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Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation. Articles Background. 1 st constitution for the colonies Confederation form of government Colonies would remain separate and independent Banded together to form a cohesive defense. Articles- provisions. Unicameral legislature- one house

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Articles of Confederation

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  1. Articles of Confederation

  2. Articles Background • 1st constitution for the colonies • Confederation form of government • Colonies would remain separate and independent • Banded together to form a cohesive defense

  3. Articles- provisions • Unicameral legislature- one house • Each state sends delegates, but gets only one vote per state • States obligated to send funds to pay government officials and the military • States obligated to send troops to man and maintain a central defense • 9 state votes to pass any law

  4. Articles- provisions • The authority of the executive and judicial branches would remain with the individual states • Unanimous vote by the states was necessary to amend the Articles • States set up trade agreements between the states and with foreign countries

  5. Accomplishments under Articles • Set up the Post Office (only government agency that is self-supporting) • Created the post roads • Created the Northwest Territory Act of 1787 that allowed new states into the union • Set up a system of weights and measures

  6. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. United States of America Articles of Confederation

  7. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? I. Currency Issues • The United States did not have a common currency. • Americans carried money from the federal government, state government, and foreign nations.

  8. Merchants stopped accepting money from outside of their own state, causing a lot of money to become worthless. • This caused an increase in inflation.

  9. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? II. Debt • Congress could not tax the people and depended on money from the states. • Therefore, the U.S. was unable to pay its debts! Examples: - The U.S. owed money to France, Holland, and Spain for loans made during the Revolutionary War. - The U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers!

  10. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? III. International and Domestic Problems • The U.S. lacked the military power to defend itself against Great Britain and Spain. • States acted as individual countries and seldom agreed. Example: - Connecticut and Virginia almost went to war over land claims!

  11. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Courts (Judicial Branch) • The nation lacked a national court system. Supreme Court

  12. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? President (Executive Branch) • The nation did not have a President, or Chief Executive. White House

  13. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Congress (Legislative Branch) • Congress had one house. (unicameral) • Laws were difficult to pass, needing the approval of nine states. • Congress was responsible to the states, not the people. • Congress had no power to collect taxes, regulate trade, coin money, or establish a military.

  14. Results of the Articles • States dispute borders • States levied heavy taxes on themselves to pay for war- did not send money to national government • States created own currencies • States levied tariffs on each others goods • States refused to acknowledge any national law they did not like

  15. Results of the Articles • Shay’s Rebellion- Massachusetts farmers rebel against foreclosures on property. • Leaders of states convinced that more rebellion was likely without a stronger central authority • Led to the Annapolis Conference.

  16. Annapolis Conference • The conference was called to discuss how to fix the government to avoid another revolution • States were in debt • Taxes to high- Shay’s Rebellion • Interstate commerce a mess • Foreign trade problems

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