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Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation. Unit 2.4. Our First Government. After the Declaration, the 2 nd Continent Congress created our first Government under the Articles of Confederation . Made weak on purpose. Why? Took a while for it to be ratified because of land claims in the west.

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Articles of Confederation

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  1. Articles of Confederation Unit 2.4

  2. Our First Government • After the Declaration, the 2nd Continent Congress created our first Government under the Articles of Confederation. • Made weak on purpose. Why? • Took a while for it to be ratified because of land claims in the west. • Are those claims fair to coastal states like NJ, RI, and Del.? • What would be the compromise?

  3. Major Successes under the Articles • Land Ordinance of 1785 • Surveyed the lands • 6 miles x 6 miles (36 sq. miles) • Each square mile (640 acres) divided into quarter sections (160 acres) • Provided lands for schools (sec 16) • Compare “the grid” of the Midwest to “metes and bounds” of East • Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Provided for rules for new states to come into U.S. • Still used today • Lands sold provided $$ to United States government

  4. Civil War during Revolutionary War? • Sometimes our forgotten history – Patriots vs. Loyalists fighting • Many times very brutal on both sides • How was the movie The Patriot not very true to history? • How were Loyalists treated after the war? • What about their land claims? • How would Britain use that against the U.S. in the future? • Many areas very lawless and mob rule sometimes in force.

  5. Problems after the war • Indian Conflicts • Battle of Fallen Timbers • Back Pay / Pensions of Soldiers • Order of Cincinnati • Pirates • In North Africa and Caribbean • Demanding Tribute to travel in area • Vermont • NH and NY both claiming • Britain interfering • All of these things show a Weak Government

  6. More Problems after the War • States making their own treaties with other countries • Frontier Forts – Britain isn’t leaving • New Orleans – Spain closes port to US • Florida – Spain and runaway slaves • States making their own money • Runaway inflation

  7. The Turning Point • Mobcracy • Shay’s Rebellion – 1787 • Farmer’s demanding paper money • Bankers did not like it as inflation kept rising • Many vets about to lose everything and rose up against state government. • Militia called out and 4 killed • Many leaders (and the rich) were afraid of the lawlessness and mob rule and wanted more protection than Articles

  8. Annapolis Convention • Annapolis Convention – Sept 1876 • 12 delegates from 5 states • Alexander Hamilton – main leader • Thought the Articles did not have enough power • Unanimously called for a constitutional convention • Led to convention the following year • How can 12 men have so much power?

  9. What powers did the Articles have? • Federal Government could: • Borrow Money • Establish Post Offices • Make Standards for measurements • Declare War • Sign Peace Treaties

  10. What were the weaknesses? • No changes without Unanimous vote. • Weak Army/Navy – remember all those problems? • No true Executive or Judicial Branches to enforce laws. • No control of Interstate Commerce. • Could not levy taxes. How do you pay for things (war)? • No control of money supply. • Lack of Unity – the United States were not united, but 13 different countries doing their own thing.

  11. Reflection Questions • What did the Land Ordinance and Northwest Ordinance do that made an impact for the future? • Why was Shay’s Rebellion so important in convincing our leaders that a stronger federal government was needed? • What was the one overall weakness of the Articles and some of the other weaknesses? • How were the Articles like a rebound boyfriend/girlfriend?

  12. Links • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2IsCg8IEw&list=UUZYs757tACChkS-vjS1m66Q&index=10&feature=plcp – review video • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h10eSXRFsTM&feature=related – slideshow • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbP0JWQeXag&feature=related – slideshow review • http://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=3 – 100 top documents

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