1. Experimenting with Confederation
During the Revolutionary War, the states had united under a similar goal: independence.
However, the states were reluctant to unite under a strong central gov’t.
Americans favored a republic-a gov’t in which citizens rule through their elected representatives.
Colonies Become States
Each colony had its own government
Reluctant to unite

2. The Continental Congress started the process of drafting a constitution for the central gov’t while the states were drafting their own.
The Cont. Congress had to answer 3 questions:
Representation? By state or population?
Can supreme power be divided?
Who gets the western lands?

3. Articles of Confederation – New Government
Weak central government
Once a year, each state would send delegation from Capital to meet (Confederation Congress)
Powers: Declare war, raise armies, sign treaties
Couldn’t: Tax or regulate trade

4. Major Provisions (Parts) What are some potential problems…
No power to tax:
No power to enforce treaties:
Every state (no matter the size) has one vote:
No power to regulate commerce/trade:
Amending requires
unanimous vote

5. Weaknesses
Which weaknes s do you think was the biggest?

6. Successes - Northwest Ordinance
What do we do with all this new land?

8. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Rules about how to settle:
Congress would choose a governor, a secretary, and three judges for that territory
When 5,000 free males settled in the territory, they elected a legislature
When the population reached 60,000 they could apply to become a state “on an equal footing with the original states”
Said that they had rights in territory (Freedom of Religion, property rights, and trial by jury)
No Slavery was allowed!!!

9. What states were created?
Ohio
Illinois
Wisconsin
Michigan
Indiana