One Nations or Thirteen States
What was the first written document to establish a United States government?
The Articles of Confederation.
What territory was included of the Northwest Ordinance?
Land north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River.
When did the US first issue print money?
During the Revolutionary War.
Why did the Members of Congress meet?
To discuss how best to strengthen the Articles of Confederation.
When the Second Continental Congress approved the Articles of Confederation, what did it do?
Officially accepted it.
For what purpose did Congress issue the Northwest Ordinance?
To organize the settlement of the Northwest Territory.
What was the effect of the national government not collecting taxes during this period?
The United States owed 13.3 billion dollars in debt.
How did Shay's Rebellion affect American leaders' views about the need for a strong central government?
It convinced them of the need for a strong central government to manage money and to quell rebellions.
Why did the Articles of the Confederation assign Congress to oversee foreign affairs and war?
It does not make sense for individual states to make foreign policy or to conduct wars.
How did the treatment of Native Americans change when the government decided to treat American Indians as "conquered nations"?
The result was that Congress sent soldiers to the Northwest Territory to remove American Indians by force. Settlers also regularly attacked and killed groups of American Indians without government support.
Who was Daniel Shay?
A Revolutionary War captain who was a struggling farmer.
What can you infer about how Samuel Adams would have reacted to Shay's Rebellion?
Adams would have been totally against it.
Summarize the powers allocated to the states by the Articles of the Confederation.
States could run their own state government, print their own money, and could write their own constitutions. States did not have to pay taxes to the Confederation.
How did some American Indians respond to the encroachment on their land?
They defended themselves. The Miami, Shawnee, and Delaware people formed a military alliance. Miami chief Little Turtle attacked Arthur St. Claire's troops. Nine hundred men were killed or wounded in the attack.
What effects did the weakness of the government called for by the Articles of Confederation have on how effectively the nation functioned?
Banks did not function well; merchants found it difficult to do business in more than one state; because the government did not collect taxes, the country was in debt; money owed to military officials and leaders could not be paid.
Why does Henry Lee think that without a strong government the country will "submit to the horrors of anarchy"?
Lee believes that without a strong central government, business will suffer because of the instability of banks. This would leave many unemployed, confined to idleness, and intent on ruining society.
Based on what you have read, why were the Articles of the Confederation important?
While not perfect, the Articles of Confederation provided an important first step in the process of writing the U.S. Constitution.
What are the pros and cons of settling in the new territory?
Pros: The appeal of new land, access to new resources in the Midwest, and fleeing slavery in other states.
Cons: Dangerous conflict with American Indians, land prices that were difficult to afford, and the Northwest Territory's lack of big cities such as Philadelphia and Boston.
How were the government's money problems related to the violent conflict of Shay's rebellion?
The government's money problems merchants in Boston required that their bills be paid in gold and silver. When farmer's could not produce the gold and silver, they were jailed in large numbers. This led to Shay's rebellion.
Based on the quotation, what conclusion can you draw about how Jefferson saw the role of government in people's lives?
Jefferson thinks the government exists to carry out the will of the people and should respect people's wishes.