Louis B. Vega
SOCIAL SCIENCE
8th Grade
Chapter 6 Section 2: SETTING
NEW BOUNDARIES
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THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
1777 a committee of congress drafted a constitution:
Articles of Confederation
legitimized the Continental congress
stressed the independence of the separate states
a league of friendship, alliance
one state, one vote
fearful of central government, limit on power of tax.
Specific amount had to be allotted
all ratified except Maryland –approved
Issue of the control of the Western lands: sea to sea,
Maryland vs. Virginia
Western lands were put in the control of the Central
Government
e.g.
of give and take =political compromise
Arnold’s raiders invaded the state of Virginia in 1780
Cornwallis march through Virginia
…led to the good will gesture for support of the other
colonies
THE TREATY OF PARIS
Complications with other world powers
Spain –wanted control or Mississippi/Alabama area
France- did not want to see the US become too strong
Sacrificed America’s interest for their own
English Pride was hurt…gave more to the French and
Spanish that to deal with “rebels”
Congress appointed a delegation
Henry Laurens was exchanged for Gen. Cornwallis
Jay did most of the negotiating, beneficial
for the US.
Britain officially recognized the US the Great Lakes
as the northern boundary and the Mississippi River as the western
boundary. The southern boundary was the 31st latitude.
Louisiana remained under Spanish control.
Florida was returned as well as Alabama and Mississippi
All British troops were to be removed
no property was to be seized from British Loyalists
recovery of American debts
THE LAND ORDINANCES
The US into the family of nations
problem of organizing the territories beyond the
Appalachian Mountains
Land Ordinance of 1785 - established the method of
selling land into townships in the north and
small lots to individuals in the south
early commitment to education as a foundation of a
free democratic society
Land Ordinance of 1787 (Northwest) -carved up into
colonies or territories until statehood
each territory was to be ruled by a governor and 3
judges.
when had 5000 men of voting age had settled, could
elect their own local legislature
when had 60,000 the voters had to draft a state
constitution.
Congress had to approve it and be admitted into the
Union
only stipulation - state government had to be a
Republican - elected representatives
slavery was to be prohibited in all land north of
the Ohio River - became an issue of statehood later on
...this system kept order and fragmentation of
smaller nations.