Problems with the National Government

1781 - 3 executive heads were created for: foreign affairs, finance and war respectively. Congress had no power over states and many states guarded their independence.

Organising the West

• Flood of people into the trans-Appalachian region in the 1780s. By 1790: Kentucky had a population of 73,677 and Tennesee’s reached 35,691

• 1785 Land Ordinance

  • Government surveyors would divide land into six-square-mile townships and each township was divided into sections of one-square-mile

  • Four sections in every township were to be set aside as bounty land for ex-soldiers and one for the maintenance of schools.

  • The rest of the land was to be sold at auction in 640-acre lots at no less than a dollar an acre.

  • The was a quick and certain means of setting out lines, reducing disputes among land purchasers

• 1787 Northwest Ordinance

  • The initial phase of settlement of a teritory would not be self-governing but would have a governor and judgesappointed by Congress

  • Once there was 5,000 adult males inhabiting the area, it could elect a legislature with limited powers.

  • It could also elect non-voting representatives to Congress

  • When the population reached 60,000, it could form a constitutional convention and apply to Congress for admission as a state on equal terms with existing states.

  • Kentucky becomes a state in 1792, after being an extension of Virginia.

Foreign Policy

• Britain still maintained some presence near the Great Lakes.

  • Partly to continue its trade with Americans and the Native Americans.

  • It partly sought the claim back its debts from the Americans.

  • Since Congress was weakand had little central control over the states,this was difficult to enforce.

• Spain also disliked the estern expansion by the Americans and it also had control of the Mississippi river through its own territories.

  • In 1784, it seized Nachez and stopped America from using the river - this is very bad for the Americans.

  John Jay’s Treaty with Spain

  • In 1786, Jay initiated a treaty with Spain whereby in return for limited access to Spanish markets, the USA agreed to give up right to use the Mississippi river for 25 years.

    • Since five southern states opposed, the treaty could not be ratified by the required nine.

    • Westerners were furious at Jay’s willingness to sacrifice their interests to eastern merchants.

      • Some spoke of setting up an independent western republic, under Spanish protection.

Economic and Financial Problems

Positives

Negatives