Articles of Confederation

The American Revolution is over, �now what?

• America was now an independent nation having won the Revolutionary War, but now what?
• What would the country and the government look like?
• What would be the first Constitution of the new nation?

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When independence was declared, �the 13 colonies became independent states

Each state had its own constitution, legislature, �& an elected governor; �8 states had Bills of Rights

But, the USA needed �a national gov’t to do things that states could not, like sign treaties �& form a military

America’s 1^st �national gov’t was the �Articles of Confederation (1777-1789)

The Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation was the name of the first government of the United States.
• It had been started back in 1776 in the Continental Congress, and finally approved by all the states in 1781.

The Articles of Confederation

• After living under a monarchy, the colonists feared a single power
• States refused to give power to one person or body of government
• In the Articles the state governments limit the power of the national Congress

Confederation �Government in New York City

Americans did not want to re-create a powerful gov’t like the one they just fought the Revolutionary War �to break away from

So, the national gov’t had

no single leader and could not tax the states or citizens

Structure of Government Under the Articles of Confederation

• Unicameral (single house) legislative body – No President
• Each state had one vote regardless of population size
• Congress given sole authority to govern the country
• Congress would establish temporary courts to hear disputes among the states
• There was no Court System or Executive Branch (No President)

Power to the States

• The national government under the Articles did not have the power to tax or enforce laws.
• Each state could create their own laws and taxes
• The government could also issue money, but the states didn’t have to use it.
• The states had their own money.
• Each state had their own money. It was difficult to use New York money in Virginia

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United???

• The states are unified mostly for the purpose of defense
• The United States are more like 13 separate countries with a defense alliance

Powers of the Federal Government

• Declare war and make peace
• Make treaties with foreign countries
• Establish an army and navy
• Print and borrow money
• Establish weights and measures
• Hear disputes among the states related to trade or boundaries

Northwest 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.

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How did the Articles of Confederation deal with Western lands?

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• Law passed by Congress to deal with western lands
• Outlawed slavery in this region
• Provided a system for territories to become states

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation

• The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed under the Articles of Confederation, ending the American Revolution
• Had the power to declare war and peace, print money, make treaties and settle state disputes
• The Northwest Ordinance
• Assisted in the expansion of the United States and outlined a plan for applying for statehood to western territories
• 5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start government
• Population of 60,000 could become a state
• Northwest Ordinance prohibited slavery in these new territories

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The Articles of Confederation was weak, on purpose

• Americans were afraid of a strong national government. After all, they had fought a war over it. So, the government they decided on was weak.
• The national government under the Articles did not have the power to tax or enforce laws.
• The national government did have the power to wage war, but since they couldn’t tax, there was no way to pay for it.
• The government could also issue money, but the states didn’t have to use it. The states had their own money.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Congress had no power to raise taxes
• Congress had no power regulate foreign or state trade
• Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states
• Congress did not have the power to enforce laws
• Since the national government could not tax, and the national money was worthless, debt became a huge problem.

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Weaknesses of the Articles

• Since the national government could not tax, and the national money was worthless, debt became a huge problem.
• Debt = owing money
• The biggest problem was that the soldiers who had fought the war, had not been paid, and they were mad.
• Most of the soldiers were farmers, and they were unable to pay their debts.

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The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1^st Constitution 1781-1789

Declare War &

Establish an Army/Navy

No Power to Draft Soldiers

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1^st Constitution 1781-1789

Make Peace & Sign Treaties

No Power to Enforce Treaties

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1^st Constitution 1781-1789

Borrow Money

No Power to Collect Taxes from the States

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1^st Constitution 1781-1789

Organize a

Post Office

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1^st Constitution 1781-1789

No Chief Executive

No national court system

No Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce

No National Currency

Difficult to Pass laws (2/3 vote)

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1^st Constitution 1781-1789

Difficult to Amend

(unanimous vote needed to change the articles)

The Articles of Confederation

• Congress given the power to:
• Declare War
• Make Peace
• Sign Treaties
• Borrow Money
• Establish an Army & Navy
• Organize a Post Office

• No Chief Executive
• No National Court System
• No Power to Draft Soldiers
• No Power to Control Interstate Commerce
• No Power to Enforce Treaties
• No Power to Collect Taxes from the States
• Difficult to Pass Laws (2/3 vote)
• No National Currency
• Difficult to Amend
• (Unanimous Vote Needed to Change Articles)

Are the Articles a perfect form of Government?