The Articles of Confederation

1. The Articles of Confederation United States of America First Government

2. Objectives • Describe the early government of the United States • Identify some reasons for opposition to the Articles of Confederation • Understand the causes and effects of Shays’ Rebellion

3. The New Nation’s Government • Served as the 1st constitution for the colonies • Confederation is a form of government • The colonies remain separate and independent • They also band together to form a cohesive defense • Approved November 1777

4. New Government • Each state created own government • Republics: people elect representatives to govern on their behalf • A document that created the 1st government of the newly independent United States • Written by John Dickinson • Created a “Firm league of friendship” between the states

5. Approval • Eleven states ratified within one year • Delaware ratified in February of 1779 • Maryland was the last to ratify in March of 1781

6. Articles of Confederation • Unicameral legislature—one house government • Each state sends delegates • 1 vote/state regardless of population • Congress chose one of its members as presiding officer • No executive or judicial branch • 9 state votes to pass any law

7. Powers of Congress • Make war and peace • Send and receive ambassadors • Make treaties • Borrow money • Set up money system • Establish post office

8. Powers of Congress • Build a navy • Raise army by asking states for troops • Fix uniform standards for weights and measures • Settle disputes among states

9. State Obligations • Pledged to obey Articles and acts of Congress • Treat citizens of other states fairly and equal to their own • Give full faith and credit to public acts, records and judicial proceedings of every other state • Agreed to surrender fugitives from justice to one another

10. State Obligations • Submit disputes to congress for settlement • Allow open travel and trade between states

11. Accomplishments • Created the Northwest Territory Act of 1787 • Allowed new states into the union

12. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Law that created a system of government for western lands • Created a procedure used to allow new states • Resulted in states of OH, IN, MI, MN, WI • Slavery prohibited in new states

13. Problems • States not fairly represented in Congress • No central authority to negotiate with foreign countries • No authority to make states comply with legislation • No power to collect taxes or call troops into service • No common currency

14. Problems Continued • All states had to agree to amend the constitution • 9 of 13 states had to agree to any new legislation • No system or authority to borrow money • Articles were simply a firm league of friendship

15. Weaknesses: Fundamental Problem • Created a WEAK national government subject to states • US government unable to force state compliance with federal laws • States had all the power • Inefficient Congress • No strong military • Unable to control economy

16. Problems Created by the Articles • State disputes over borders • States levied heavy taxes on themselves to pay for war, but did not send money to the national government • States created their own currencies • States refused to acknowledge any national law they did not like

17. Shays’ Rebellion--1787 • A failed revolt of 1500 poor MA farmers • Led by Daniel Shays • Led to public calls to fix the AOC government

18. Shay’s Rebellion • Massachusetts farmers • Rebelled against foreclosures on property • Leaders of states were convinced that more rebellion was likely without a stronger central authority • Led to the Annapolis Conference

19. Annapolis Conference • Called to discuss how to fix the government to avoid another revolution • States were in debt • Taxes too high—one of the causes of Shay’s Rebellion • Interstate commerce a mess • Foreign trade problems

20. From the Articles Confederation to The Constitution: Quick Overview

21. Articles of Confederation: • Central Government: unify the colonies • The states were not willing to give up their own powers to a central government. • Why would the colonies be intimidated by the thought of having a strong central government? • Plan for a “perpetual union” the Articles of Confederation were adopted on Nov. 15, 1777

22. Provisions of the Articles: • The Articles created a loose confederation of independent states that gave limited powers to a central government. • The government would consist of a single house of Congress, where each state would get one vote. • Small states vs. Big States.

23. Provisions of the Articles • Congress had the power to set up a postal department, to raise armed forces, and to control the development of the western territories. • The central government could also estimate the costs of the government and request donations from the states.

24. Provisions of the Articles: • With the consent of nine of the thirteen states, Congress could also coin, borrow, or appropriate money as well as declare war and enter into treaties -and alliances with foreign nations

25. The Problem of Land: • The states with claims of frontier land wanted to control as much land as they could. • The states with no frontier claims wanted the government to sell the territories so that all states would profit. • The states finally agree to give control of all western lands to the federal government. • These lands will now be divided and sold.

26. Other Problems of the Articles • Congress was denied the power to levy taxes. • Any amendment to the articles required the unanimous approval of all 13 states. • The weak central government had an inability to regulate trade • The government could not pay off the debts from the revolution; including paying soldiers who had fought in the war.

27. Shays’ Rebellion: • In 1786, the Massachusetts legislature placed a tax on land. • Unable to make money off his crops, Shays was angry because farms were being shut down and auctioned off. • The former Revolutionary Captain Daniel Shays leads 1,500 farmers to seize the federal arsenal. • The rebellion was put down but it raised questions about how well the Articles could deal with civil issues, and people began to call for more central power.

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