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| | ==The Articles of Confederation== | | ==The Articles of Confederation== |
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| − | 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.'" | + | 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 we honor on July 4th, first coined the name the "United States of America" as follows: 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. Its first Article states: "The Stile of this Confederacy shall be 'The United States of America.'" (Sometimes the term "Confederacy" is also used to describe the union under the Articles of Confederation.) |
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| − | 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 only 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 only eight (8) years, and were replaced by the Constitution in 1789. |
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| − | 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 who wielded executive authority. There were no federal (national) courts (imagine that also!). |
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| | '''Debate: Does the United States really need a president?''' | | '''Debate: Does the United States really need a president?''' |