Challenges of the New Nation and the Constitution

The student will demonstrate knowledge of the challenges faced by the new nation by identifying the weaknesses of the government established by the Articles of Confederation. The Articles were written during the American Revolution to establish the powers of the new national government. They provided for a weak national government, gave Congress no power to tax or regulate commerce among the states, and allowed each state one vote regardless of size. The Articles resulted in the first constitution of the United States and the Northwest Ordinance, which outlined the process for admitting new states and outlawed slavery in new territories. The weaknesses led to the drafting of a new constitution at the Constitutional Convention.