After the war for independence, the most important disagreement was how to govern the new country. Some people wanted the nation to be a loose organization of states. They believed that citizens in each state should govern themselves. Others wanted a powerful national government to solve the problems of the new country. Each state had to give up some of its power so that the nation could be stronger.
Articles of Confederation (1781-1788)There was no president. National Congress (a lawmaking body) consisted of the Senate and the House of Representatives. Congress was given authority to declare war, to establish an army and navy, to issue and borrow money. The Articles gave most power to the states. A law could be passed only if nine of the thirteen states voted for it.
Articles of Confederation did not work well in practice. The states had too much power: They often acted like separate nations. Each state could coin its own money, arm its own soldiers and build its own navy. One of the biggest problems concerned foreign policy: Like any nation, the US needed to make treaties with foreign countries, but in 1785 most European nations did not respect American power.
The Civil War Lincoln was determined to end slavery and keep the country together. In one of his speeches, he said: "Both parties deprecated war, but one of them would make war rather than let the Nation survive, and the other would accept war rather than let it perish, and the war came."