The Articles of Confederation

1. The Articles of Confederation 1777-1789

2. I. Structure of The Articles of Confederation • The National Government • Unicameral (single chamber) Congress • No Executive Branch or President • No Federal Courts, Congress settled problems between states. • Each state had one vote in the Unicameral Congress.

3. Each States’ congresses controlled who represented the state. Not the voters. • The Unicameral Congress only had power expressly given by the Articles. (mainly lawmaking) • All other powers were held by the states.

4. II. Success of the Articles • Established the policy for lands west of the Appalachians. • Land Ordinance 1785: set up a system for surveying & dividing public territory (into squares!)

15. III. Northwest Ordinance 1787 • Territories would be able to establish statehood in the future. • Population needed to reach 60,000 • Required public education be set up • Slavery prohibited (guess who proposed this!?) • “Northwest Territory”: Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana

16. IV. Weaknesses of the Articles • Congress could not enact and collect taxes. • Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade. • Congress had no control over the printing of money – caused massive inflation! • Regardless of population, each state had only one vote in Congress.

17. • Articles could be amended only if ALL states approved. • Could only request troops from states to maintain army. • There were 13 separate states that lacked national unity. “Dis-United States”

18. Shays' Rebellion- angry farmers take weapons and burned down banks that held record of their debt. • What can Massachusetts do?

19. Well…that didn’t work. • Annapolis Convention (1786) was called to discuss fixing Articles. • All states were invited, only 5 sent delegates. Problem? • Try again! -- this time in Philadelphia • Constitutional Convention (1787)