1. Articles of Confederation

2. State Governments
With independence, 13 colonies became individual states
Each state wrote its own constitution
Need for national body of laws, without giving too much power to a central government

3. Articles Ratified in 1781 Unicameral Congress: meaning 1 house
1 vote per state (equal representation)
Did not give enough power to national government in order for it to lead effectively
At least 9 of 13 states had to agree for any law to pass to Congress
Distrusted Government due to King’s Abuses

4. Western Lands Land Ordinance of 1785
Divided land into townships and allowed Congress to sell land for money
Northwest Ordinance was passed two years later
Divided the area into even smaller territories and provided guidelines for new states to be admitted to the union.
Resulted in the formation of 5 new states: Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin

5. State Conflicts
Every state had different needs, so agreements were rarely made
States had no support if there was a conflict
Different types of currency in each state
Different laws and taxes
No national government to enforce boundary lines

6. Weaknesses of the Articles
National government could not tax = could not raise money to pay for war debts
No central army to provide protection and defense
No court system to provide uniformed justice
Foreign countries saw weaknesses in Articles of Confederation which made the States vulnerable
National money was worthless

7. Call for Reform Last state to ratify was Maryland
Shay’s Rebellion made it clear that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised
Need to provide military services
Need for stronger central government