After the War The Birth of a Nation The Nation’s First Governments

1. After the War The Birth of a NationThe Nation’s First Governments Articles of Confederation Chapter 8

2. Revolutionary War & Declaration of Independence • Revolutionary War & Declaration of Independence- Destroyed British government in the American colonies • Social Contract was broken – needed to be replaced • What to replace it with? • America needed a new plan of government • British government • Destroyed government • Needed to rebuilt a new government

3. What to replace it with? • The Declaration of Independence did not declare America to be a single country. • The 13 colonies became 13 separate “countries” each with its own set of laws and government. • They called themselves “states.”

4. Confederation • There were some things that a state could not do on its own • It could not raise and maintain an army

5. Confederation • For this and other reason, the Second Continental Congress made plans for a “firm league of friendship” among states • They were called the Articles of Confederation

6. Confederation • A confederation is a group of individuals (in this case governments) who band together for a common purpose. • The Articles of Confederation established a system by which states could work with each other

7. What to replace it with? • At the time, the idea of separate, independent states appealed to most Americans. • They were uninterested in creating a large central government of their own.

8. State Vs. National government State government Central or national government

9. State V. National Government • Atlas Activity

10. Articles of Confederation • 1781-1789 • America’s First Constitution • Strong State or local government • Weak central or national government • Opposite of what they had with England • Mistrust of central government • No power to tax • 1 branch of governemt

11. State V. National government State government National/ Central government 1 branch of government legislative( representatives- create the laws) • 3 branches of government • Legislative ( representatives- create the laws) • Executive( president- enforce the laws) • Judicial( courts – judge or interpret the laws)

12. Think – Pair- Share • Think & Answer in your notebook: Why were the Americans afraid to set up a strong national or central government?

13. Statehood • State Constitutions- Each new American state immediately confirmed its independence by writing its own constitution. • These documents were different from Britain’s because they were detailed and written down.

14. Statehood • Each state had set up a government similar to the colonial government that had come before it. • Republic = representatives • Popular sovereignty –common people rule • Separation of Powers ( 3 branches of government) • Each had: • Governor-elected by citizens or chosen by legislature • System of Courts- interpret laws • Legislature- passes laws

15. Statehood • Many state constitutions also included a Bill of Rights which guaranteed certain basic rights. • Freedom of speech • Press • Religion • education

16. State ConstitutionsBasic Ideas of Government Natural Rights Check & Balances Social Contract Government Separation of Powers Popular Sovereignty J L E Bill of Rights Representation What freedoms should people have? Speech, press, religion, education, voting, slavery

17. National government under The Articles of Confederation • 1. Congress was one house, unicameral and each state got one vote • 2. Congress was given few powers • 3. Congress had no power to tax or enforce laws

18. Accepted! Ratification! • By 1781, all 13 states had ratified, or voted in favor of the Articles of Confederation • We had a new official government. Ratification= official approval

19. Articles of ConfederationBest thing  • Best thing Congress did under the Articles of Confederation was the Northwest Ordinances • Creation of Northwest Territory • Decided how to governed those western land • Basic rights • No slavery • education

20. Achievements of the Articles of Confederation  • Statesclaiming for themselves western land • Problem – not all states equal access to the land • Solution – National government ( for all) takes control of western land • Question – What to do with the western land?

21. What to do with the western land? • New laws or ordinances ( ordinances = laws) • on what to do with • how to divide it • how to govern these lands How to divide it Divided western land • Creating Northwest Territory & possibility of new states • Ohio • Indiana • Michigan • Illinois • Wisconsin • Minnesota What to do with it ? Sell it to help pay war debts some land for schools – promoted public education

22. Northwest Ordinances • Described how to governed western territory • Created the process in which territories would become equal states • Included a bill of rights • Freedom of religion, speech, habeas corpus, trial by jury • Free education • Prohibited slavery in Northwest Territory ( no slavery allowed) • “ good faith” with Indians

23. Weaknesses of the Articles • The Articles had serious problems: • Congress could not levy/ collect taxes • Congress could not pass laws unless nine states voted in favor of it • Amend= to change (in this case there needed to be a unanimous vote) • Congress could not enforce laws, so if a state ignored a law, nothing could be done

24. Weaknesses • Congress could not collect or levy taxes • **The government had to borrow money to pay for war against Britain** • Congress allowed the states to fall into debt and taxed trade between states.

25. Articles of Confederation Success • Governed the nation during the Revolutionary War • Negotiated the Treaty of Paris of 1783 at the end of the war • Northwest Territory Passed the Land Ordinances of 1785 Passed the Northwest Ordinances 1787 Weaknesses • Lacked power to enforce laws • Lacked power to levy/collect taxes • Lacked power to regulate trade among the states • Required all 13 states to approved changes in the Articles.

26. Shays’s Rebellion • The burden of taxes fell upon American citizens • Daniel Shays decided he had enough • He was a farmer who had fallen into heavy debt • The Massachusetts courts were threatening to take his farm away as payment for his debts.

27. Shays’s Rebellion • He thought that the state had no right to punish him for a problem the state had created • A group of 1200 farmers marched to the courthouse. • The governor ordered state troops to break up the march

28. Shays’s Rebellion • Shays was defeated • American began to fear that there would be more violent incidents. • It was now clear that the states needed to set up a stronger central government. • Now they had reason for action. If government couldn’t control their own people how could they control or defend/protect from other countries

29. Shays’s Rebellion Outcome • In 1787, 12 of the states sent delegates to a meeting in Philadelphia • The purpose of the meeting was to revise the Articles of Confederation.

30. Think-Pair-Share:Articles of Confederation • Think & Answer in your notebook: 1.Who had most powers under the Articles of Confederation? 2.Why were the Americans afraid to set up a strong national or central government? 3.Mention 2-5 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

31. Process : Acrostic PoemArticles of Confederation Print the word “Articles” or “Confederation” vertically - letter by letter, along the left margin of the page. Each letter then becomes the starting point for a word, phrase, or sentence that describes the topic. A_____________________________ R_____________________________ T_____________________________ I_____________________________ C_____________________________ L_____________________________ E_____________________________ S_____________________________ Example: Articles of Confederation After the war- the new 13 states Recreated a new government That gave more power to the states Independent states working on their own C LES