Chapter 2
Section 3
The First National Government
Pages 31-34
Objectives
• 1. Describe the powers of the national
government under the Articles of
Confederation.
• Explain how limits on its power weakened the
national government under the Articles.
• Describe the states’ struggle for unity after
independence.
• Explain how Shay’s Rebellion highlighted the
need for a stronger national government.
Activity
• How would you feel if these 13 students alone
had the power to decide such issues as what
was studied, how homework and tests were
graded, and who sat in which seats.
• What would be some problems with this
system?
Articles of Confederation
• 1781-The Revolutionary War ended with the
Battle of Yorktown .
• The real work was to begin with the forming
of a national government. The Articles of
Confederation made it difficult and created
pressure for a national government.
• The Second Continental Congress held the 13
states together during the war.
• The Congress appointed George Washington as
commander in chief of the army in 1775. Congress also
created a national currency, negotiated treaties with
foreign countries, borrowed money, and established a
postal service.
• 1777-Articles of Confederation loosely tied together
the 13 states. The Articles required the ratification or
formal approval. Maryland was the last state to ratify
the Articles in 1781. The Articles of Confederation
limited the powers of the national government.
• Powers of the new government lay in a
unicameral legislature: the Congress.
• A. delegates were chosen by state legislature.
• B. delegation had one vote.
• C. Majority approval required to make decisions.
• D. No national executive or judicial branch
• E. Congress had the power to declare war and
conduct foreign policy. Benjamin Franklin and
John Adams U. S. representatives to France.
Limits on Power:
No president or executive branch
No national court system
No officials to enforce laws
No power to tax
No power to regulate trade
No standing military
Laws required 9 out of 13 states.
Obstacles to Unity Resurface
• Cultural Differences: Beliefs were different from state,
especially in the area of religion. Some thought a
strong unified government might force some to give up
their beliefs.
• Cultural Perspective: Americans were separated by
both geographic and cultural distances. Because of bad
roads and unreliable transportation, mail, and other
sources of new could take an entire month to travel the
300 miles from Philadelphia to Pittsburgh. New
England fishers could not always relate to the needs of
southern farmers. Reconciling such differences would
prove difficult when state leaders forged a new
national government.
• Economic Differences: Economic interests of
certain regions would win unfair advantages
under a strong national government.
• Slavery was an economic and cultural issue.
Southern states feared if a strong national
government were to oppose slavery, their
economic livelihood would suffer.
• Geographic Isolation: size of a new nation also
made it difficult to form ties among the states.
Transportation between northern and
southern states was not quick.
Pressure for Stronger Government
• The independence of many of the states were
becoming a problem for the young United States.
• September 1786: Virginia representatives
organized a convention in Maryland. Only five
states showed up to participate. The group
determined they needed to meet to make
changes to the Articles.
• May 1787: the states agreed to meet in
Philadelphia to revise the Articles. No mention of
writing a new constitution.
• 1786- Armed rebellion in Massachusetts was
proof that a strong national government was
needed to provide order and public good.
• Groups of armed farmers trying to prevent the
state from seizing property from people who
could not pay their debts. Became known as
Shay’s Rebellion, after Daniel Shay. The
rebellion was put down by force. The concern
was maintaining order during peacetime.