The Articles of Confederation I

The Articles of Confederation I

Objective: I will be able to assess the effectiveness of the government under the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation

From Independent States to a Republic

Multiple Choice

What was the first plan for a United States government called?

• The Constitution

• The Articles of Confederation

• Confederate States

• Union Agreement

The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government and strong state governments.

 It was important for the Second Continental Congress to create a plan for government that would satisfy the needs of all 13 states, The states were united against the British, but would they be able to work together and still maintain their independence? How would each state's government be organized? After rejecting British rule, the states' first task was to establish their own political institutions.

State Constitutions

In May 1776, the Continental Congress asked the states to organize their governments. Each state moved quickly to adopt a state constitution, or plan of government. By the end of 1776, eight states had drafted constitutions. New York and Georgia followed in 1777 and Massachusetts in 1780. Connecticut and Rhode Island kept their colonial charters as state constitutions

State Constitutions

Their experience with British rule made Americans cautious about placing too much power in the hands of a single ruler. For that reason, the states adopted constitutions that limited the power of the governor. Pennsylvania even replaced the office of governor with an elected council of 12 members.

Multiple Choice

What is a Constitution?

• A book about the U.S.

• A plan of attack

• A plan to defend the coast

• A plan for government

Limiting Power

States also divided government functions between the governor (or Pennsylvania's council) and the legislature. Most states established two-house, or bicameral, legislatures to divide the power even further.

Multiple Choice

What does Bicameral mean?

• one house of legislature

• one house of congress

• two house legislature

• President and Congress

Limited Power

The writers of the constitutions not only wanted to prevent abuses of power in the states, but they also wanted to keep power in the hands of the people. State legislators were popularly elected, and elections were frequent. In most states, only white males who were at least 21 years old could vote. These citizens also had to own a certain amount of property or pay a certain amount of taxes. Some states allowed free African American males to vote.

Multiple Select

What were the requirements to vote in most states? (check ALL that apply)

• Any one over the age of 21.

• Men over 21 who paid taxes.

• Women over 21 who owned property.

• Men over 21 who owned property

Limited Power

State constitutions generally restricted the powers of the governors, which made the legislatures the most powerful branch of government. The state legislatures struggled to make taxes more fair, but disagreements arose. New challenges emerged as dependent colonies became self-governing states.

Multiple Choice

Cause: State constitutions restricted powers of governors. What is the Effect?

• Legislatures became the most powerful branch of government.

• The Executive branch became the most powerful branch of government.

• The Legislature and Governor shared power equally.

Forming a Republic

Americans agreed that their country should be a republic, a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives. They could not agree, however, on the organization and powers of their new republic. At first, most Americans favored a weak central government. They assumed the states would be like small, independent countries-similar to the way the colonies had been organized. The states would act independently on most issues, working together through a central government only to wage war and handle relations with other nations. 

Multiple Choice

a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives.

• Dictatorship

• Republic

• Monarchy

• Military Rule

Planning a New Government

In 1776 the Second Continental Congress appointed a committee to draw up a plan for a new government. After much debate, the Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation in November 1777. The Articles, America's first constitution, provided for a new central government under which the states kept most of their power. For the states, the Articles of Confederation were "a firm league of friendship" in which each state retained "its sovereignty, freedom and independence." Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had the authority to conduct foreign affairs, maintain armed 

forces, borrow money, and issue currency.

Multiple Select

What did Congress have the authority to do under the Articles of Confederation? (check ALL that apply)

• Conduct Foreign Affairs

• Borrow money

• Impose taxes

• issue currency

• maintain armed forces

Planning a New Government

Congress, however, did not have the Power to regulate trade, force citizens to join the army, or impose taxes. If Congress needed to raise money or troops, it had to ask the state legislatures-but they were not required to contribute.

Multiple Select

Congress had the power to force citizens to join the army under the Articles of Confederation.

• False

• True

Planning a New Government

The Articles of Confederation were not wholly supported by the states. Under the new plan, each state had one vote, regardless of its population, and all states had to approve the Articles and any amendments. States with large populations, however, believed they should have more votes. The states were also divided by whether or not they claimed land in the West. Maryland refused to approve the Articles until New York, Virginia, and other states abandoned, or gave up, land claims west of the Appalachian Mountains. Finally the states settled their differences. With Maryland's ratification, all 13 states approved the Articles. On March 1, 1781, the Confederation formally became the government of the United States of America.

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles of Confederation, how many voted did each state have in government?

• Two Votes

• One vote

• Votes were based on population

Multiple Choice

Maryland refused to approve the Articles until other states gave up what?

• Their right to vote

• Claims of parts of the Atlantic Ocean

• claims to land west of the Appalachian Mountains

• $2 per person living in the state

Multiple Select

abandoned means...

• to give up

• to build up

• to hang on to

• to keep secret

The Articles of Confederation

What were the problems?

Open Ended

EXIT TICKET: What was a problem with the Articles of Confederation?