FORMING A MORE PERFECT UNION 151 
was separated and given to three sets of men: one set to make 
laws (the legislative department) ; one set to decide on the 
meaning of the laws and to declare who are guilty of breaking 
them (the judicial department) ; and:one set to enforce the laws 
{the executive department). 
112. The Two Governments.—But the Declaration of Inde- 
pendence did not leave the State free to do everything that a 
government can do—did not leave it free to exercise all the 
Powers of government— for the Declaration brought into the 
world a new nation, the United States, and this new nation had 
Some powers of its own and a government of its own, namely, 
the Continental Congress. This Congress, from the first, did 
Some things a State never did and never tried to do. For ex- 
ample, it conducted a war—the War of the Revolution—it made 
treaties with foreign nations, and it managed the post-office. 
At the very beginning of our political life, then, there were 
two kinds of government at work in the United States-—a cen- 
tral government, the Congress, exercising power in respect to 
war, treaties, and postal affairs, and State governments exercis- 
ing power in respect to all other matters. The central govern- 
ment had but few things to do, and in its organization it was 
very weak. The State governments had many things to do, and 
in their organization they were strong. 
113, The Articles of Confederation.— The statesmen of the 
Revolution were not long in learning that the central govern- 
ment was too weak to do good work, and in 1781 they succeeded 
In getting the States to agree to the celebrated Articles of Con- 
federation. These articles increased the power of the central 
Sovernment., They gave Congress the power: 
(1) To determine questions of peace and war. 
(2) To attend to foreign affairs of every kind, 
(3) To manage Indian affairs. 
(4) To call upon the States for their share of the expenses 
of the central government. . 
(5) To settle disputes between States concerning boun- 
daries. 
{6) To establish and regulate post-offices.