Formation of the U.S. Government Post-Revolutionary War

Confederation

An alliance of independent states.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

A law that set requirements for the admission of new states and governed the Northwest Territory.

Constitutional Convention

A meeting of delegates from the states to revise the Articles of Confederation.

Adam Smith

A philosopher and economist who believed that a republic would benefit from self-interest.

Republic

A government in which citizens rule through elected representatives.

Republicanism

The belief that governments should be based on the consent of the people.

Articles of Confederation

A set of laws that outlined the structure of the first American government.

Land Ordinance of 1785

A law that established a system for surveying and selling western lands.

Federalism

A system of government in which power is shared between a central government and state governments.

John Dickinson

A delegate to the Continental Congress who advocated for a strong central government.

Northwest Territory

A region of land west of the Appalachian Mountains and north of the Ohio River.

Mississippi River

A major river that flows through the central United States.

Great Lakes

A group of five large freshwater lakes in North America.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation were a weak government that struggled to address the nation's problems.

Confederation government

The Confederation government lacked the power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established a blueprint for the future growth of the United States.

Calling of the Constitutional Convention

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention.