1. The early years of the United States
Building a Nation
The early years of the
United States

2. After the States declared Independence, they needed to form a new government

3. Each state had its own Republican form of government

4. What is a Republic??
When people choose representatives to make the laws

5. Articles of Confederation
The plan for a national government, called the Articles of Confederation, was written in 1776

6. Around this time, Daniel Boone and other trailblazers crossed the Appalachian Mountains into Kentucky on the Wilderness Road.

10. Revolution
The States were governed by the Articles of Confederation during the War for Independence
The governing body was called the Continental Congress

12. The states held most of the power
The national government had very little power
Each state had one vote

13. The newly formed United States won the war with Britain
American soldier, 1776

14. The Treaty of Paris was signed in Paris in 1783.

15. The British recognized the Independence of the United States

16. Western expansion nearly doubled the size of the United States

17. But, what to do with the new land in the west?

18. The Land Ordinance of 1785 Divided the land into townships
The land became known as the Northwest territory
The Northwest Ordinance described how the land would be governed

19. Problems? Debt The war for Independence was expensive
The national government had no way to raise money to pay for it
The states had very little money to give to the national government

20. Shays’s Rebellion 1787 Farmers protest unfair taxes
Led by Daniel Shays
The rebellion was put down by Massachusetts militia – the very men who had fought King George over unfair taxes

21. People knew they needed a stronger national government