1. 1 st shots at Lexington & Concord June 1775 July 1776 Declaration of Independence July 1776 Articles of Confederation are written Articles of Confederation are adopted to keep the colonies together during war Nov. 1777 After much debate within the states, the Articles of Confederation becomes the official governing document of the United States. March 1781 1787 Because of weaknesses in the A. of C., the U.S. decides to write a new constitution. The Articles of Confederation would only be official from 1781-1787.

2. A New Country is Born A new Country needs a ____________ to establish their rules and Beliefs. The “ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION” would be known as America’s 1 st Constitution. *The AOC would only last for 7 years. What is a Constitution? Constitution - the basic beliefs and laws of a nation. The Plan of the government. Constitution

3. Major StrengthsMajor Weaknesses 1.created unity between the colonies during the American Revolution. 2.created a new National Government at the End of the American Revolution. 1.Little power given to the New National Government 2.Individual States held most of the power and made their own decisions. We have our own laws in Virginia! That law doesn’t pertain to us down here!

4. Weaknesses in Articles of Confederation National Executive department. 1.There was no National Executive department. (people who carry out/enforce the law)

5. 2. No National/Supreme Court. 3. Amendments (changes) required the consent (permission) of all states. Does everyone agree?

6. No President 4. No President to execute laws. It was up to the states to enforce Federal laws passed by Congress.

7. 5. National Government could not raise taxes or enforce federal laws. Its time to pay up son! With the National Government not being allowed to raise taxes, the country would not be able to pay its debts, from the American Revolution.

8. 6. If Congress needed to raise money, it had to ask the states and states were not required to contribute.

9. 7. No National Army was established. Continental Congress could declare war, but each state could decide whether they would supply soldiers. A presence of British troops still threatened N. America

10. Shay’s Rebellion: (1787) A farmer’s revolt due to the state of Massachusetts seizing farm land from farmers who were in debt & could not pay their taxes. Daniel Shays led over 1,000 men against the state militia. State militia would stop the revolt, but killed 4 farmers. This rebellion would frighten and worry many Americans who thought that the state govt. would not be able to control another uprising of violence.

11. There is no way the state is taking away my farm!!!

12. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 a method of admitting new states in the NW region of the nation. In order for a territory to become a state of the U.S., the territory must have 60,000 (population) settlers living in that area. 1 Achievement of the “Articles of Confederation”

13. NW

14. In 1787, the U.S. would re-write a new constitution with a strong national government, doing away w/the Articles of Confederation.