We the People

 Articles of Confederation  National government  Northwest ordinance  Shays’ Rebellion

 Our nation’s first constitution  Created the first national gov’t  Adopted in 1777

 Purpose of a national government: ◦ Unify the states ◦ Conduct war ◦ Control trade and manage conflicts between states ◦ States had to be united in order to deal with other countries around the world

 Representatives for each state in congress  Weak national government  9 out of 13 States had to approve anything that the national government did  Only one branch of government – Congress only, no executive or judicial  Each state had one vote in congress – gave states balanced power (equal representation)

AchievementsProblems  Achievements ◦ Won the War of Independence ◦ Negotiated the Treaty of Paris ◦ Created the NW Ordinance – ability to make more states ◦ States had to respect the laws of other states  Problems ◦ Limited ability to tax ◦ Citizens thought their property rights were threatened ◦ Congress had no power over state governments or citizens ◦ Couldn’t regulate trade – international or between states

 Most important law passed by congress under the Articles of Confederation (1787)  Gave NW lands right to organize their own govt.  Allowed new states to join the original 13  The law provided for public education and forbade slavery  Guaranteed western settlers: ◦ Freedom of worship ◦ Legal protections (jury trial, due process)

 Daniel Shays led actions that closed the courts that were hearing cases against local farmers  Jan. 1787, Shays led 2000 rebels to raid the federal arsenal for weapons  Convinced many Americans that it was time for a change in national govt.

 Answer the following question in your spiral: ◦ In your opinion, why didn’t the Articles of Confederation survive as our constitution? Give at least two specific reasons.  For full credit, you need complete sentences and to restate the question in your answer

 Answer the “Lesson Review” questions on page 102 (#1-6)  For full credit, you need complete sentences and to restate the question in your answer