Key
Terms/Information
Constitution, ratify, bicameral, legislative
branch, executive branch, Electoral College
Northwest Ordinance, Articles of
Confederation, Virginia Plan, Three-Fifths
Compromise, Federalist/Anti-Federalist, Shay's
Rebellion, checks and balances, bill of rig
The war is over, now
what?
America was now an
independent nation having won
the Revolutionary War, but now
what? What would the country
and the government look like?
The Articles of
Confederation
The Articles of Confederation
was the name of the first
government of the United
States.
It had been started back in
1776 in the Continental
Congress, and finally ratified
by all the states in 1781.
The Articles of Confederation was weak, on purpose.
Americans were afraid of a strong national government. After all, they had fought a war over it. So, the government they decided on was weak.
The national government under the Articles did not have the power to tax or enforce laws. Those powers were left
State Constitutions
States quickly moved to adopt a state constitution.
The states adopted constitutions that limited the power of the governor. Pennsylvania even replaced the office of governor with an elected council of 12 members.
Limiting Power
Most states established two-house, or bicameral, legislatures to divide the power.
In most states only white males who were at least 21 could vote. They had to own a certain amount of property or pay a certain amount of taxes. Some states allowed free Afr
Forming a Republic
Most Americans favored a weak central government.
The states would act as small, independent countries. They would act independently on most issues, working through the central government only to wage war and handle relations with other nations.
Planning a New Government
In 1776 the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draw up a plan for a new government.
A central government was needed to coordinate the war effort against Britain.
Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation in November 1777.
Articles of Confederation
If Congress needed to raise money or troops, it had to ask the state legislatures-but the states were not required to contribute.
The government lacked a chief executive. Much of the governments business went through congressional committees.
Each state h
The Confederation Government
The Articles did not provide a government strong enough to handle the problems facing the U.S.
Congress had little authority and could not pass a law unless all 13 states consented.
The Confederation did accomplish some important things. Americans won ind
New Land Policies
At the beginning of the war only a few thousand settlers lived west of the Appalachian Mountains. By the1790's the number approached 120,000.
The Confederation contained no provision for adding new states.
During the 1780's all of the states except Georgi
The Northwest Ordinance
One of the things the new government was allowed to do was divide any new lands the United States acquired. Most of the lands belonged to the Indians, but that didn't stop anyone from taking them.
Under the Northwest Ordinance, when 60,000 people lived in
Financial Problems
By 1781, money printed during the war had depreciated, fallen in value.
With Congress unable to collect taxes, both states and congress printed their own paper money. The value of the bills dropped as the price of goods soared. This led to some food riots
Robert Morris
In 1781, faced with a total collapse of the finances, Congress created a department of finance under Philadelphia merchant Robert Morris.
Morris proposed a 5% tax on imported goods to help pay national debt.
This required the Articles be changed to give C
Problems with Britain
Despite the Treaty of Paris, British troops still occupied several forts in the Great Lakes region.
British trade policies caused problems too. American merchants claimed they were being kept from the West Indies and other profitable markets.
John Adams w
Problems with Spain
Spain, which help Florida as well as land west of the Mississippi River, wanted to stop American expansion into the territory it claimed.
Spain closed the MS River port to American shipping in 1784.
In 1786, diplomats reached an agreement with Spain. Sout
Weaknesses of the Articles
Since the national government could not tax, and the national money was worthless, debt became a huge problem.
Debt = owing money
The biggest problem was that the soldiers who had fought in the American Revolution had not been paid, and they were mad.
You
Shays' Rebellion
The American Revolution ended in 1783
The money paid to the soldiers who had fought in the Revolution was worthless.
This was because the government was not allowed to raise taxes in the Articles of Confederation.
As a result, the farmers were unable to p
Results of Shays' Rebellion
Shays' Rebellion showed the leaders of America that the Articles of Confederation were too weak, and a stronger national government was needed.
George Washington warned that all of what was fought for in the Revolution would be for nothing.
Federalists
Federalists were very organized. They supported the new constitution, and wanted a strong central government.
George Washington, Ben Franklin, James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Jay were all Federalists.
Antifederalists
Wanted a Bill of Rights to be included, annual elections, and no standing army.
They did not want to ratify the Constitution.
They wrote Antifederalists papers, but were not as organized.
Patrick Henry was an antifederalist.