1. Declaration of Independence
Written by Thomas Jefferson
Signed July 4, 1776 at Independence Hall in Philadelphia

2. Quick Notes 3. Declaration of Independence
Stated grievances against the king of Great Britain
Declared the colonies’ independence from Great Britain
Affirmed certain unalienable rights (life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness)
Established the idea that all people are equal under the law

3. Articles of Confederation
What is a Confederation?
In June 1776, the second Continental Congress formed a committee to draw up a plan for a government.
In 1781 it was approved by the 13 states, and the government under the Articles went into effect.

4. Quick Notes 4. Articles of Confederation
Established the first form of national government for the independent states
Maintained that major powers resided with individual states
Weakness of central government (e.g., no power to tax and enforce laws)—Led to the writing of the Constitution of the United States of America

5. Quick Notes Congress has no power to tax
Congress has no power to regulate interstate or foreign trade
Congress has no power to enforce its laws
Approval of 9 states needed to enact laws
Amendments to the Articles required the consent of all thirteen states
The government had no executive branch
There was no national court system