Lesson 1: A Weak Confederation

Key Idea

After declaring independence, the former colonies began creating their own state governments. Wary of the powerful British monarchy, they wanted to limit government power and protect individual liberties. They formed republics, where citizens elect representatives to govern on their behalf.

To define these new governments, states created written constitutions that spelled out the rules and limits of power. Many also added a bill of rights, which is a list of freedoms the government promises to protect. This experience of creating state governments heavily influenced how leaders would later structure the first national government.

Key Idea

After declaring independence, Americans were wary of giving any single leader too much power, like the British king. This deep distrust of centralized authority guided their first efforts to create governments.

Each state wrote its own constitution, or plan of government. These new constitutions deliberately limited the power of the executive branch, or governor. Instead, they gave most of the authority to the legislature, the branch that made the laws.

Key Idea

After the Revolution, Americans created their first national government, the Articles of Confederation. Fearful of a strong central ruler like a king, the states designed a system where they kept most of the power. This created a "firm league of friendship" where each state acted almost like an independent country.

The national Congress had very limited authority. It could not tax citizens or states to raise money, nor could it control trade. Without the power to raise funds or enforce its own laws, the central government was intentionally weak and struggled to lead the new nation.

Key Idea

Despite its weaknesses, the Confederation Congress successfully organized the vast lands west of the Appalachian Mountains. To create an orderly system for settlement, Congress passed the Ordinance of 1785. This law established a method for surveying the land and dividing it into townships and sections that could be sold to settlers and the government.

Two years later, Congress passed the even more significant Northwest Ordinance of 1787. This law created a clear path for territories to become states with the same rights as the original thirteen. It also famously banned slavery in the Northwest Territory, a region north of the Ohio River. These land policies were the government's greatest achievement.