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__SECTIONS__ Critical Period Westward Expansion

Critical Period – 1776-1787 I. State Constitutions a. Kept some of old – provincial assemblies 1. Colonial self-government for 150 years 2. “their just powers from the consent of the governed” b. Methods – written constitutions 1. written by provincial assemblies 2. Mass. – town meetings, state conventions c. Format – dec. of independence + citizen rights + executive/legislative 1. weaken powers of governor 2. white males with property eligible to vote d. Anti-slavery 1. Dec. of Indep. Mentions slavery – South forced out 2. Mass. 1783 – slave sued “all men are created equal” – freed II. Continental Congress a. 1777 – Articles of Confederation – ratified in 1781 b. Until ratified – Continental Congress governed 1. Lost power as war progressed – most talented returned to state c. Succeses – army, navy, marines, appointed George Washington, supplied army d. Failure – financing war – taxes optional, money worthless “not worth a Continental” III. Articles of Confederation - failures a. States jealous of others/competitive – 9 of 13 states to pass b. Taxes voluntary c. Fear of strong executive – no one to enforce laws d. Individual trade agreements w/ foreign nations & states – nobody wants to trade with U.S. – fearful of stability e. Still left England in possession of frontier IV. Articles of Confederation – successes a. Precedent – something to work with b. Northwest Ordinance 1. land-locked states feared other states would get too big 1. Easily pay war debts – too much representation 2. Maryland refuses – leads protest 2. Virginia finally gives land claims to federal gov’t – others follow 3. Land could be sold to make money for fed gov’t 4. Add-A-State Plan – Northwest Ordinance 1787 1. Population + legislature + 60,000 men can + religious freedom c. Peace treaty with England V. Shay’s Rebellion – 1787 – debtors can’t pay and rebel – proved to wealthy that something must be done – catalyst for Constitutional Convention a. Post-war depression made life worse b. Jefferson – “a little rebellion every now and then is a good thing”

Westward Expansion I. Gradual Expansion of Frontier – Each addition adds to slavery issue, moves frontier, Indian problems A. Proclamation of 1763 – Colonists not west of Appalachians – annoys colonists B. Treaty of 1783 – Britain gives US land to Mississippi C. 1803 - Louisiana Purchase – Napoleon realizes he can’t keep French empire - $15 mil i.  Brings up issue of constitutionality of president purchasing land ii. Lewis and Clarke – ecology, Native Americans, surveying, claiming Oregon 1. Open up westward movement D. 1820s-1830s – Texas – Mexico encourages movement – $.12 per acre – become Catholic i.  After Santa Anna – Alamo – country Republic of Texas ii. Not annexed right away – fear it would be broken into many slave states E. 1847 – Utah – Mormons – organized voting block/feared for organization – kicked out F. 1846 – Polk – 54 40 or Fight! – extend America into Canada above Washington i.  America can’t fight Mexico and Britain – agree to make boundary above Wash. G. 1946-1848 – Mexican War – looks like land grabbing – Zachary Taylor creates catalyst i.  Defeats Mexico City – Guadalupe Hidalgo gives Southwest – 1848 Gold discover II. Transportation A. Turnpikes – toll roads – 1812-1825 B. Cumberland Road – federal road – 1806-1850 connects Midwest to Virginia C. Canal Building – 1825-1840 – Erie Canal starts i.  1 ton of goods now for 1 cent per mile not 20 cents per mile ii. Takes away farming from Northeast – moves to Midwest iii. People can now move to Midwest and get supplies still to Atlantic Ocean D. Steamboat – 1810-1840 – up and down rivers – not mercy of wind E. Railroads – bought by federal government, made privately i.  Faulty creation, corruption, accidents of both railroads and steamship building F. Mail – 1896 – finally mailbox delivery – before if rural must go to post office G. Morse/Telegraph – 1844 – “What hath God wrought?” DC > Baltimore – Samuel Morse III. Towns – build city infrastructure first, people come later A. Balloon frame + nails – quick building B. Wagons – families come out – Oregon Trail – leave Independence, MO – near St. Louis C. Passing of frontier after Civil War D. Buffalo slaughter – 15 million down to 1 thousand – sport – destroys Native American lives E. Mining towns – boom bust – Northwest territories – become ghost towns – no other source of income – minerals gone, town gone i.  Women gain equality here first – state voting first – have power supply/demand F. Cattle drives big until fenced in – changes American landscape