What do we know about the Articles of Confederation?

3-1: The Country’s First Government

Jan. 1776- NH became the first colony to organize as a state.

Leaders wrote a Constitution: A detailed, written plan for government.

States set up similar forms of gov’t. (representative) Legislatures to make laws (Most bicameral) Governor- elected by legislature or citizens (Executive) Courts Most state Const’s. had a Bill of Rights- Basic freedoms

and legal protection (trial by jury/ protection of private prop.)

The Articles of Confederation

What was needed to win the Revolutionary War

Confederation: A group of individual state governments that unite for a common purpose

Articles of Confederation: Created in 1777, the document that became the 1st Constitution of the U.S. (1781-89) Set up a “League of Friendship” among independent

states By 1781, all 13 states had ratified (approved) the

Articles Set up a unicameral legislature w/ each state having

1 vote. (Confederation Congress)

The Northwest Ordinances

Ordinance: A law, usually of a city or county

Ordinance of 1785- Set up a plan for surveying western lands (OH, IN,IL, MI, WI, MN) Divided the land into townships (6 miles

square)

The Northwest Ordinances

Northwest Ordinance: Set up a gov’t. in the NW territory Provided a plan for admitting new states Outlawed slavery Became the most important law passed

under the AOC. (by 1790’s- about 120,000 settlers)

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Shay’s Rebellion

- Shays’ Rebellion (1786)- demonstrated the need for a stronger nat’l. gov’t.

- Daniel Shays- Farmer who led an uprising of 1,200 farmers in Mass. due to heavy state taxes & a large amount of farm foreclosures. Could the Nat’l. gov’t. provide for law and

order?

Winds of Change

- Annapolis Convention: (1786)- delegates from 5 states met to discuss regulating commerce w/in all the states

- Called for a future meeting to be held in Philly in May of 1787- to revise the A.O.C.