Articles of Confederation

1. Articles of Confederation Aim: How were governments organized after independence?

2. Articles of Confederation (1781 – 1787) • First constitution (plan for government) of the United States. • Created a loose union of thirteen republics. • The states retained the most important powers. • Each state had one vote in Congress. • 9 out of 13 states had to agree to any decision (bills to be passed). • All 13 states would have to agree in order to amend the Articles.

3. Structure of Government • Unicameral (single house) legislative body • Each state had one vote regardless of population size • Congress given sole authority to govern the country • An executive committee oversaw government when Congress was not in session • Congress would establish temporary courts to hear disputes among the states

4. Powers Granted to Government under the Articles of Confederation • Declare war and make peace • Make treaties with foreign countries • Establish an army and navy • Appoint high-ranking military officials • Requisition, print, and borrow money • Establish weights and measures • Hear disputes among the states related to trade or boundaries

5. Powers Denied to the Central Government • Congress • Had no executive power to enforce laws. • Had no power to make laws. • Had no power to tax, impose tariffs, or collect duties. • Had no power to regulate trade and there was no uniform currency. • No power to force states to honor obligations • Had no power to draft for war. • Congress • Could “recommend” laws. • Could ask the states for money. • Could ask the states to supply soldiers for the army.

6. Accomplishments Under the Articles of Confederation • Victory over Britain in the Revolutionary War. • Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783 • Organization of the Western Lands. • Established the Land Ordinance (1785) and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

7. Land Ordinance of 1785 • Divided the Northwest Territory into “townships” to be offered for sale. • Each township consisted of 36 lots of 640 acres each. • A lot was the smallest unit that could be bought and couldn’t be sold for less than $1 an acre. • The proceeds from the sale of one lot in each township would be used for public education.

8. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Provided a government for the Northwest Territory and admission to the United States. • No less than 3 states and no more than 5 states would be created as soon as the population in an area reached 60,000. • Each state would have a Bill of Rights. • Slavery was forbidden. • The new states would be equal to the original 13 states. • Education was provided.

9. Problems Facing the New Nation • Trade with foreign nations • Financing the nation • Foreign relations • Interstate relations • You decide!!! A 1783 cartoon satirizing relations between Britain and America

10. Annapolis Convention (1786) • Originally called to discuss British trade restrictions and the problems of inter-state trade. • The delegates arranged to meet the next year to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation. • U.S. no longer the favorite trading partner of Great Britain • U.S. exports to British ports had to be on British ships • Many U.S.-produced goods were barred from British ports • Britain sent vast amounts of cheap goods to U.S. • Potential Remedy • Establish a tariff on British goods • Weakness in Articles of Confederation preventing this solution

11. Shay’s Rebellion (1786) • A revolt led by Daniel Shays, of the farmers in western Massachusetts against the state government. • The farmers were protesting high taxes, underrepresentation in the state legislature and the foreclosure of their farms for debts. • This showed the weakness of the national government and the need to change the Articles of Confederation