Articles of Confederation

The Articles of

Confederation

The colonists’ ragged army had defeated the
mighty British. What did that mean for the
men and women who had risked their lives
for independence?

The Articles of Confederation

⚫

10/13 states had own

constitution

⚫

Conflict between states

⚫

States not fully united

⚫

The Articles were accepted by

Congress in 1781 and is

considered the first national

constitution

Multiple Choice

What were the Articles of Confederation?

• The first constitution of the United States

• A treaty between the United States and Great Britain

• A book about the Revolutionary War

The Articles of Confederation

⚫

Americans distrust

powerful central

government

⚫

In the Articles the state

governments limit the

power of the national

Congress

Multiple Choice

Why did the delegates who wrote the Articles of Confederation give most of the powers to the individual states?

• They wanted to create a strong central government

• They were wary of creating a strong central government that could become oppressive

• They were required to do so by Great Britain

Multiple Choice

Which of the following best defines the vocabulary word "wary"?

• Brave and confident

• Suspicious and cautious

• Happy and carefree

Weaknesses of the Articles of

Confederation

⚫

Each state:

⚫

Made own laws

⚫

Collect own taxes

⚫

Printed own money

⚫

Congress did not have the power to

enforce laws

Multiple Choice

What was one major limitation of the central government under the Articles of Confederation?

• It had the power to tax goods and regulate trade

• It had no way to enforce its laws

• It had unlimited power over the states

Strengths of the Articles of

Confederation

⚫

The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed

⚫

The Northwest Ordinance was passed

⚫

Had the power to declare war and peace,

print money, make treaties and settle

state disputes

⚫

Settling Western lands

Settling Western Lands

⚫

The Land Ordinance of 1785,

stated that

land in the west was to be surveyed using a

grid system to establish 6 mile blocks

⚫

The Northwest Ordinance

assisted in the

orderly expansion of the United States, it

outlined a plan for applying for statehood to

western territories

⚫

5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt

⚫

Population of 60,000 could become a state

Settling Western lands

⚫

The Northwest Ordinance

provides an orderly

settlement process in the

West

⚫

It promised

⚫

no slavery

⚫

education

⚫

freedom of religion

⚫

trial by jury

Multiple Choice

What was the Northwest Ordinance and why was it important?

• A law that established a system for settling the western lands and creating new states

• A treaty between the United States and Native American tribes

• A law that gave more power to the central government

Multiple Choice

How did the Northwest Ordinance help to ensure that the new states would be democratic and free?

• It required new states to have a republican form of government

• It gave more power to the central government

• It guaranteed certain rights to people living in the territories

Reasons for Shays’s Rebellion

⚫

⚫

Farmers have no money

because they were not paid

during the war

⚫

Farmers are required to pay

debts (heavy land taxes)

⚫

Farmer are subject to jail and

loss of land

In 1786 a rebellion led by Daniel Shays a farmer from Mass.

Shays’s Rebellion

⚫

Poor farmers are not

represented in the

Mass legislature and

cannot pass debt

relief laws

⚫

The rebellion will free

debtors from prisons

and close courts that

are hearing cases

against farmers

Shays’s Rebellion

⚫

The Mass militia is called out to stop it

⚫

Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who

support their stance and will close

courthouses and demand financial help

from the Congress

⚫

Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national

leaders to create a stronger central

government

Open Ended

Do you think the Articles of Confederation were a good system of government? Why or why not?

Answer in a complete sentence.

Poll

If you were a delegate at the Constitutional Convention, would you have supported the Articles of Confederation or a stronger central government? Why.

• Articles of Confederation because it gave more power to individual states

• Stronger central government because a weak federal system led to problems under the Articles of Confederation

• It's hard to say

Multiple Choice

What can we learn from the Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Ordinance about the importance of having a strong central government?

• A strong central government is always necessary

• A weak federal system can lead to problems and conflicts

• The Articles of Confederation and the Northwest Ordinance have no relevance today