The Post-Revolutionary Years and the

Articles of Confederation

1777-1787

America after the Revolution . . .

A republic, which was radical for the 1700s

States were the primary power, the not federal government

Characteristics of American Society

Voting rights expanded

Land ownership expanded

Separation of church and state

Equality, but not for all

American Government

Each state was sovereign. Congress was not allowed to govern the states in any way.Educated white males, over age 21 who paid taxes made up the state governments.

America

Worldwide recognition but no worldwide respectVery unorganized13 sovereign nations operating independentlyNo trust between the statesNo money, no revenue

The Articles of Confederation, the first

constitutionThe Second Continental Congress drew up and adopted the Articles of Confederation in November 1777The plan was a “loose league of friendship” under the authority of CongressArticles were ratified by all 13 states on March 1, 1781

Congress could…

• Conduct foreign affairs and sign treaties

• Maintain the Continental Army and declare war

• Borrow money from other countries

Congress could not...

• Regulate trade• Draft militia• Impose taxes:

Congress could “suggest taxes”

Congress was unicameral; there was no executive or judiciary

Weaknesses

No chief executive or judiciary9/13 to pass laws13/13 to change the AOC States were given 1 vote each, regardless of size or populationNo unified currency system across the states.

Successes of the Articles Congress under the Articles waged and won a war

Against Great Britain.Congress negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783The Articles created a sense of unity amongst the colonies, then states

Northwest Ordinances of 1785 & 1787: established a procedure for surveying and selling frontier land. When populations reached 60,000 people, that territory could petition to Congress for statehoodProgressive action because no slavery was allowed in these areas (although fugitive slaves would be returned) and each township had to provide a school for its children.

Economic Problems

RecessionMassachusetts and other states raised taxes to pay off debtShays’s Rebellion:

Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer, led a riot in 1786 in protest of the court system. Four were killed.Shays’ Rebellion symbolized the Articles of Confederation were not going to work.

George Washington suggested calling a session of Congress to revise the Articles.

In the summer of 1787, delegates were called to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania