Articles of Confederation

Creating the Constitution: 

Creating the Constitution

The Articles of Confederation 1781-87: 

2 The Articles of Confederation 1781-87

One day after the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to write a Declaration of Independence, they passed a resolution to prepare the Articles of Confederation. : 

3 One day after the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to write a Declaration of Independence, they passed a resolution to prepare the Articles of Confederation. This was very early in the Revolutionary War!

They knew they would need some kind of government since they were not longer obeying British control.: 

4 They knew they would need some kind of government since they were not longer obeying British control.

The Articles of Confederation: 

5 The Articles of Confederation During the Revolution, the new United States needed a functioning government Modeled after colonial governments States would retain sovereignty Founders were fearful of concentrated power due to past experience with the British

PowerPoint Presentation: 

6  Confederation - a loose joining together of States which gave some rights to a central (national) government (They didn’t want a strong central government because of their bad experiences under British control.)

A Limited Government: 

7 A Limited Government Articles established a “firm league of friendship” among the states Bills were passed on nine of thirteen votes Amending the Articles took unanimous consent of the states

What did the Articles of Confederation do?: 

8 What did the Articles of Confederation do?

AND there was no President (or Executive Branch) and no federal court system (Judicial Branch). That meant that, on a national level, Congress had all national the power.: 

9 They created a Congress. . BUT there was not a Senate and a House of Representatives – just a Congress . . AND there was no President (or Executive Branch) and no federal court system (Judicial Branch). That meant that, on a national level, Congress had all national the power. What they DID: What they DIDN’T do:

. . .which worked pretty well.  : 

10 What they DID: What they DIDN’T do: . . .which worked pretty well.  Congress set up a postal system. . .

BUT they could only ASK states to send soldiers and ASK states to send $$ for the military. States could say “no!” : 

11 Congress had power to make war, including to -- declare war -- raise an army & navy What they DID: What they DIDN’T do: BUT they could only ASK states to send soldiers and ASK states to send $$ for the military. States could say “no!”

BUT since they couldn’t make states pay taxes, they couldn’t even pay off their war debts to other countries (France, Holland, & Spain). This hurt their reputation with other countries.: 

12 Congress had power to conduct affairs with other countries, including to -- send ambassadors to other countries -- receive ambassadors from other countries -- make treaties with other countries What they DID: What they DIDN’T do: BUT since they couldn’t make states pay taxes, they couldn’t even pay off their war debts to other countries ( France, Holland, & Spain). This hurt their reputation with other countries.

BUT, each state could still print its own money, too. : 

13 Congress had power to print money. This included the power to set standards of weights & measurements. (Remember, money back then was backed by gold and silver, which was valuable by weight.) What they DID: What they DIDN’T do: BUT, each state could still print its own money, too.

PowerPoint Presentation: 

14 So a bunch of DIFFERENT kinds of money were being used. It got CONFUSING!!! People became afraid to trust anybody’s money.

Congress: 

15 Congress What powers did Congress hold under the Articles of Confederation? Make war and peace Make treaties and handle ambassadors Borrow money and set up a money system Build a navy and raise an army Set standards of weights and measures Settle disputes between the states

States Under the Articles: 

16 States Under the Articles What were the States supposed to do: Obey the Articles and acts of Congress Provide funds and troops requested by Congress Treat citizens of other states fairly Respect the laws and court rulings of other states Allow open travel and trade among states Submit interstate disputes to Congress Turn over fugitives from other states The states kept all powers not given to Congress.

Weaknesses of the Articles: 

17 Weaknesses of the Articles Only a “firm league of friendship” among States Only one vote for each State, regardless of size Congress powerless to levy taxes or duties Congress powerless to regulate commerce No executive power to enforce acts of Congress No national court system Amendments to the Articles required the consent of ALL States A 9/13 majority required to pass laws.

Problems with the Articles: 

18 Problems with the Articles After the Revolutionary War, states stopped cooperating with each other and the national government. They refused to supply troops or money. Some made their own treaties with other nations. Most raised their own military forces. They taxed goods from other states and banned trade with some states. They printed their own money.

Problem with the Articles, cont.: 

19 Problem with the Articles, cont. Economies of many states struggled as a result of all the bickering and poor planning. Much of the newly printed money was worth very little. Prices soared and loans became hard to get. Many people fell into debt. The economic crisis led to Shays’ Rebellion in Massachusetts. Indebted farmers and other small property owners lost land and possessions when they could not pay their debts or their state taxes.

How do you think the new country dealt with these challenges?: 

20 How do you think the new country dealt with these challenges?

Trouble in Massachusetts: 

Trouble in Massachusetts Debt problems hit Massachusetts farmers Economic depression and lack of remedy from state legislatures increases frustration Boston in 1787

Shays’s Rebellion: 

Shays’s Rebellion Daniel Shays led a band of farmers to stop farm foreclosures Rebellion quickly broken up but became a wake-up call to many leaders Caricatures of Daniel Shays and Job Shattuck, leaders of the rebellion