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Articles of Confederation
The Articles of Confederation were the first attempt of the American Constitution. It created a loose alliance of 13 independent states. -
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Chapter 7 Sections 1-4
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Money Problems
After the Revolution, the U.S. owed millions of dollars to individuals and foreign nations. Congress did not have the power to tax so they had no way to repay the debts. The states oftened refused when asked for money. -
Land Ordinance of 1785
The Land Ordinance of 1785 set up a system for settling the Northwest Territory. The law called for the territory to be surveyed and divided into townships. -
Shay's Rebellion
More than 1,000 farmers took part in Shay's Rebellion. They attached courthouses and prevented the state from seizing farms. -
Constitutional Convention
Every state except Rhode Island sent representatives to the convention. Its goal was to revise the Articles of Confederation. -
Northwest Ordinance
The Northwest Ordinance set up a government for the Northwest Territory, guaranteed basic rights to settlers, and outlawed slavery there. It also provided for the vast region to be divided into seperate territories in the future. -
The Great Compromise
Roger Sherman worked out a compromise that he hoped would satisfy the large and small states. In this compromise each side gave up some demands to achieve unity. -
Three-Fifths Compromise
Southerners wanted to include slaves in the population count but Northerners objected since slaves could not vote. Once again, the delegates compromised and agreed that 3/5 of the slaves in any state would be counted. -
The Nation Celebrates
Throughout the land Americans celebrated the news that the Constitution was ratified. The city of Philadelphia set its festival for July 4, 1788. -
The First Election
Americans voted in the first election under the Constitution in January 1789. As expected, George Washington was elected President and John Adams was chosen as Vice President. -
The Bill of Rights
Some of the first 10 amendments were intended to prevent the kind of abuse Americans had suffered under English rule. James Madison insisted that the rights listed were natural rights that belong to all human beings.
