The Articles of Confederation A Plan for Government

1. The Articles of ConfederationA Plan for Government Pgs. 333-337

2. What is a Confederation? • A Confederation is an alliance or friendship between states. • The Confederation of the United States of America was between the years 1781-1789. • The Confederation was the first form of government in the United States after the Revolutionary War.

3. Articles of Confederation • The Articles of Confederation united 13 independent states. • The Articles gave the national government certain powers, but because Americans wanted to guard their newly won freedom, the national government they formed was weak from the start.

4. Who’s Your Leader? • No One! Under the Articles of Confederation, each state elected leaders who chose representatives. • These representatives met in a Congress, or national legislature. • Each state no matter what size or population, could send 7 delegates to Congress. • Each state only had one vote concerning any topic that was discussed at the Congress.

5. Weaknesses of the Articles #1 • There was no strong national government. • Americans were afraid that a strong national government would make unfair laws for the states just as the British king and Parliament had made for the colonies.

6. Weaknesses of the Articles #2 • At least 9 of the 13 states had to agree on any law or decision. • States were afraid that a small group of states might become to powerful.

7. Weaknesses of the Articles #3 • No single leader controlled the government. • States were afraid that by giving one person too much power, that person might become like a monarch.

8. Weaknesses of the Articles #4 • Congress could not raise a national army without the permission of the states. • States were afraid that the national government would use such an army to make them obey national laws.

9. Weaknesses of the Articles #5 • Congress could not collect taxes. • States were afraid that if more money were needed for the government that taxes would be raised without their approval. • Americans continued to believe that there should be no taxation without representation.

10. Weaknesses of the Articles #6 • Congress could not make laws about trade. • States were afraid that a national government might enforce unfair trade laws such as the Intolerable Acts and the Tea Act.

11. Weaknesses of the Articles #7 • There was no plan for a national court system. • When disagreements would arise between states, or between a single person and their state, there was not a national court to settle the dispute.

12. What’s the Problem? • George Washington called it a half-starved, limping government. • There was not a national capital where representatives could meet. • Congress did not have the power to print or coin money.

13. Problems from the Start • Inflation was a problem for the new states. • Inflation occurs when more and more money is needed to buy the same goods. • During the years 1781-1789, goods that used to cost two cents would cost twenty dollars.

14. Will the New Nation Survive? • Many Americans began to worry that the new nation would not survive. • Several Americans began to question the need for a new form of government.