Why is the Declaration so important?
It’s not the document, it’s the idea…

http://www.mrbach.net/documents/multi
media_26.html
The First National Government

Once independence is
declared in America

We have to set up
governments for our 13
new ‘states’
August, 1776

Each new state signed
new state constitutions
for their people.

Constitution

Basic set of laws and
principles establishing a
government
Structure of New State Constitutions

State governments were very limited in
power

No strong figure head as an executive

Most of the power was given to the legislative
branch of the government

Elections were to be held every year

Why do you think they were set up this way?
Structure of Legislative Body in State
Governments

Most were bicameral

Had two houses in legislative bodies.



Senate
House of Representatives
Only Pennsylvania had a unicameral

Had only 1 house in legislative body.
Rights given in State Constitutions

Most had a list of
citizens rights outlined
in their state
constitutions.

Included voting rights
for…

White men only
American Revolution ends in
1781…now what??

In the same year the
war ended, the 13
states ratified the
Articles of
Confederation

Document bonding the
13 states together in
order to maintain
sovereignty
Powers listed in the Art. Of
Confederation (AOC)

The legislative body (Congress) is most
powerful!

Why?


There is no executive or judicial branches!
Each state had 1 vote in Congress


Majority vote decided action (7 votes)
For serious decisions, 9 votes are needed
 Waging war
 Sign treaties

For an amendment to the AOC
 All 13 states had to agree
All Powers given to Congress…

Declare war

Conduct foreign policy

Borrow money

Establish state militias (military forces)

Settle arguments between states

Manage relations with Native Americans.
Limits on Power of Congress by AOC

No Executive branch


No President
No federal Judicial branch

Had to rely on state courts to punish citizens for federal laws

No federal officials to enforce law

No power to tax citizens


No power to establish national armed forces


How do they make money?
had to get consent from each state’s militias
Major laws needed approval of 9 of 13 states!
1787
First and Only Big Accomplishment for AOC

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Signed by Congress to set procedures for
granting statehood to territories within the
‘northwest territory’


No slavery allowed!
Included guaranteed rights for people that migrated
there!
Cultural obstacles AOC could not fix

Religious differences

North


Protestants (New
Jersey and Delaware)
South


Baptists (Georgia and
North Carolina)
Would they work
together?
Other Cultural obstacles AOC could not
fix

Slavery in States

North



No slaves
Blacks were free!
South

Slaves were necessary
for economic survival!
 Helped keep price of
cotton and tobacco
low.
By 1786, we are looking for change…

Sept. 1786

Representatives from Virginia tried to organize a
convention in Annapolis, MD for states to talk
about issues

Convention
 Meeting held by governments

Problem…


Only 5 states showed up!
What do you do?
Call for another convention for
following year!

Next meeting was to be in Philadelphia, PA in
May 1787.

Start thinking of changes to the AOC

Make a strong federal government to force states to
work together
 Might want to include:
 Executive branches
 Judicial branches


How do you get states to come to this meeting?
You need something bad to happen!
Shays' Rebellion
August 1786-January 1787

Daniel Shays leads
armed rebellion against
state officials

What is the issue?


Farmers were being
kicked off their land for
not paying off their debts
to state governments!
What happens?

Farmers start killing
state officials.
What did Shay’s Rebellion prove?

Nothing..

However, people are beginning to ask


“How were we able to beat the world’s largest empire
to gain independence but could not keep order in
peacetime???”
We need a new government!! A strong government!!
 This gets the states to go to Philly, PA in 1787
Onward to Philly…