Articles of Confederation

May 1776 Continental Congress asks each state to organize a government and a Constitution. December 1776 South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and New Hampshire had done so. 1777- New York and Georgia 1780- Massachusetts Connecticut and Rhode Island retained colonial charters. State Constitutions

Most states divided power between governor and legislature. Pennsylvania had council, not governor. Most had bicameral legislatures. Not one person having too much power. Legislatures most powerful branch of government. Limited Power

A government which citizens rule through elected representatives. At first most favored weak central government. States similar to small independent countries. Forming a Republic

1776 Second Continental Congress Drafted Articles of Confederation Adopted in 1777 Federal government could: Conduct foreign affairs Maintain armed forces Borrow money Issue currency 1776 Second Continental Congress

Articles of Confederation State Legislatures needed to agree to give money or troops. Federal government could not: Regulate trade Force citizens to join the army Impose taxes Articles of Confederation

Organization No chief executive Congressional committees carried out business Each stat had one vote in Congress- regardless of population Organization

Population and votes- larger states believed they should have more votes Settling westward- Maryland insisted New York, Virginia and other states abandon claims to lands west of the Appalachians Slavery Issues

1781-1789 Not a strong central government Congress could not pass laws unless 9 of the 13 states agreed Did provide for foreign trade and settling westward 1781-1789

1780s All states except Georgia gave up land claims to the west of Appalachians 1784 western territory divided into self- governing districts When district reached population of least populated state, they could petition Congress for statehood Ordinance of 1785- surveyed and sold western lands 1787-Northwest Ordinance-single territory North of Ohio River and East of Mississippi 3-5 smaller territories-when population 60,000 petition for statehood Land policies

New government had large war debt could not repay Loyalists for lands seized as promised in Treaty of Paris Robert Morris PA proposed import tax, but Rhode Island refused to give federal government right to tax Britain- would not allow trade in West Indies Spain- wanted to stop western settlement of U.S. and closed off lower Mississippi to American shipping Many Americans agreed a stronger central government was necessary Financial Problems