T HE N ATION ’ S F IRST G OVERNMENTS

Declaration of Independence declared the American colonies as 13 separate states, not one country Each “state” had their own government and laws Most Americans liked the separate idea, as they felt they had nothing in common with the people of other states

E ARLY S TATE C ONSTITUTIONS Written with a lot of detail Set up a government similar to the colonial governments Legislatures would make the laws Governor would either be appointed by the legislature or elected and would carry out the laws Courts would interpret the laws Most states included a Bill of Rights

T HE A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Established a system of cooperation amongst the 13 states One house legislature, where each state had 1 vote Limited powers: control army, dealings with foreign countries on behalf of the states No taxing power nor enforcement of laws was granted to the confederation

D ISCUSSION Which of the 13 colonies would you want to live in under the Articles of Confederation?

W EAKNESSES OF THE A RTICLES Laws could not be passed until 9 states voted in favor Amendments to the Articles required a unanimous vote from all 13 states No enforcement of passed laws Had to borrow money to pay for Revolutionary war because of no taxation policy

No single leader or group to direct government policy No national court system Congress did not have any power to regulate trade

S HAY ’ S R EBELLION Group of farmers marched on the federal arsenal in Springfield, MA in protest of the heavy taxes that states levied on goods from other states and countries The farmers felt that the state had created the heavy debt burden and they should fix the problem, not take personal property

C ALL FOR C HANGES TO THE A RTICLES Needed a stronger central government states send delegates to Philadelphia to make changes to the Articles of Confederation

D ISCUSSION Why did the Articles of Confederation did not work? Explain.