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Period: to
Articles of Confederation
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Congress forced from Philadelphia
A mutinous group of Pennsylvania troops, demanding pay, forced Congress to leave Philadelphia. President John Dickinson refused the assistance of all on the state militia, as he feared they were not reliable. Congress retreated to Princeton. -
Movement of Settlers Westward
States claimed rights to land that wasn't theirs. This lead to legal problems and conflicts with the natives. -
The Ordinance of 1784
The Ordinance of 1784 established stages for self-government in the West. Land would initially be divided into districts under the control of Congress but later become states that would join the union. Also, the Ordinance of 1784 would prohibit slavery. This was created by Thomas Jefferson but was rejected in Congress by one vote. -
The Ordinance of 1785
The Ordinance of 1785 dictated that land be surveyed and divided into townships. Each township, being six miles, would again be divided into 36 sections. The remaining one mile squares would be sold at a minimum of $1.00 per acre while one of the 36 squares would be set aside for public schools. It only regulated land north of the Ohio River, known as the Old Northwest, and was violated by settlers rapidly moving westward ahead of the surveys. -
Shays rebellion
Angry farmers lead by Daniel Shays attacked the federal arsenal at Springfield, Massachusetts -
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 required the establishment of three to five states north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River. This allowed for the US to admit the Western population as equal members of the political system instead of ruling over them. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 falsely promised Native Americans good faith and that they could keep their land. Its exclusion of slavery in the Old Northwest was also violated.