Articles of Confederation USA

Articles of Confederation

By Katy Minnix

THe Articles of ConfederatioN

• FIRST CONSTITUTION for the United States of America

  • Agreed to establish a confederacy

  • Held the 13 new states together during the revolution

The Articles of Confederation

What was its purpose?

• Take 13 states acting as individual nations and unify them under one government.

The Articles of Confederation

When did it happen?

• 1776 - Second Continental Congress appoints committee to create the governing document for the United States of America

• 1777 - SCC approved the draft ​and sent it to the states for final approval

• 1781 - each state finally approves the Articles of Confederation as the formal agreement on the new government​

Multiple Choice

What was the first governing document for the United States of America?

• The Articles of Confederation

• The Constitution

• The Bill of Rights

• The Declaration of Independence

Articles of Confederation

How did it structure the new government?

• The states agreed to have each other's back

• CONFEDERATION style government

  • Strong state governments and a weaker national government

• Only one branch in national government

  • The Legislative Branch​

Articles of Confederation

How did law making work?

• Congress was made up of 2-7 delegates from each state

• Congress had very little power

  • No executive branch to enforce the law

  • No judicial branch to uphold the law​

• Declare war

• Make treaties

• Settle disputes between states

• Request money from the states

• Direct the military​

National Powers

• Tax

• Create courts

• Enforce (or not enforce) laws passed by Congress

• ​Any power or responsibility not specifically given to the national government

State Powers

Articles of Confederation

Poll

If the national government requested money from the states do you think the states were likely to pay up?

• Yes

• No

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

National government can't enforce taxes

• Can't raise money

  • can't provide services

  • can't pay debts

  • can't pay soldiers​

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

National government can't regulate currency

• Each state could have their own currency

  • Economic nightmare domestically and abroad

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

No national court system

• No system to uphold the law

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

No national executive branch

• No one to enforce the law

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

National government can't Regulate trade

• Each state had it's own rules for commerce (business)

  • International trade was a nightmare​

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

one vote per state

• Equal representation regardless of a state's population size

  • Unfair to more populated states

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

2/3rds majority required to pass laws

• Very difficult to get 2/3rds of any group to agree on anything

Problems under the Articles of Confederation

unanimous vote required to make any changes to the AoC

• Essentially impossible to make any changes or improvements to the Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Shay's Rebellion

• Many people were suffering due to the weakness of the national government

• Daniel Shay and farmers in Massachusetts instigated a rebellion against the government​

• This was the final straw that led to the Constitutional Convention!​

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