New Country = New Gov’tNew Country = New Gov’tAfter Revolution, question lingering on minds of Founding Fathers on what kind of nation to build

Was it going to be a loose confederation of largely independent states?

Was it going to be a tight federation with a national gov’t?

Second Continental Congress appointed a committee of 13 to draft a constitution for a confederated type of government

Issues to be ResolvedIssues to be ResolvedNeed to organize a nation and military

Maintain civil order

Establish international recognition and credit

Defend territory against British

Resolve internal quarrels and competition

New Country = New Gov’tNew Country = New Gov’tFinal draft of Articles of Confederation was approved by Second Continental Congress in 1777 and was sent to states for final ratification

The Articles were the unofficial constitution of the states during most of the Revolutionary War

Articles became the official constitution of the states in 1781

All 13 states had to ratify the Articles of Confederation

Critical Period (1781-1789)Critical Period (1781-1789)Unity

Most Americans shared a common English language and culture – growing sense of one people

Single geographic unit

States had no tradition of hostility or war against each other

Cooperation to win independence

Critical Period Critical Period Disunity

Divided by loyalties to individual states

Lacked close contact – poor transportation

Not interdependent economically

No longer faced common enemy

WholesaleWholesalePricePriceIndex:Index:1770-1770-17891789

Federalist vs. Anti-FederalistFederalist vs. Anti-FederalistStrongholds at the End of the Strongholds at the End of the

WarWar

Weaknesses of theWeaknesses of theArticles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederationA unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law].

13 out of 13 to amend.

Representatives were frequently absent.

Could not tax or raise armies.

No executive or judicial branches.

State ConstitutionsState ConstitutionsRepublicanism.

Most had strong governors with veto power.

Most had bicameral legislatures.

Property required for voting.

Some had universal white male suffrage.

Most had a “bill of rights.”

Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Occupational Composition of Occupational Composition of Several State AssembliesSeveral State Assemblies

in the 1780sin the 1780s

Indian Land Cessions:Indian Land Cessions:1768-17991768-1799

Disputed Territorial ClaimsDisputed Territorial ClaimsBetween Spain & the U. S.:Between Spain & the U. S.:

1783-17961783-1796

State Claims to Western State Claims to Western LandsLands

Northwest Ordinance of Northwest Ordinance of 17851785

The United States in The United States in 17871787

American Exports, To & American Exports, To & From Britain: 1783-1789From Britain: 1783-1789

Annapolis Convention Annapolis Convention (1786)(1786)

12 representatives from 5 states[NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA]

GOAL address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states.

Not enough states were represented to make any real progress.

Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-17871787

Daniel Shays

Western MA

Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-17871787

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-17871787

There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders.

-- George Washington-- George Washington