1. Reflection
Why did the newly independent Americans want a relatively weak central government?
Why would states have different wants/needs?

2. Articles of Confederation Notes
Shays’ Rebellion
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
Details….
Who?
What?
When?
Where?
Why?
Details….
Make sure to take notes on the Articles of Confederation and Shay’s Rebellion.

3. Articles of Confederation: The 1st plan for the new American Government

4. First Governments
Americans set up gov’t to transition from colonies to states.
Each state made a constitution – detailed written plan of gov’t
All set up similarly:
Legislature to make laws
Governor to carry out laws
Courts to decide what laws mean
Most contained a list (bill) of rights to guarantee basic freedoms & protections
Similar to Magna Carta & English Bill of Rights
Each state was sovereign (in charge of itself) & citizens saw themselves as citizens of their state not the whole United States

5. First Governments
Because some tasks of governing were too big for the states to do, a national gov’t was created.
Needed central gov’t for things like nat’l defense (military)
2nd Continental Congress planned for confederation – independent states loosely united for common purpose
1777 – Articles of Confederation became 1st constitution of U.S.A.
Set up legislature – each state had 1 vote
Controlled army & dealt with foreign countries for states

6. First Governments
Articles of Confederation had weaknesses that led to problems for new country.
Only real successes of A. of C. were American victory against British in 1783 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Congress couldn’t pass law without 9 states approval
Changes required all 13 states approval
Couldn’t enforce laws – states could ignore
States didn’t have to do anything Congress wanted to do
No national court system to settle disputes
Really important - couldn’t collect taxes

7. First Governments
The new country faced financial problems & had war debts to pay.
States taxed people heavily
Many people without jobs
Farmers especially couldn’t pay high taxes, lost farms to pay debts
Riots occurred in several states
Shays’ Rebellion –
Massachusetts farmer Daniel Shays
Owed taxes
Led 1,200 farmers in attack on gov’t
Blamed states for debt
1787 – Call for changes to Articles of Confederation
meeting set for summer in Philadelphia

8. Watch the Mr. Hughes videos about the Articles of confederation and Shays’ rebellion