After Independence

-13 individual colonies

-13 different governments

-very loose association of the 13 states in a confederate style government that was totally unwritten

-Within a few years all Colonies changed charters into state constitutions= states

State Government

-every state wrote its own constitution (or form of Gov’t)

-all had three branches

1.legislative (Pass laws)

2. executive (military/ excute)

3. Judicial (make sure laws are carried out)

-guaranteed certain rights in the bill of rights

Examples: trial by jury & protection of private property

1.-Revolutionary War

~ $ War cost lots of money

2. Strength of the British military

~13 small forces = no match to them

3. weakness of the colonial militias

~not as well trained if a nation fought together as one-

Need for Cooperation: Or why all Colonies should

unite under one Government!?

-would need a method of cooperation

-limited control would be given to a central government

-would not be able to control the 13 states

.... All these reasons and more- the 2nd Continental Congress made plans for a UNION of the states

-Articles of Confederation signed in 1781

National Government

Articles of Confederation

-1 house legislature

-1 vote per state

-9 of 13 state Legislationsrequired to pass laws

-controls the military (But NOT ONE person is really over the military)

-power to make treaties

-

Confederation

-Land Ordinance 1785

-lands past the Appalachians were declared new territories

-NW Ordinance 1787

-banned slavery in NW areas and set up process of adding additional states

Weaknesses

-could not enforce laws-

no EXE Branch

-could not tax Congress

could ask states for

money, but not demand

it

-no executive branch- no

one over the military

-no court system – no one

to enforce laws

-could not regulate trade

btw states

• ****The Articles The Articles of of

Confederation Confederation couldn’tcouldn’t

Really do Really do ANYTHINGANYTHING!!

4 Revisions of the 4 Revisions of the AoCAoC

• The year after the The year after the failure of 1786, failure of 1786, the Constitutional the Constitutional Convention met in Convention met in Philadelphia and Philadelphia and effectively closed effectively closed the history of the history of government government under the Articles under the Articles of Confederation.of Confederation.

Future Problems

-taxation problems *During the Revolutionary War Congress had to BORROW money to help pay for it! –Heavy in Debt- 2 years to repay-

State Gov’t in debt as well

- Tax Citizens heavily

- Sparks Resentment

- farmers are out of Business

- Taxed Imported Goods= hurt trade

Shay’s RebellionShay’s Rebellion• Shay’s Rebellion• -Event that occurred when

Massachusetts farmers revolted over high state taxes and caused people to realize the weakness of the government (American’s feared the Government could not protect their safety)

-Daniel Shay is a farmer in debt- Mass. Courts threaten to take

Farm away- “state had no right to punish

him for their problem”- Arm 1,200 farmers- revolt on

federal arsenal- Quickly stopped BUT BIG

Wake up CALL!

What we learn from Shay’s What we learn from Shay’s RebellionRebellion

Everyone began Arguing for a Stronger National Government- G.W.

• -trade barriers• -inability to pass laws• -lack of strong executive

• 1787 – 12 states sent delegates to a 1787 – 12 states sent delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia to revise/ change meeting in Philadelphia to revise/ change the Articles of Confederationthe Articles of Confederation