1777-1789
 The National Government
 Unicameral (single chamber) Congress
 No Executive Branch or President
 No Federal Courts, Congress settled
problems between states.
 Each state had one vote in the Unicameral
Congress.
 Each States’ congresses controlled who
represented the state. Not the voters.
 The Unicameral Congress only had power
expressly given by the Articles. (mainly
lawmaking)
 All other powers were held by the states.
 Established the policy for lands west of the
Appalachians.
 Land Ordinance 1785: set up a system for
surveying & dividing public territory (into
squares!)
• Territories would be able to establish
statehood in the future.
 Population needed to reach 60,000
 Required public education be set up
 Slavery prohibited (guess who proposed
this!?)
 “Northwest Territory”: Ohio, Michigan,
Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana
 Congress could not enact and collect taxes.
 Congress could not regulate interstate or
foreign trade.
 Congress had no control over the printing of
money – caused massive inflation!
 Regardless of population, each state had
only one vote in Congress.
• Articles could be amended only if ALL
states approved.
 Could only request troops from states to
maintain army.
• There were 13 separate states that
lacked national unity.
“Dis-United States”
 Shays' Rebellion-
angry farmers take
weapons and burned
down banks that held
record of their debt.
 What can
Massachusetts do?
 Well…that didn’t work.
 Annapolis Convention (1786) was called to
discuss fixing Articles.
 All states were invited, only 5 sent delegates.
Problem?
 Try again! -- this time in Philadelphia
 Constitutional Convention (1787)