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The first attempt of a constitution. It created a loose alliance between states and left the government too weak
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After the war the United States owed millions to foreign countries. Congress asked states for money but they refused. So Congress printed its own money which had little or no value because it was not backed by gold or silver.
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It was a system for settling the northwest territory. Each section of land cost $640 apiece and it also set aside land for public schools.
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As a result of the Articles of Confederation the nation went into a depression. In Massachusetts courts started taking farms to pay debts. Daniel Shay and other farmers attacked the courthouses to keep their farms.
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Every state but Rhode Island sent representatives. The 55 delegates, old and new, met to revise the Articles of Confederation.
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This ordidnance set up a government for the Northwest Terrirtory, guarantteed basic rights to settlers, and outlawed slavery. It also said that a territory couldn't be a state until it had 60000 free settlers.
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The Convention decided to combine the Virginia and the New Jersey plan. They decided on a 2 house legislature. The Lower House representatives would be elected by popular vote and awarded seats according to population. The House of Representatives got 2 seats per state.
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Southerners wanted slaves in the population count but the Northerners said no because slaves couldn't vote. They reached a compromise that said if a state had 5000 slaves only 3000 would count.
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Americans celebrated the ratification of the constitution on July 4, 1788.
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Americans voted in the first election under the constitution. George Washington was elected president and James Madison as vice president.
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James Madison wrote the bill of rights which was a statement of citizen rights. On this date three fourths of hte states ratified 10 of the 12 amendments.
