Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 1 7-1.1 A More Perfect Union 1777-1790 The Articles of...
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Transcript of Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 1 7-1.1 A More Perfect Union 1777-1790 The Articles of...
1 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
7-1.1 A More Perfect Union 1777-1790
The Articles of Confederation
2 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
State Constitutions
Britain ignored the terms of the Treaty of Paris, and kept troops at frontier posts in American territory. They believed the new American government was weak and ineffective.
3 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
In May 1776 the Continental Congress asked the states to organize their governments. Because of their experience with British rule, the states limited the power of the governors.
4 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
They also divided government functions between the governor and the legislature. Most states established two-house, or bicameral, legislatures to divide the power even further.
6 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
To keep power in the hands of the people they held elections frequently.
7 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
Forming a Republic
Establishing separate state governments turned out to be much easier than creating a national government.
8 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
They agreed the country should be a republic, a government in which the citizens rule through elected representatives, but disagreed on how to organize it.
9 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
Most wanted a weak national government. The states would be independent —like the original colonies were. The states would act independently on most issues, working together through a national government only to wage war and handle relations with other nations.
11 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
Yeh! We don’t
want another
King George!
Don’t give the national
government too much
power!
Then we haveto tax people so that
we have money.That’s fine but we still have to
work together in caseof another war…
This is getting reallycomplicated! The states
will never agree!
12 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
Planning a New Government
At the beginning of the war, the Second Continental Congress wrote a plan of government called the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution.
13 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
Although it was not officially approved until March 1781, they followed it during the war. It allowed the states to keep their individual power but also formed an alliance or "a firm league of friendship.”
14 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
The Articles of Confederation only had a legislature (no president and no courts) because the legislature was run by “the people.”
15 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
Congress had to ask the state legislatures for money and troops, but the states did not have to contribute. Under the new plan, each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of its population, and all decisions had to be unanimous.
16 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
The states with more people complained because they thought they should have more votes. The states also disagreed over which western land belonged towhich colony.
17 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
The Confederation Government
The national government was too weak under the Articles of Confederation. 9 out of 13 states had to agree in order to pass a new law. Changes to it required a unanimous vote.
18 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could conduct foreign affairs…
19 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could maintain an army…
20 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could issue currency (money)…
21 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could borrow money from other
countries...
22 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT force citizens to join the
army…
23 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Did NOT have an Executive Branch…
24 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Did NOT have a Judicial branch…
25 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT impose taxes...
26 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT regulate currency from state to state...
27 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT regulate trade...
28 Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock
Could not force citizens to join the army…
Did not have a Judicial branch…
Could not impose taxes… Could not regulate trade…
Did not have an Executive branch…
Could not regulate currency from state to state…
Could maintain an army…Could conduct foreign affairs…
Could issue currency (money)…
Could borrow money from other countries…
Strengths of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation