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7-1.1 A More Perfect Union 1777-1790

The Articles of Confederation

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State Constitutions

Britain ignored the terms of the Treaty of Paris, and kept troops at frontier posts in American territory. They believed the new American government was weak and ineffective.

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In May 1776 the Continental Congress asked the states to organize their governments. Because of their experience with British rule, the states limited the power of the governors.

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They also divided government functions between the governor and the legislature. Most states established two-house, or bicameral, legislatures to divide the power even further.

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Bicameral Legislature

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To keep power in the hands of the people they held elections frequently.

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Forming a Republic

Establishing separate state governments turned out to be much easier than creating a national government.

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They agreed the country should be a republic, a government in which the citizens rule through elected representatives, but disagreed on how to organize it.

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Most wanted a weak national government. The states would be independent —like the original colonies were. The states would act independently on most issues, working together through a national government only to wage war and handle relations with other nations.

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States = STRONGNational Government = WEAK

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Yeh! We don’t

want another

King George!

Don’t give the national

government too much

power!

Then we haveto tax people so that

we have money.That’s fine but we still have to

work together in caseof another war…

This is getting reallycomplicated! The states

will never agree!

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Planning a New Government

At the beginning of the war, the Second Continental Congress wrote a plan of government called the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution.

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Although it was not officially approved until March 1781, they followed it during the war. It allowed the states to keep their individual power but also formed an alliance or "a firm league of friendship.”

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The Articles of Confederation only had a legislature (no president and no courts) because the legislature was run by “the people.”

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Congress had to ask the state legislatures for money and troops, but the states did not have to contribute. Under the new plan, each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of its population, and all decisions had to be unanimous.

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The states with more people complained because they thought they should have more votes. The states also disagreed over which western land belonged towhich colony.

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The Confederation Government

The national government was too weak under the Articles of Confederation. 9 out of 13 states had to agree in order to pass a new law. Changes to it required a unanimous vote.

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STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could conduct foreign affairs…

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STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could maintain an army…

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STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could issue currency (money)…

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STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could borrow money from other

countries...

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WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT force citizens to join the

army…

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WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Did NOT have an Executive Branch…

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WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Did NOT have a Judicial branch…

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WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT impose taxes...

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WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT regulate currency from state to state...

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WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT regulate trade...

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Could not force citizens to join the army…

Did not have a Judicial branch…

Could not impose taxes… Could not regulate trade…

Did not have an Executive branch…

Could not regulate currency from state to state…

Could maintain an army…Could conduct foreign affairs…

Could issue currency (money)…

Could borrow money from other countries…

Strengths of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation

Weaknesses of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation