1. After Independence
-13 individual colonies
-13 different governments
-very loose association of the 13
states in a confederate style
government that was totally
unwritten

2. State Government
-every state wrote its own
constitution
-all had three branches
legislative, executive, judicial
-guaranteed certain rights

3. Need for Cooperation
-Revolutionary War
-Strength of the British military
-weakness of the colonial militias

4. National Government
-would need a method of cooperation
-limited control would be given to a
central government
-would not be able to control the 13
states
-Articles of Confederation signed in
1781

5. Confederation
-1 house legislature
-1 vote per state
-9 of 13 required to pass laws
-controls the military
-power to make treaties
-Land Ordinance 1785
-lands past the Appalachians were
declared new territories
-NW Ordinance 1787
-banned slavery in NW areas and set up
process of adding additional states

6. Confederation
-1 house legislature
-1 vote per state
-9 of 13 required to pass laws
-controls the military
-power to make treaties
-Land Ordinance 1785
-lands past the Appalachians were
declared new territories
-NW Ordinance 1787
-banned slavery in NW areas and set up
process of adding additional states

7. Weaknesses
-could not enforce laws
-could not tax
-no executive branch
-no court system
-could not regulate trade

8. Future Problems
-taxation problems
-Shay’s Rebellion
-Event that occurred when
Massachusetts farmers revolted
over high state taxes and caused
people to realize the weakness of
the government
-trade barriers
-inability to pass laws
-lack of strong executive