Initial Topic Proposal

Topic 1: The role of the federal government, specifically through the Land Ordinances of
the 1780s, in shaping the future of slavery in the Articles of Confederation era
Arguably, the longer slavery as an institution persisted, the more difficult it was to abolish it. Thus the
Critical Period of the 1780s presented an opportunity to define the role of slavery in the new nation. In
1784, Congress came within one vote of abolishing slavery forever in all new states and territories. The
Ordinance of 1785 seemed to tacitly approve slavery by omitting reference to it, but also instituted a land
distribution system hostile to wealthy slaveholders. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 did in fact ban
slavery in the new Northwest Territory, but was limited in scope and did not apply to everyone in the area.
Prominent men, including Jefferson and Washington, advocated abolition but eventually resigned
themselves to the realities of the institution. The governments actions suggested ambivalence towards
the issue, at times seeming to work against the spread of slavery and at others leaving the issue to the
states. A research paper would address the overarching question of the Articles-era Congresss legacy
with regards to slavery, including some or all of the following sub-topics:
1. In what ways did the Congress under the Articles of Confederation work to end slavery?
To promote it?
2. How did Congressional action serve to delay sectional conflicts over slavery, or hasten
their arrival?
3. To what extent did personal influences and coincidence, as opposed to broader political
and social trends, shape Congresss actions?
4. In what ways did Congress under the Articles influence treatment of slavery in the
Constitution, and by the post-constitution Congress?

ONLINE DOCUMENT COLLECTION: Thomas Jefferson Papers, American Memory site,

Library of Congress, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/index.html.
Primary Sources:
United States Congress. "Printed Resolution on Western Territory Government; with Notations
by Thomas Jefferson." March 1, 1784. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?
collId=mtj1&fileName=mtj1page003.db&recNum=0082/ (accessed January 25, 2014).
United States Congress, An ordinance for the government of the territory of the United States,
North-west of the river Ohio. 1787. http://memory.loc.gov/cgi-bin/ampage?
collId=bdsdcc&fileName=22501//bdsdcc22501.db&recNum=0&itemLink=r?
ammem/bdsbib:@field
%28NUMBER+@od1%28bdsdcc+22501%29%29&linkText=0&presId=bdsbib (accessed
January 24, 2014).
Source Collection: Thomas Jefferson Papers, American Memory site, Library of
Congress, http://memory.loc.gov/ammem/collections/jefferson_papers/index.html.
Scholarly Secondary Source:
Buckley, Patrick H. Western Washington University, "Land Ordinance of 1785."
http://myweb.facstaff.wwu.edu/patrick/geo201/Notes/pub-land.htm/ (accessed January 25,
2014).
Topic 2. The Conflict and Controversy around John Tylers Assumption of the Presidency.

The Constitution, as of 1841, was not entirely clear about the protocol upon the death of a
president. Specifically, it stated that the powers and duties of the presidency would be transferred to the
Vice President, but did not clarify whether the Vice President would become the new president or merely
a temporary replacement, perhaps to serve in the interim until a special election. John Tyler confidently
asserted that he was, in fact, the new president. Tylers argument eventually won out, establishing a
precedent that remained in place until the 25th Amendment clarified the issue. However, Tyler did not act
without opposition, and there was considerable before Congress ultimately passed a resolution affirming
the legitimacy of his claim to power. Even after this resolution, some continued to question Tylers
authority. A paper would seek to answer the following:
What were the main arguments for and against Tylers assumption of the presidency?
Was either side clearly more justified than the other? What alternatives did his detractors
propose?
To what extent was Tylers declaration of his own authority more than just a formality?
In other words, how necessary were Tylers assertiveness and popularity in securing his power?
What impact did the controversy have on Tylers effectiveness as a president?
In what ways did the controversy politicize an inherently Constitutional issue?

ONLINE DOCUMENT COLLECTION: Chronicling America: Historic American

Newspapers, Library of Congress website. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
Primary Sources:
John Tyler, President of the United States. Boons Lick Times (Fayette, MO). 15 May 1841.
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn83016957/1841-05-15/ed-1/seq2/#date1=1840&index=0&rows=20&words=John+JOHN+President+PRESIDENT+TYLE
R+Tyler&searchType=basic&sequence=0&state=&date2=1841&proxtext=john+tyler+pres
ident&y=13&x=11&dateFilterType=yearRange&page=1 (accessed, January 26, 2014).
Source Collection: Chronicling America: Historic American Newspapers, Library of
Congress website. http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/
Tyler, John. "Address of President Tyler to the People of the United States." Niles' National
Register, sec. National Affairs, April 17, 1841. https://play.google.com/books/reader?
id=dJgbAQAAMAAJ&printsec=frontcover&output=reader&authuser=0&hl=en&pg=GBS.
RA1-PA97 (accessed January 26, 2014).
Scholarly Secondary Source:
Crapol, Edward P. John Tyler: The Accidental President. Chapel Hill, North Carolina:
University of North Carolina Press, 2007.