APUSH: Articles of Confederation, Shay's Rebellion, State Government & Rights

T/f State governments started implementing their own constitution

True, this happened after the revolution battles.

What were the goals of state constitutions?

The goal was to balance those who wanted internal change and those who feared excess democracy.

How did some state constitutions differ?

Some states had a one-house legislature (Pennsylvania, Georgia, Vermont) while others had two-house legislature (idea from Adams). But all the states had a system of just a legislature branch.

How did voting rights change?

Voting rights expanded a little because most state got rid of property qualifications for voting. This expanded to non-free men to vote. However, some states had property qualifications (Virginia, SC) while others had only taxpaying requirements (Penn)

How did slavery change?

There started to be slow emancipation in the north. Some general outlines were that an offspring will become free after they serve their mother’s masterhood to adulthood. But, free communities were created with their own schools churches, and community. Also, slaves were using the ideas of rights to fight for their freedom.

How did church and religion changed?

Many felt that church and state should be seperated. States started to dissemble official state churches and stopped fundings. States also had religious freedoms but a few rules in placed.

Bills of Establishing Religious Freedom

Drafted by Jefferson and adopted by House of Burgesses in 1786. Stated that religious requirements should be eliminated for voting and states should stop fundings and trying to convert people.

Women’s rights

Women rights changed a little in education. The idea of “Republican Motherhood” was to train a child to become a good citizen. In doing this, the mother also needed to be educated to teach which called for education expansions to women. But other than that, a women still did not have a legal identity or were in politics.

What is the Articles of Confederation?

It was the first written constitution ratified in 1782 (written 1777). It will later be repealed.

What was the goal of the Articles of Confederation?

The goal was to balance coordination after the war with the fear of centralized power being a threat to liberty.

What were some characteristics of the articles?

• One-house legislature branch

• Congress could declare war, conduct foreign affairs, make treaties

• Congress could not levy taxes or regulate trade

• States had the most power and self-government. They adopted their own constitution and could tax

• No national army

• Decisions were made 9/13 majority and each state had one vote.

• Did accomplish westward expansion

Conflict in land

Many people wanted to expand west but Natives were living there. So, they made natives give up their lands. Additionally, conflict of who was using the land.

Ordinance of 1784

Established stages of self-governing. Congress will intitally govern there and will be divide into districts later admitted as states.

Ordinance of 1785

Regulated land sales in old Northwest. It cost $1 per acre and land was sold in 640 acre sections. One section in the township had to be made for education and school. Many people bought off smaller sections of land from private companies who bought the land.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Stated that 3-5 states needed to be established in old northwest. Also the idea of “empire of liberty” where colonial powers will not rule over the land instead it will be included in the political system. Also recognized Native land and said they won’t take their land without consent. Lastly, prohibited slavery.

What were the Articles weaknesses?

The lack of funds was the weakness. Congress did not have the power to tax and the USA was in debt after the wars. However, states could tax and even threaten farmers to lose their land if they cannot pay.

Shays’ Rebellion

Happened in late 1786- early 1787. A group of Massachusetts farmers surrounded the courts to stop seizure of their land because of taxes. It was led by Daniel Shays and used tatics like liberty trees from the revolution. It was dispatched in January. This even is significant because it revealed the articles’ weaknesses of not having funds for an army to stop rebellions. This strengthened the idea of a national government.