New Nation
Developments in the Newly Formed United States
The Articles of Confederation
A constitution written during the American Revolution to establish the powers of the new national government
Weaknesses:
- Weak national government
- Congress had no power to tax
- No common currency
- Gave each state one vote regardless of size
- No executive or judicial branches
The Constitution
- George Washington was president of the Constitutional Convention
- Was drafted to try to fix weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation
- Three separate branches: Legislative, Executive, and Judicial
The Great Compromise
How many votes each state would have in the Senate and House of Representatives
The Bill of Rights
Provide a written guarantee of individual rights: Speech, religion, etc.