History Notes

Molding a Nation - 1781 - 1789
The Articles of Confederation, though flawed, served as a bridge to becoming a new nation.
Americans are on their own, and reality has set in
Some believed that we could not handle it
We couldn't afford to go back into war

(Side note: John Hanson was the president by the Articles of Confederation.)

The Articles serve the purpose for the time being, even with their flawed nature; they get us through the post-war period.

The Confederation was the brainchild of Richard Henry Lee, and John Dickinson was the principle draftsman of the Articles of Confederation.

The following Powers were clearly stated in the document to the Congress (these were held by the Congress).
POWERS HELD:
Power over foreign affairs and problems in times of peace and war.
Power to decide state disputes. (Note: Shay's Rebellion)
Powers to make coins, establish a postal service, oversee Indian affairs, and govern the Western territories.
The following crucial Powers were not included in the Articles of Confederation.
POWERS MISSING
Lacked the power to enforce its own resolutions - it was a body with 13 heads moving in different directions.
Lacked the power over interstate commerce.
Lacked the power to control the issuance of paper money by the state.

Also, there was no executive branch, and there were no courts - the appellate system was not in place, and there was no supreme court.

REPRESENTATION in the Congress
No state could have less than two delegates or more than seven (2-7)

Creation of 5 Executive Departments (but still lacking an executive branch), which grew into the modern-day cabinet.
Foreign Affairs
Finance
War
Postal Service
Board of Admiralty

We got new lands during the war - out to Mississippi
Eventually we were going to settle it
It was surveyed

Settling Western Land Disputes
Land Ordinance of 1785 - proposed by Thomas Jefferson in 1784
Called for a rectangular survey of the Western lands
Divide it... [continues]

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