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==The Articles of Confederation==

==The Articles of Confederation==

Before the war ended, the [[Continental Congress]] met to organize war efforts and address issues common to all the colonies.  The Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and proposed the Articles of Confederation in 1777.  The Declaration of Independence, which is honored by the holiday of July 4th each year, first coined the name the "United States of America": the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America."  On November 15, 1777, the name was given to the new country when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.  The first Article states: "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'"

Before and during the war, the [[Continental Congress]] met repeatedly to organize war efforts and address issues common to all the colonies.  This Congress adopted the Declaration of Independence on July 4, 1776 and proposed the Articles of Confederation in 1777.  The Declaration of Independence, which is honored by the holiday of July 4th each year, first coined the name the "United States of America": the "unanimous Declaration of the thirteen United States of America."  On November 15, 1777, this name was formally given to the new country when the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation.  The first Article states: "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'"

So the [[Articles of Confederation]] established the [[United States of America]].  The Articles were ratified by all 13 colonies in 1781, and converted them from "colonies" into "states".  But due to flaws in the Articles of Confederation, they lasted a short time, and were replaced by the Constitution in 1789 after only eight years.

Thus it was the [[Articles of Confederation]], not the [[Constitution]], that first established the [[United States of America]].  The Articles of Confederation were ratified by all 13 colonies in 1781, and converted them from "colonies" into "states".  But due to flaws in the Articles of Confederation, they lasted a short time, and were replaced by the Constitution in 1789 after only eight years.

The Articles provided for a unicameral (one body) Congress to govern the states.  There was no president (imagine that!), but rather a committee formed of one representative from each state which wielded executive authority.  There were no federal (national) courts (imagine that also!).  

The Articles provided for a unicameral (one body) Congress to govern the states.  There was no president (imagine that!), but rather a committee formed of one representative from each state which wielded executive authority.  There were no federal (national) courts (imagine that also!).  

'''Debate:  Does the United States need an office of president?'''  

'''Debate:  Does the United States really need a president?'''  

Nine (9) out of the 13 states' approval were needed to pass anything.  And unanimous approval was required to amend the Articles.  Those percentages were simply too high for a collection of states that were very different from each other.  Now that the focus was off gaining freedom and onto building a new nation, the states had much less common ground.   

Nine (9) out of the 13 states' approval were needed to pass anything.  And unanimous approval was required to amend the Articles.  Those percentages were simply too high for a collection of states that were very different from each other.  Now that the focus was off gaining freedom and onto building a new nation, the states had much less common ground.