After the American Revolution and Americans' prior experience as colonists under British rule, they were cautious about placing too much power in the hands of a single ruler. New states adopted constitutions that limited the powers of their governors. Most states also established two-house (bicameral) legislatures to divide power even further. In most states, only while males aged 21 and older who owned property and paid taxes could vote. It was agreed that the new United States would be a republic, a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives. They could not agree, however, on the organization and powers of their new republic - only that most Americans favored a weaker central government. In 1781, the Articles of Confederation formally became the government of the new United States. The Articles provided for a new central government in which the states gave up very little of their power. From the start, the Confederation government had so little power that it could not deal with many of the new country's issues. These weaknesses included: 1. Congress was the only branch of the federal government, 2. Congress had no power to conduct foreign affairs, 3. maintain armed forces, 4. conduct trade, 5. borrow money or issue currency - states had to print their own paper money. 6. The new governemnt lacked a chief executive. 7. Each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of its population. 8. All states had to approve the Articles as well as it's amendments. 9. There were no provisions on how to claim new lands in the West. 10. Congress couldn't pass a law unless 9 states voted in favor of it. 11. Any attempt to change the Articles required the consent of all 13 states. 12. The Confederation could not pay national debts. It had to ask for money from the states.