POWERS & VOCABULARY
What is an ordinance?
A law or regulation
What is a constitution?
A written plan that says who's in charge and what they can and can't do (the rulebook for government)
What were the dimensions of a township under the Ordinance of 1785?
6 miles long × 6 miles wide (36 square miles)
What happened to the value of Continental dollars by 1781?
They became worth almost nothing/basically worthless
Which treaty officially ended the Revolutionary War in 1783?
The Treaty of Paris
When was the Articles of Confederation agreed upon by Congress?
November 1777
Name two things Congress COULD do under the Articles of Confederation.
Any two: Handle foreign affairs, keep an army, borrow money, issue currency
How many states had written constitutions by the end of 1776?
Eight states
How many acres were in one section of land, and what was the minimum price per acre?
640 acres, at least $1 per acre
What is it called when money loses value?
Depreciate/Depreciation
What did Britain promise to do in the Treaty of Paris but didn't actually do?
Withdraw from lands east of the Mississippi/leave the frontier forts
How many votes did each state get under the Articles, regardless of size?
ONE vote
Name two things Congress COULD NOT do under the Articles of Confederation.
Any two: Collect taxes, force states to contribute soldiers, force states to follow laws, regulate trade
What three requirements did someone need to vote in most states?
Be a white male, at least 21 years old, and own property or be a taxpayer
What five modern states were created from the Northwest Territory?
Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, and Wisconsin
What three groups did Congress owe money to after the Revolutionary War?
Foreign countries, American citizens, and Revolutionary soldiers
Which country controlled Florida and lands west of the Mississippi River after the war?
Spain
How many states had to agree to pass a law under the Articles?
9 out of 13 states
What does bicameral mean?
A legislature with two houses (like having both a House of Representatives AND a Senate)
Which state replaced their governor with an elected council of 12 people because they were so worried about one person having too much power?
Pennsylvania
How many people did a territory need to have before it could apply to become a state?
60,000 people
Who was appointed Superintendent of Finance in May 1781 to try to fix the financial crisis?
Robert Morris
What did Spain close to American shipping in 1784, and why was this a huge problem?
The lower Mississippi River; American settlers depended on it for commerce/trade
What three branches of government did the Articles create?
Just one - Congress (no president or courts!)
What did the Articles create between states, where each state kept "its sovereignty, freedom and independence"?
A "firm league of friendship"
What's the difference between a democracy and a republic?
Democracy = everyone votes on everything directly; Republic = people elect representatives who vote for them
What groundbreaking clause about slavery did the Northwest Ordinance include?
"There shall be neither slavery nor involuntary servitude in said territory" (America's first attempt to stop slavery from spreading)
What tax did Robert Morris propose to pay the national debt, and why did it fail?
A 5% tax on imported goods; it failed because Rhode Island refused to approve it (and all 13 states needed to agree)
Who did Congress send to London in 1785 to discuss problems with Britain, and what was Britain's response?
John Adams; Britain refused to talk/wouldn't negotiate
How many states had to agree to change or amend the Articles of Confederation?
ALL 13 states (which made it basically impossible)