The Articles The Articles of of ConfederatioConfederationn

Chapter 2Section 2

Key Terms

• Ratify

• Unicameral

• Cede

• Ordinance

By the end of Lesson should be able to answer:

• What weakness of the Articles of Confederation made enforcing the laws of Congress impossible?

• What evidence shows that financial problems were the main cause of the call to amend the Articles of Confederation?

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

The Articles were written in The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a 1777 by John Dickinson, a Penn. statesman Penn. statesman Articles of Confederation- Articles of Confederation-

continued the structure and continued the structure and operation of government by the operation of government by the 22ndnd Continental Congress. Continental Congress.

The Articles were accepted The Articles were accepted by Congress in 1781 and is by Congress in 1781 and is considered the first considered the first national constitutionnational constitution

Government Under The Government Under The Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

The colonies were afraid The colonies were afraid of having too much power of having too much power in in one person’s hands.in in one person’s hands. This was the problem they were This was the problem they were

experiencing.experiencing.

In the Articles the state In the Articles the state governments limit the governments limit the power of the national power of the national Congress.Congress. Unicameral- single Unicameral- single

chamberchamber

Congressional Powers Congressional Powers Under The Articles of Under The Articles of

ConfederationConfederation Make War and PeaceMake War and Peace

Send and receive ambassadorsSend and receive ambassadors

Raise and equip a navyRaise and equip a navy

Maintain an army by requesting Maintain an army by requesting troops from other statestroops from other states

Appoint senior military officersAppoint senior military officers

Weaknesses of the Weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

The Articles created a weak national government.The Articles created a weak national government. Each state had no intention on giving up its sovereignty to a Each state had no intention on giving up its sovereignty to a

central government.central government.

Congress had no power to raise taxes.Congress had no power to raise taxes. Only could raise money by borrowing or requesting money from Only could raise money by borrowing or requesting money from

the states. the states. (If state refused, Congress could do nothing)(If state refused, Congress could do nothing)

Congress had no power regulate Congress had no power regulate foreign or state trade.foreign or state trade. Many states and countries argued over Many states and countries argued over

money issues.money issues.

Weaknesses of the Weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states.Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states. Usually only 9 or 10 delegates were in congress all at once.Usually only 9 or 10 delegates were in congress all at once. Also, each state only had one vote. Also, each state only had one vote. (Small states blocking votes of larger states)(Small states blocking votes of larger states)

Congress did not have Congress did not have the the power to force anyone power to force anyone to to obey obey its lawsits laws

Congress can only Congress can only advise and advise and request the request the states to follow states to follow along.along.

Strengths of the Articles Strengths of the Articles of Confederationof Confederation

The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation accomplished many important accomplished many important tasks despite its weaknesses:tasks despite its weaknesses:

The Treaty of Paris 1783 was The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signedsigned Great Britain recognized Great Britain recognized

America as a country.America as a country.

All lands west of All lands west of Appalachian Mountains Appalachian Mountains ceded ceded their claims to their claims to these territories.these territories. Ceded-Ceded- to give up control to give up control

Strengths of the Articles Strengths of the Articles of Confederationof Confederation

The Northwest The Northwest OrdinanceOrdinance was past. was past. OrdinanceOrdinance – laws – laws Northwest Ordinance- Northwest Ordinance- territories territories

were to be developed for statehood were to be developed for statehood on an equal basis with all states.on an equal basis with all states.

Congress now has the power Congress now has the power to declare war and peace, to declare war and peace, print money, make treaties print money, make treaties and settle state disputes.and settle state disputes.

Settling Western landsSettling Western lands The Northwest Ordinance The Northwest Ordinance

provides an orderly provides an orderly settlement process in settlement process in the West.the West.

It promisedIt promised no slaveryno slavery educationeducation freedom of religionfreedom of religion trial by jurytrial by jury

Northwest TerritoryNorthwest Territory

The Northwest Territory was east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. The states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin would be formed from this area.

Daniel Shays’s RebellionDaniel Shays’s Rebellion

Shays’s Rebellion Group WorkShays’s Rebellion Group Work

Shays’s Rebellion VideoShays’s Rebellion Video

Reasons for Shay’s Reasons for Shay’s RebellionRebellion

Farmers are required to pay Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they have no debts in gold, they have no money because they were money because they were not paid during the war.not paid during the war.

Wealthy lawmakers invested Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too. their money in the war too. And seek to get money from And seek to get money from the farmers debts. the farmers debts.

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion Poor farmers are not Poor farmers are not

represented in the Mass represented in the Mass legislature and cannot legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws.pass debt relief laws.

The rebellion will free The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and debtors from prisons and close courts that are close courts that are hearing cases against hearing cases against farmers.farmers.

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion

The Mass militia is called out to stop it.The Mass militia is called out to stop it.

Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who support their stance and will close support their stance and will close courthouses and demand financial help from courthouses and demand financial help from the Congress.the Congress.

Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national leaders to create a stronger central leaders to create a stronger central government.government.

Samuel Adams Said Samuel Adams Said What?!What?!

“Rebellion against a king may be pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death.”

Thomas Jefferson Said Thomas Jefferson Said What?!What?!

“A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion."