Creating the Constitution

2 The Articles of Confederation During the Revolution, the new United States needed a functioning government Modeled after colonial governments States would retain sovereignty Founders were fearful of concentrated power due to past experience with the British

3 A Limited Government Articles established a “firm league of friendship” among the states Bills were passed on nine of thirteen votes Amending the Articles took unanimous consent of the states

4 Structure of Government Unicameral (single house) legislative body Each state had one vote regardless of population size Congress given sole authority to govern the country An executive committee oversaw government when Congress was not in session Congress would establish temporary courts to hear disputes among the states

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6 Powers Granted to Government under the Articles of Confederation Declare war and make peace Make treaties with foreign countries Establish an army and navy Appoint high-ranking military officials Requisition, print, and borrow money Establish weights and measures Hear disputes among the states related to trade or boundaries

7 Powers Denied to Government No power to raise funds for an army or navy No power to tax, impose tariffs, or collect duties No executive branch to enforce laws No power to control trade among the states No power to force states to honor obligations No power to regulate the value of currency

8 Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation Administered the seven-year war effort Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783 Established the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

9 Problems Facing the New Nation Trade with foreign nations Financing the nation Foreign relations Interstate relations A 1783 cartoon satirizing relations between Britain and America

10 Problems with Trade U.S. no longer the favorite trading partner of Great Britain –U.S. exports to British ports had to be on British ships –Many U.S.-produced goods were barred from British ports –Britain sent vast amounts of cheap goods to U.S. Potential Remedy –Establish a tariff on British goods Weakness in Articles of Confederation preventing this solution

Shays Rebellion The American Revolution ended in 1783 The money paid to the soldiers who had fought in the Revolution was worthless. This was because the government was not allowed to raise taxes in the Articles of Confederation. As a result, the farmers were unable to pay their debts. 11

Shays Rebellion In 1786, an armed revolt by farmers against the state government took place. Led by Daniel Shays, the farmers began to forcibly prevent the courts from meeting so they couldn’t take anyone else’s land away or put them in jail. 12

Shays Rebellion Shays’ Rebellion showed the leaders of America that the Articles of Confederation were too weak, and a stronger national government was needed. 13