The Articles of Confederation
The States Create Republics
Patriots feared the creation of another tyrannical or abusive government, so they did not give the Union much power
A Preference for Democracy
More democratic patriots wanted strong legislature and weak governors, and preferred a unicameral legislature (single house members were elected by the people)
Maintaining Colonial Traditions
States wanted to create a more conservative state constitutions, and had bicameral legislature
Accountability to the People
Conservative constitutions dramatically expanded the power of the common people
Voters were able to choose members of both houses of new large legislatures
Democratic patriots fought for equal political rights among free men (including those with no property), but most states required property requirements to vote. Both systems excluded slaves and women from voting
Religious Liberty
Most states guaranteed freedom of religion in their constitutions, as long as they could collect taxes to support religious establishments
Union Under the Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress drafted the original constitution known as the Articles of Confederation in 1777. This was a loose confederation of 13 states (rather than a strong and centralized nation)
Federal Government
National government was comprised of a congress of delegates chosen by state legislatures. States could choose how many people to send, but only had one vote.
Powers of the National Congress
Congress was allowed to manage external affairs during this period, including: declaring and conducting war to negotiate peace, foreign affair regulation, as well as American Indian relations
The Northwest Territory
Congress hoped to raise revenue by selling this land to American settlers
Land Ordinance of 1785
Western settlement threatened to escape government control, and hundreds of settlers had already crossed the Ohio River to build their own farms. This led Congressmen to fear that settlers woud