Articles of Confederation Created Weak Central Government
1. Lesson 1: Articles of Confederation
OBJECTIVE:
Students will learn how the Articles of Confederation created
a weak central government and a loose alliance of
independent states.
KEY WORDS:
constitution: a document that sets out laws, principles,
organization, and processes for government
alliance: agreement between nations to aid and protect
each other
bill of rights: list of freedoms that the government
promises to protect
Articles of Confederation: first American constitution in
1777
2. The States Write Constitutions
States wrote constitutions
for 2 reasons
Virginia’s constitution
included a bill of rights
3. Several other states followed Virginia’s lead
STATE GOVERNMENTS
4. The Articles of Confederation
Delegates at Continental Congress believed
colonies needed to be united by a national govt
States feared a large and powerful central
government
PROCESSING: Why would states be fearful of
a controlling, central government that had
the power to tell them what to do and how to
do it?
5. Continental Congress
approved first American
constitution (Articles of
Confederation) in 1777
after MUCH DEBATE
6. Power of Congress
Each state sent 1 delegate to Congress = 1 vote
per state
7. NO PRESIDENT to execute laws
NO POLICE/MILITARY to enforce the laws
NO SYSTEM OF COURTS to settle conflicts
between states
PROCESSING: In looking at these 3
limitations, what is a potential problem with
this system?
8. Weaknesses of the Confederation
Conflicts between states
Money problems
11. Northwest Ordinance
1787: set up government for Northwest Territory
(Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, & Wisconsin)
Provided an example of a good way to admit
new states to the nation
One of the only successes that stemmed from
the Articles
12. Map of Northwest Territory, 1787
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
13. Shays’ Rebellion
Daniel Shays and
1,000 other farmers
stormed courthouses
in Massachusetts in
a revolt against the
mistreatment of the
farmers
14. Constitutional Convention is Called
Congress realized the Articles were not successful
Constitutional Convention was called in Philadelphia in
May 1787 to create a stronger, more structured
constitution
Notas do Editor
Power divided between an executive and a legislature EXECUTIVE = state governor (excluding Pennsylvania) LEGISLATURE = elected representatives by the voters to pass laws ENTER VISUAL OF GOVERNOR AND ELECTED OFFICIALS
Loose alliance between 13 states People feared the tyranny of British rule More Americans identified with their state than with the whole nation ENTER VISUAL OF ART OF CONFED
Could pass laws (only if 9 states approved) Could not regulate trade between states or between states and foreign countries Could not tax Could ask states to loan them money in order to raise funds for the national govt (state could refuse to give money) ENTER VISUAL OF DELEGATE OR VOTE
Disagreements arose and there was no unbiased party to decide on a solution - Without power to tax, Congress had no way of repaying national debts - Continental dollar had little value because it was not backed by gold or silver States started printing their own currency which made trade difficult between territories ENTER VISUAL OF GOLD AND SILVER (on this slide) and a slide with different state currencies
Enter visual of Northwest Territory (MAP)
Farmers borrowed money during the war for land, seed, animals, and tools After the war, prices fell and farmers could not pay back loans State governments reclaimed land and farms because debts could not be paid FIND PICTURE OF SHAYS’ REBELLION