1. Governing a New Nation
AKA- Now What?

2. Declaration of Independence dissolved bonds with England-
Colonies no longer under English rule
Colonies needed to have new form of government
Did not want a strong central government
Continental Congress was temporary group with limited authority- but authority was not clearly defined.

3. 1776- following Declaration of Independence
Continental Congress asked colonies to create their own governments separate from English Rule
Colonies wrote constitutions - documents in which the laws, principles, organization, and processes of a government are established.

4. Colonies created constitutions - frequently based on previous charters from the King.
With new constitutions, colonies become independent soverign states- they have the authority to govern themselves

5. State Governments Minimized power of Governors (executive)
Most power given to the people - through legislatures
legislatures- governing bodies that are elected by the people and are responsible for making laws

6. Under State Constitutions….
More people could vote-
white males- over 21, who owned land
-blacks- only in a few states (northern)
- women- only in New Jersey (until 1807)
Most followed VA’s lead and included “Bill of Rights”
- did not want repeat of violations listed in Dec. of Ind.
- protected individual rights
freedom of speech, press, religion, trial by jury

7. By 1777, most colonies had created constitutions- becoming states
Congress needed a government to join the states together into some kind of unit-
Wrote Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union
Confederation- league or alliance- independent states or nations joined in a confederacy whose central authority is limited to common defense or limited political cooperation

8. ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Passed by Congress November 15, 1777
Ratified by States March 1, 1781
Created weak central government- with limited power to govern the much stronger states

9. Articles of Confederation created very weak Government- Why?
- learned from their past experiences with England
- felt their rights had been abused by strong central government…. King George III and Parliament
- were very concerned about protecting their liberties (rights)
- under articles states had more power than Congress

10. Additionally-
Government could print money, but so could all of the states- different currencies created economic confusion

11. United States of America Articles of Confederation
Objective: To examine the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
United States of America
Articles of Confederation

12. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
I. Currency Issues
The United States did not have a common currency.
Americans carried money from the federal government, state government, and foreign nations.

13. Merchants stopped accepting money from outside of their own state, causing a lot of money to become worthless.
This caused an increase in inflation.

14. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
II. Debt
Congress could not tax the people and depended on money from the states.
Therefore, the U.S. was unable to pay its debts!
Examples:
- The U.S. owed money to France, Holland, and Spain for loans made during the Revolutionary War.
- The U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers!

15. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
III. International and Domestic Problems
The U.S. lacked the military power to defend itself against Great Britain and Spain.
States acted as individual countries and seldom agreed.
Example: Connecticut and Virginia almost went to war over land claims!

16. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Courts (Judicial Branch)
The nation lacked a national court system.
Supreme Court

17. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
President (Executive Branch)
The nation did not have a President, or Chief Executive.
White House

18. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Congress (Legislative Branch)
Congress had one house. (unicameral)
Laws were difficult to pass, needing the approval of nine states.
Congress was responsible to the states, not the people.
Congress had no power to collect taxes, regulate trade, coin money, or establish a military.

19. Government under A of C not a complete failure..
Passed and implemented
Land Ordinance of 1785
Plan to -
-deal with national debt
-deal with arguments between states over competing land claims
-promote growth of agriculture in ORV

20. Designated land North and west of Ohio River as NORTHWEST TERRITIORY
Got States to donate land to National Gov’t- stops their arguing over it
Nat’l Gov’t could sell land to raise money to pay debts
Needed boundaries or other structure to sell “lots”

21. Land Ordinance of 1785 Divided land into sections and townships-
Based on squares-
TOWNSHIP = square of 6 miles X 6 miles & contained 36 SECTIONS
How big was 1 section?

22. Sections were 1 square mile-
640 acres
To be sold for no less than $1.00 per acre
Lots later sold as 1/2 sections acres
1 section was set aside for support of public schools.

23. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Provided for governing of new territories
Congress would appoint Gov, Secretary, 3 judges
When 5000 free males of voting age had settled it became self governing
When population reached 60,000 they could apply for statehood
Outlawed slavery in NW territory
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, part of Minnesota

25. Economic Depression -1780’s
Multiple currencies, rampant inflation, barriers to trade and falling crop prices led to a long period of economic depression
This led to unrest in many areas as farmers were hit hardest and were unable to pay their taxes.
Some states passed laws protecting the debtors, but others imprisoned those who could not pay
People began to resent the ineffectiveness of the national government
Annapolis Convention - Meeting in Annapolis, MD to discuss and find resolutions to the ongoing economic and political problems. It was unsuccessful 

26. Shays’ Rebellion shows us the Weaknesses
Massachusetts farmers had hard time paying taxes imposed by state.
Many farmers lost their farms for failure to pay state taxes.
Daniel Shays led group of men in revolt against jails and courthouses to free debtors and destroy tax records.

27. Shays’ Rebellion shows us the Weaknesses (Cont’d)
-This “popular unrest”, and the lack of an executive branch of the gov’t to handle it, frightened leading Americans
Showed need for stronger central government to:
Help solve economic problems
Help solve disputes between the states
Help solve trade problems with foreign countries
Put down rebellions and other “popular unrest” and keep it from spreading.
Led to calls for a Convention in Philadelphia to revise the
Articles of Confederation and to strengthen the central gov’t