Declaration of Independence

Two uses of the Declaration of Independence

1) defense of revolution

2) basis of the French Revolution

Three parts of the Declaration of Independence

1) reason for rebelling, John Locke’s natural rights, social contract, “all men are created equal”

2) tells King George what he did wrong, justifying rebellion

3) declare their leaving

Articles of Confederation

before constitution that held the states together during the revolutionary war

AOC set up

weak central gov’t, congress limited central power, no power to execute laws, all power in the states except for foreign policy and military

National gov’t in charge of what with AOC

coin money, post office, negotiate w/ foreign nations

Confederation Congree

one branch in AOC, each state has one vote, unanimous consent for any amendments

Economic problems with AOC

national gov’t couldn’t make taxes, had to ask states for money which was declined, gov’t underfunded, couldn’t pay for war, national currency useless, can’t regulate inter-state commerce, states placed taxes on other states for trade

Shay’s rebellion

exposed the issues in AOC and a weak limited central gov’t.

Daniel Shay

led the shay’s rebellion which cancelled the gov’t for not being able to take down a rebellion and not paying their veterans

Result of Shay’s Rebellion

congress called for a revision and 12'/13 states met to make the new constitution