Colonial America In The Late 1700s

Between 1492-1776, although many people moved to the “New World”, North America lost population due to the amount of Indians dying from war and diseases and the inability of colonists to replace them. John Murrin states, “losers far outnumbered winners” in “ a tragedy of such huge proportions that no one’s imagination can easily encompass it all.” This thought of a decreasing population broadens one’s perspective of history from that of an excluded American tale full of positivity to that of a more unbiased, all-encompassing analysis. The Indians and slaves have recently been noted as a more crucial part of history than previously accredited with.

From 1781 to 1789, the newly created United States of America put its trust in the Articles of Confederation to adequately govern itself in times of war and distress. The Articles of Confederation was the United States’ first attempt at a guideline for creating an effective federal government. It was efficient in holding the new country together during the Revolutionary War and managed to help the country attend to pressing foreign and economic problems right after the war. Although the Articles helped bring about momentous and significant change in one decade, it was not the suitable framework for the federal government to effectively govern the new country over a long period of time.

The Articles of Confederation established the first national government of the United States after it declared independence from England. The American Revolution heavily influenced this document, as the American people refused to have another tyrant rule their country. From 1781 to 1789 the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an ineffective government because of its lack of power to tax, raise an army, or regulate trade; however, it redeemed itself with the creation of the land ordinances of 1785 and 1787, and keeping the states united after the American Revolution.

Whether by land or by sea, eighteenth century colonial travel was arduous, expensive, and many times dangerous. Because of this, few people traveled very far from their homes. Transportation has changed dramatically since the late 1700’s. It was during this time that Colonial America was budding as a new country. This was before airplanes, which appeared in the very early stages of the 1900’s. Cars showed up about the same time, so rewind about 200 plus years and we’re back in colonial America. It wasn’t civilized like it is today. The dirt roads were bumpy, grimy, and when the rains came, they were mud baths. So how did people during this time get around? Often, they didn’t. Not many people could afford the cost of travel back then. Daily American Colonial Life was extremely harsh for the first settlers and colonists. They were faced with a new country, unknown territory and no friends, relatives or neighbors to help them “In those days, it was fairly expensive to travel. Because of this, generally only government officials, merchants, and planters took the risk (Constitution Facts).” Women were supposed to stay home and look after the children while the husband went off to do business. America was still a budding country, so there were not as many cities as there are now and they were more spread out. If the man wanted to travel, it would require several hours, or even several days to ride on horseback. Often the husband wouldn’t return for a couple of days, and when he

f North America in the 1500s. Before that time, the continent was an unknown place to them. These adventurers saw it as an entirely new land, with animals and plants to discover. They also met new people in this exciting New World—people with fascinating lifeways that the Europeans had never seen and languages they had never heard. This New World for Europeans was actually a very old world for the various people they met in North America. Today we call those people American Indians.

Following the United States’ independence from Great Britain, delegates from each collective state set out to establish a body to govern the newly formed nation. From this came the Articles of Confederation, which was officially ratified in 1781. The Articles of Confederation proved to be a landmark in government for those days because it was a model of what a loose confederation could be. However, this soon failed because the official

The Articles of Confederation was ratified on March 1, 1781. It limited Congress’s influence and power over the colonies, but allowed them to manage foreign relations or Indian affairs, coin money, maintain a postal service and as a last solution, intervene with any disputes between the states. After the Revolution, Americans wanted to avoid tyrannical or monarchy government, therefore letting each state rule over themselves would eliminate having to report to higher authorities, however this caused disorganization and no one or government to lead the states. The states believed in “a firm league of friendship”, never came true as each state would compete with other to increase their population, wealth and land. However, the most important fact about the Articles of Confederation is that it harmed America more than it help it as it kept the states separated. Without a plan, goal or a common purpose, the colonies fell apart, fighting for self glorification and improving themselves, instead of helping each other. Furthermore, the Articles of Confederation failed to address on the restoration of America, such as paying war debts and when “The Requisition of 1785”, was implemented, people protested by starting riots and states capitol printed more paper money than there was gold, thus liquidating the value of the dollar. This leads to an event that caused a turning point in the restoration of American during the 18th century, “Shays Rebellion”.

