1. The Declaration of Independence and the Articles of Confederation

2. The Declaration of Independence
Written to King George III of England
Written mostly by Thomas Jefferson
Declared that power of government should come from the governed (democracy)
Purpose of government is to protect human rights-the basic rights to which all people are entitled

3. King George III of England
Thomas Jefferson

4. Declaration of Independence
“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty, and the pursuit of Happiness.”

6. Declaration of Independence
All Americans are equal under the law.
Every person has an equal right to life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.
One of the greatest documents in our country’s history

7. Declaration of Independence

8. The Articles of Confederation
Adopted by the Continental Congress in 1777 and approved in 1781
Revolutionary war ended in 1783
Confederation is a loose association or states
It created a “firm league of friendship” among the 13 states

10. The Articles of Confederation
Each state had equal powers and were mostly independent of other states
Central government had very little power
National government had a congress of made up of one representative from each state
It took 9 out of 13 votes to pass a law
Left sovereignty (absolute power) with the states

11. Articles of Confederation

12. Articles of Confederation Weaknesses
Had to get 9 states to agree
No president or king to enforce the laws
No court system to interpret the laws
Congress could not tax so they had no money to pay U.S. debts or soldiers who fought in Revolutionary War

13. Problems caused by Articles
Each state saw itself as an independent state rather than as part of United States
States had limited contact with each other so couldn’t find common ground
Their boundary and trade arguments between states
National government didn’t have the power to stop these arguments
The United States appeared weak to other countries

14. Exit Slip On a sheet of paper. Respond to the prompts and turn in…
1. Tell something you learned about the Declaration of Independence
2. What were 2 reasons the Articles of Confederation did not work?