Summary
Highlights
After declaring independence in 1776, each state drafted and ratified a new constitution for their state-level government. These state constitutions, largely influenced by Virginia's Bill of Rights, protected freedoms like freedom of the press, free elections, and the right to form militias. They generally banned titles of nobility and limited voting rights to white, male property owners. With the exception of Vermont, most constitutions did little to abolish slavery, though some, like Pennsylvania, provided for gradual emancipation. Power was largely concentrated in bicameral legislatures, reflecting a desire to decentralize power away from a strong executive.
In 1777, the Continental Congress drafted the Articles of Confederation, the United States' first constitution. This document established a federal government but kept it extremely weak, reflecting a lingering distrust of centralized power after the monarchy. Consequently, state governments held most of the political power during this period.
The most significant achievement under the Articles of Confederation was the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. This ordinance organized the vast western territories acquired after the Treaty of Paris. It mandated land be reserved for schools, banned slavery in the territory, and established a clear process for territories to become official states.
Despite its successes, the Articles of Confederation faced significant problems. The federal government, operating with a single legislative body and no executive or judicial branch, lacked the power to effectively govern. International trade was a major issue: Great Britain cut off trade with the British West Indies, Spain prohibited American access to the Mississippi River, and Barbary pirates attacked U.S. merchant ships. The weak federal government, without a navy, was powerless to address these economic challenges.
The federal government also struggled with finances, unable to pay war debts due to its inability to tax states. A proposed 5% tax on imported goods failed because it required unanimous approval from all 13 states, which was not achieved. Furthermore, the Articles could not regulate interstate commerce, leading states to impose tariffs on each other's goods, hindering national economic growth.
Foreign relations were also problematic. Great Britain maintained forts on the Western Frontier, encouraging Native American attacks on settlers, and the federal government lacked the power to raise an army to counter this. The most critical weakness was internal unrest, exemplified by Shays' Rebellion. Unpaid Revolutionary War veterans, led by Daniel Shays, attacked courthouses and a federal arsenal in Massachusetts. The federal government was unable to respond effectively, highlighting its severe limitations and demonstrating the urgent need for a stronger national constitution.