The Articles of Confederation was a start for what America would become. They were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States ' first constitution, and was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present day Constitution went into effect. The Articles of Confederation were a strong beginning for America however it had its flaws. The Articles of Confederations rigid and non flexible characteristics hindered American. The Constitution improved all of the trending problems in the Articles of Confederation. It helped form the strong structure of the government that America has today. The Articles of Confederation help show Congress exactly what America needed to become a

Most modern historians will argue that from 1781 to 1789, the confederation period of American history, the nation experienced its most critical economic and political developments. Having just become official American states after rebellion against the royal authority of Great Britain, the nation was forced to create its own government, which proved to be completely inadequate as its foundation was lain upon a weak, basic constitution. This basic constitution was deemed the Articles of Confederation and was ratified by all states prior to the end of the Revolutionary War. The Articles created a government where Congress, being the only existing branch of government, struggled to maintain peace as disputes requiring judicial or executive rulings

The Articles of Confederation were both effective and ineffective in their time of use in the United States, which were the years 1781 through 1789. In reaction to the tyrannical behavior of the British Monarchy towards the colonies prior to the revolution, shortly after the Declaration of Independence was signed, the educated and powerful citizens in the US created a new system unlike any form of government the states had experienced before. The Articles of Confederation were created and then ratified by all 13 states in 1781. These articles were enough structure to provide the USA with a temporary government in its time of transition between the British rule and independence, but too flawed to serve as a permanent government. It lacked in

In the 1700’s it was time for the United States to start something new and change. Like every other country it needed to be its own and have a well structured government. Before, the U.S. was controlled by the British who have already brought in their culture without any doubts. As the Americans tried so hard to gain their own country, they faced more problems. Soon they were finally free and on their own. The United States had made drastic changes to create a great country by fighting and for their independence, creating a constitution, and creating a well organized government.

The democracy established in colonial America developed greatly as the rights of colonists were recognized, however, the early establishment caused many of the features to be undemocratic. The history in colonial America as shown in the documents imply that equality among people of different races, genders and beliefs was not yet established during this time. America was filled with inequality and undemocratic features, allowing prejudice to occur between men and women, and the difference races. In 1763, the qualifications that one needed in order to vote varied depending on the colony. Although, each colony required that the voter was to be of the christian religion, white race, and male gender.

The Revolutionary War declared America’s independence from Great Britain, which led to the implementation of the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777. The government under the Articles of Confederation was extremely weak and did not have the power to enforce laws. The articles of confederation were ratified in 1781 due to many problems such as no separation of power and very limit powers are given to Congress. The ratification divided the people according to their political views, that division of people is known as federalists and anti-federalists. Federalist wanted a stronger central government opposed to the anti-federalist who wanted a weak central government.

The French established three colonies in North America during the 1600s and 1700s. Louisiana and Canada were two of the three colonies. The colony of Canada extended from the north east coast where New Foundland was, down to the Great Lakes. Canada had no real settlements, however, they had many posts which served as trading posts and military support. The colony experienced harsh winters and short growing seasons and because of this their farming efforts usually failed and populations never grew. Since they had little to no success in farming, their economy thrived on fur trade with natives. By creating close ties with the natives they were able to trade metal goods for fur and then craft the fur and later profit from it. In the 1660s the

From 1607 to 1754, people’s views on governing themselves changed greatly. It began in 1607, with the settlement of Jamestown. They were a corporate colony, working for the Virginia Company, they were whole-heartedly British. The Great Awakening, the Enlightenment, and the Tradition of Neglect all introduced new ways for the American colonies to think of themselves as more independent. Although they still considered themselves part of the British Empire, by the end of this era they had discovered that they could make their own laws and constitutions that fit the way that their world worked as opposed to Great Britain.