Warm-Up: What would you declare? (12L) Write your own declaration of independence in the style of the actual Declaration (include a Preamble, Declaration of Rights, List of Grievances, and Resolution of Independence). Choose some way that you are oppressed/ limited and write your own declaration of freedom from some authority (school, coaches, bosses, parents? Etc.).

After the Declaration…. The Articles of Confederation

The First State Constitutions Within a few years of Declaration, all colonies had converted [changed] colonial charters into state constitutions: written plan for government What did they look like? Bicameral (two houses) legislature Governor Judges & courts Most included bill of rights

What is a confederation What is a confederation? Group of states united under a weak national government

Why did Americans want a confederation Why did Americans want a confederation? Just declared independence from rule of strong monarch/ central gov’t

Read through the “student-friendly version” of the Articles of Confederation. Using your knowledge, logic, and the AoC, complete the table on your paper. What did Americans not like that prompted them to create the Articles and structure the government the way that they did? (cause & effect)

AoC writers disliked… So under the AoC… Taxation without representation The federal government could not tax Their trade being limited by Britain The federal government had no power to regulate trade A large central government that had absolute power The federal government had no power to enforce its laws & states didn’t have to follow federal laws and treaties Lots of power was in the king’s hands No executive branch or national court system The king could change laws at any time Any amendment required all 13 states’ approval & Congress could not pass laws without approval of 9 out of 13 states

So what does all that mean? No national court system Can’t regulate trade between states Really hard to change the Articles or pass laws Can’t raise money Can’t raise an army

Signs of trouble on the horizon 1. Debt Federal government could not collect taxes, so borrowed money for Revolutionary War State governments had heavy taxes  citizens resentful

2. Shays’ Rebellion Riots break out in several states Daniel Shays arms 1200 farmers & attacks federal arsenal Central government could not fund troops Shows people AoC too weak

Accomplishments! 1. Ordinance of 1785 Created a system of measuring (surveying) and selling western lands Only applied to Northwest Territory (present-day Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin)

2. Northwest Ordinance Foundation for new territorial governments Set method for admitting new states to Union Outlawed slavery in those territories

Primary Source Work Did everyone feel the same way about Shays’ Rebellion?