and traditions. Philosopher crimes. Some banned slavery. The Massachu- John Locke believed that a social contract setts constitution of 1780 is the oldest state existed between political rulers and the people constitution still in effect. they ruled. Baron de Montesquieu argued that Thomas Jefferson’s ideas about reli- the only way to achieve liberty was through gious freedom were included in the Virginia the separation of governmental powers. Statute for Religious Freedom. This docu- ment declared that no person could be forced American Models of Government to attend a particular church or be required to Americans had their own models of self- pay for a church with tax money. government to follow, like town meetings, the Virginia House of Burgesses, and the Right to Vote Mayflower Compact. In 1639 the people of Under British rule, only free, white men that Connecticut drew up the English colonies’ owned land could vote. Many states’ constitu- first written constitution. A constitution is tions expanded suffrage, or the right to vote, a set of basic principles and laws that states by allowing any white man who paid taxes the powers and duties of the government. In to vote. In every state, however, only land- addition, the Declaration of Independence owners could hold public office. Some states clearly set forth the beliefs on which Ameri- originally allowed women and free African cans thought government should be based. Americans to vote, but these rights were soon To keep individual leaders from gaining taken away. Suffrage would not be restored to too much power, the new state constitutions these groups for decades to come. created limited governments, or governments in which all leaders have to obey the laws. Reading Check Comparing What two Most state constitutions had rules to pro- principles were common to state constitutions tect the rights of citizens or those accused of written during the Revolutionary War?

Women’s Suffrage New Jersey allowed women to vote when it first joined the United States. This right was taken away by 1807. Why do you think women were not allowed to vote in the early United States?

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The Land Ordinances of 1785 and 1787

Surveying the West In 1785 the Northwest Territory was organized into lots that could be sold, and in 1787 a government was organized. Half section 320 acres HRW American History full vol ah07bs_c05loc000ba ? Land OrdinancesQuarter of 1785 & 1787 section 6 5 4 160 acres 7 8 1st proof: 05/23/05 18 15 14 13 19 20 21 22 23 24 Each township contained 36 sections. 30 29 28 27 26 25 Each section was one 31 32 33 34 35 36 square mile.

geography skills INTERPRETING MAPS 1. Location Which states were formed out of the 0 100 200 Miles Northwest Territory? 0 100 200 Kilometers 2. Region Into how many sections was a township divided? 3. Summarize Write a short summary of the information in the map.

Articles of Confederation The Second Continental Congress passed The Second Continental Congress was orga- the Articles of Confederation on November 15, HRW Middle School Americannized to History create a national government. The 1777. Then it sent the Articles to each state ah06se_c04leg004aa.aiContinental Congress appointed a Commit- legislature for ratification, or official approval, The Northwest Territorytee of Thirteen, with one member from each before the new national government could colony. This group was assigned to discuss F1 proof - 09/27/04 take effect. and draft the Articles of Confederation, the Conflicts over claims to western lands HRW Middle School American History new national constitution. ah06se_c04map004aa.ai slowed the process, but by 1779 every state The Northwest Territory Under the Articles of Confederation, Con- except Maryland had ratified the Articles. Map Area: 8.25” wide x 5.187” high gress would become the single branch of Maryland’s leaders refused to ratify until the national government, but it would have other states gave up their western land F2 proof - 11/12/04, 11/22/04 limited powers in order to protect the liber- claims. Thomas Jefferson assured Maryland ties of the people. Each state had one vote in that western lands would be made into new the Congress. Congress could settle conflicts states, rather than increasing territory for among the states, issue coins, borrow money, existing states. Satisfied with this condition, and make treaties with other countries and in March 1781 Maryland ratified the Articles. with Native Americans. Congress could also This put the first national government of the ask the states for money and soldiers. How- United States into effect. ever, states had the power to refuse these requests. The government did not have a Reading Check Summarizing What were president or a national court system. two weaknesses of the new national government?

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Northwest Territory population of a territory reached 60,000, its settlers could draft their own constitution Congress had to decide what to do with the and ask to join the Union. western lands now under its control and In addition, the law protected civil liber- how to raise money to pay debts. It tried to ties and required that public education be pro- solve both problems by selling the western vided. Finally, the ordinance stated that “there lands. Congress passed the Land Ordinance Half section shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servi- 320 acres of 1785, which set up a system for survey- tude [forced labor] in the . . . territory.” This last ing and dividing western lands. The land was The Impact condition banned slavery in the Territory and Quarter split into townships, which were 36 square Today section set the standard for future territories. The sys- 6 5 4 160 acres miles divided into 36 lots of 640 acres each. The surveying tem of land allotment and political structures system created 7 8 One lot was reserved for a public school, and created by the two ordinances would become by the Northwest four lots were given to veterans. The remain- 18 15 14 13 the typical method of organizing all new land Ordinance still ing lots were sold to the public. applies to public 19 20 21 22 23 24 added to the United States. However, slavery To form a political system for the region, lands today, 30 29 28 27 26 25 would continue to be a controversial issue. and even many Congress passed the Northwest Ordinance 31 32 33 34 35 36 existing private of 1787. The ordinance established the Reading Check Analyzing Information land boundaries Northwest Territory, which included areas How did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 affect are determined by these original that are now in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, the United States? measurements. Ohio, Minnesota, and Wisconsin. The Northwest Ordinance created a system for bringing new states into the Union. Congress S Ummary and preview The new govern- agreed that the Northwest Territory would be ment settled the future of the Northwest Ter- divided into several smaller territories with a ritory. In the next section you will read about governor appointed by Congress. When the other challenges the United States faced.

Section 1 Assessment ONLINE QUIZ Reviewing Ideas, Terms, and People d. Elaborate What does the assignment of town- 1. a. Identify What documents influenced ship lots reveal about values of Americans at this ideas about government in the United States? time? What precedents did the method set? b. Draw Conclusions What impact did the Critical Thinking Virginia Statute for Religious Freedom have on the 4. Categorizing Review your notes on the Articles HRW Middle School American History U.S. government? of Confederation. Copy the chart below and use it ah06se_c04map004aa.ai c. Elaborate Why is the separation of government to show the strengths and weaknesses of the new The Northwest Territory powers a requirement for a society to be free? government. Map Area: 8.25” wide x 5.187” high 2. a. Identify What was the Articles of Confederation? Articles of Confederation b. Summarize What powers were granted to F2 proof - 11/12/04, 11/22/04 Congress by the Articles of Confederation? Strengths Weaknesses c. Predict What are some possible problems that might result from the lack of a national court system? 3. a. Identify Which states include land that was once part of the Northwest Territory? b. Describe How were public lands in the West Focus on Writing divided by the Land Ordinance of 1785? c. Evaluate In your opinion, what was the most 5. Thinking about the Articles of Confederation important element of the Northwest Ordinance Make a list of powers the Articles of Confederation of 1787? Why? gave the national government. Which ones seem strong? Can you think of any important powers that are missing?

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