VSC 3.1--Articles of Confederation: Strengths and Weaknesses

D. Hales
Swansea High School
US History

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​VSC 3.1: Articles of Confederation--Pros and Cons

Students will be able to analyze explain and debate the successes and failures of the Articles of Confederation

​Learning Objective

Standard 1: Demonstrate an understanding of the influence of the Atlantic World on the regional and national development of republicanism and federalism from 1607–1815.

​Standards

SC Social Studies College and Career Ready Standards--2019

​Articles of Confederation

--After the war, the founding fathers (men who had been leaders in the 2nd Continental Congress) had to run a brand new country

--Many Americans were afraid of a strong central government, because of their experience with England. They wanted the states to be more powerful.

--The result was the Articles of Confederation--our first constitution as a country; with a weak central government. This system was actually created during the Revolution (1777) and was only good for fighting the war!

--This agreement was nothing really more than a “league of friendship” between the new states; the federal government couldn’t make the states do many things they didn’t want to do.

--Each state was really like its own country--had their own military (militias), printed its own money and they all competed with each other over the new Western lands.
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Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

What type of federal government was created by the Articles of Confederation?

• Strong

• Weak

• Theocracy

• Dictatorship

Multiple Choice

When were the Articles of Confederation written?

• In 1607 after the founding of Jamestown

• In 1754 at the start of the French and Indian War

• In 1783 after the signing of the Treaty of Paris

• In 1777 by the Second Continental Congress as a plan for the colonies to cooperate against the British

Multiple Choice

Under the Articles of Confederation, who had most of the power?

• The states

• The federal government

• The Church of England

• Parliament

​AOC--Strengths

Strengths--Allowed the federal government to declare war, , sign treaties, make alliances, appoint ambassadors, negotiate with Native Americans, Northwest Ordinance

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Subject | Subject

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Multiple Choice

Which was NOT a strength the federal government had under the Articles of Confederation?

• They could declare war

• They could sign treaties, make alliances and appoint ambassadors

• They could force the states to pay taxes to the federal government in order to create a national army

• They could negotiate with Native American nations

​Northwest Ordinance

--Collection of land ordinances that directed how the Northwest Territory would be prepared for sale to settlers, which in turn would generate income for the central government.

--These ordinances created the regulations that would organize the western expansion of the United States, created borders and determine how territories would be governed

--They also created rules for land ownership and how the territories would be allowed to join the union.

--The ordinances created rules for the treatment of Native Americans in the New Nation (tribal land rights were guaranteed), and, most importantly, they prohibited the system of slavery west and north of the Ohio River.​

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

Which was NOT true about the Northwest Ordinance?

• It created the rules for how territories would be governed and admitted to the US as states

• It gave the federal government power to print money and prohibited states from printing their own money

• It created a process for selling federal land to settlers and made the federal government a lot of money

• It recognized tribal land rights, prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory

​AOC--Weaknesses

​Weaknesses--

Could not imposed taxes on the states to pay for defense, or have a standing army. Only states could tax their citizens. Instead, under the AOC, the federal government could ask states for money and troops--they could always refuse.

This meant the federal government had problems borrowing money, since lenders weren’t sure they would be paid back.

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They couldn’t regulate trade or interfere with the activities of the states.

States were allowed to print their own money--this led to inflation and chaos

Without tariffs, there was no way to encourage American industry

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Other weaknesses and issues​

​--Each state had only one vote in Congress; no matter the size so populous states were not represented well.

--The only branch of government was Congress (the legislative branch). There was no president (executive branch) to enforce the laws or supreme court (judicial branch) to interpret them

--The Articles of Confederation could not be changed without a unanimous vote to do so. Problems then could not easily be fixed

Subject | Subject

Some text here about the topic of discussion

Multiple Choice

Which was a weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

• The federal government was too weak to run the country, and it was difficult to amend the rules because all changes had to be unanimous

• All of the choices are true

• The federal government couldn't regulate trade between the states

• The federal government had no authority to tax the states

Multiple Choice

This was the only branch of government under the Articles of Confederation?

• The Executive Branch under the President

• The Judicial Branch under the Supreme Court

• The Moral Branch under a board of religious leaders of the Church of England

• The Legislative Branch under Congress

​Shay's Rebellion

--Shows the need for a new constitution

--May 1786: MA government drastically raises property taxes on farmers; those who couldn’t pay lost their homes

--Farmers take over the courthouse to prevent being evicted

--The federal government doesn’t have the power to stop this

--Eventually MA is able to put down the rebellion; leaders are pardoned

--But people start to agree that the Articles of Confederation need to be fixed!​

Subject | Subject

Articles of Confederation Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lBWs9LpCg8I

Multiple Choice

What was the cause of Shay's Rebellion?

• Massachusetts farmers were angry because of what they saw as unfair taxes that caused them to lose their land

• Colonists rebelled against the British because of taxation without representation

• Native Americans rebelled against losing their land

• Enslaved people rose up for their freedom across the new Southern states

Multiple Choice

Which was an effect of Shay's Rebellion?

• Massachusetts farmers were angry because of what they saw as unfair taxes that caused them to lose their land

• The federal government didn't have the power to respond; this showed the weaknesses of the AOC and encouraged people to think about creating a new type of government

• The US declared war against England because of no taxation without representation

• The federal government responded quickly and ended the rebellion

Open Ended

Why do you think the colonists first chose a weak system of government with the Articles of Confederation?

Audio Response

Why were some colonists and their leaders scared of creating a new constitution?

Open Audio Recorder

Open Ended

Was the Articles of Confederation mostly a failure or success? Defend your answers with at least three pieces of evidence from this Quizizz.