AFTER INDEPENDENCE

I. New government

    1. State Constitutions
      1. each state wrote its own constitution
      2. each used separation of powers
    1. legislative, executive, and judicial branches
      1. states were made strong and the central government was left very weak
    1. Articles of Confederation
      1. written by the 2nd Continental Congress
      2. was a plan for a loose confederation (alliance) of independent states
      3. set up a one-house legislature (unicameral)
      4. Congress was given few powers, such as the power to…
      1. declare war
      2. make treaties
      1. Congress lacked the power to do several important things, such as…
      1. collect taxes
      2. enforce its laws
      3. regulate trade between US and other countries
      1. No executive or judicial branches at the national level
      2. Rules were too rigid
      1. 9/13 states had to approve any new law
      2. all 13 states had to approve changes to the Articles of Confederation
      1. Consequences of weaknesses
      1. Congress & states accumulated debt
      2. States heavily taxed their citizens to pay off their mounting debts, which led to…
      1. Shays’ Rebellion

i. many farmers could not pay their taxes and were faced with losing their land and/or

jail time

ii. Shays led a revolt by about 1,200 farmers on courthouse in Massachusetts

iii. the state had to quell the rebellion with its militia, not the federal army

iv. this action made many nervous, because it appeared that the federal government could

not have done anything to prevent or stop this revolt

v. this is the "final straw" that proves that the Articles of Confederation are too weak and

that a stronger central government is needed

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