The American colonists had fought a bitter war in order to achieve their independence from an oppressive British government. Therefore, the Articles of Confederation were drafted in order to ensure that a strong central government would not be a problem. Problems Under the Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation created a very weak central government. It required too much in order to govern. The writers of the Articles wrote it that way. They feared at a strong central government would take away individual freedoms and rights.Problems created by the Articles of Confederation Congress could not collect taxes, Congress could not print or coin money.

States printed or coined their own money, causing confusion between the states, Congress could not regulate trade between states or between other countries and our nation, Congress could not raise an army – so it was difficult to protect the nation,There was no central figure in charge of government, in other words, no chief executive. There were some good things that happened while the United States was governed by the Articles of Confederation.First, the Treaty of Paris (1783) was signed. Second, the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was passed. The Northwest Ordinance required the Northwest Territory to be surveyed and land sold to new settlers. When smaller areas’ population reached 2,000, they could become territories. When new territorie’s populations reached 60,000, they could become new states.

The Constitutional Convention After Shay’s Rebellion, it was apparent to most Americans that the central government needed to be stronger.So, in 1878, 55 delegates met in Philadelphia to improve the Articles of Confederation. What actually happened, the U. S. Constitution was written. Ratifying the Constitution – Arguments for and Against People against the constitution were the Anti-Federalists. In 1787, several prominent Anti-Federalists published editorials in the New York Times under pen names such as Cato and Brutus.

They attacked the proposed Constitution, identifying weaknesses and pointing out what dangers lay in certain of its principles.Those who opposed the adoption of the constitution were known as the Antifederalists. Many feared centralized power.

Several arguments were voiced repeatedly during the ratification debates: That the Convention had exceeded its authority in producing a new constitution; That the Constitution established the basis for a monarchical regime; That the Constitution lacked explicit protections for individual and states rights. The Federalist Papers are a strong retort to the objections voiced against the fresh new Constitution.They, too, were published in the New York Times under a pen name– Publius– and appeared between 1787 and1788. Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay wrote a series of 85 essays that appeared in New York newspapers. In these essays, they argued that the powers of the national government distributed and balanced in a ways that would sustain limited government. They also argued that there were sufficient guarantees to ensure that the national government respect the boundaries of state authority and that individuals would be secure against federal encroachments.

The Federalists won, of course. The Constitution was ratified by all thirteen States, and The United States of America was born. In the end, even some of the most outspoken Antifederalists, like Melancton Smith of New York, ultimately voted for the Constitution. They feared that the only alternative to the Constitution was the breakup of the Union.

Business Problems Periodic downturns in the national economy, growing criticism of practices that saw big business profit at the expense of the poor and working class, increasing grassroots political pressure for change. Business Solutions: interstate commerce commission “ended railroad abuses like pools and rebates.Sherman Antitrust Act- prohibited monopolies by declaring illegal any business combination or trust in restraint of trade or commerce.

” Labor Problems Employers could lower wages and fire employees at will, working conditions were poor and periodic unemployment/ Solutions: labor unions were formed, collective bargaining: union members representing workers negotiated labor issues with management. City Problems Crowded, unsanitary living conditions for workers and corrupt city politics.