After gaining independence, the 13 colonies became 13 individual states with separate governments united under a very loose confederation. The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government with a one-house legislature requiring 9 votes to pass laws, and it could not tax, enforce laws, or regulate trade between states. Events like Shay's Rebellion exposed weaknesses in the government and lack of cooperation that would need to be addressed.

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