Chapter 2 Origins of Am. Government Section 3 The Critical Period

Objectives: *Describe the structure of the government set up under the Articles of Confederation. *Explain why the weaknesses of the Articles led to a critical period for the government in the 1870s. *Describe how a growing need for a stronger national government led to plans for a Constitutional Convention

The Critical Period The First and Second Continental Congresses rested on no legal base. They were called in haste to meet an emergency and they were intended to be temporary Something more regular and permanent was clearly needed

The Critical Period The Articles of Confederation * Richard Henry Lee’s resolution leading to the Declaration of Independence also had called on the Second Continental Congress to propose “a plan of confederation” * A plan to unite the colonies * On November 15, 1777, the delegates approved a plan of government

The Critical Period * This document was called The Articles of Confederation * It established “a firm league of friendship” among the States * Under this plan, each State kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, jurisdiction, and right that was expressly delegated to the United States in Congress.

The Critical Period * The States came together for their common defense, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare *The Articles had to be ratified (formal approval) by each of the 13 States. * Eleven States approved in 1 year * Delaware approved in February, 1779 * Maryland approved in March of 1781

The Critical Period Government Structure * The Articles set up a simple government * A Congress was the sole body created and Unicameral (one house) * Delegates chosen yearly by the States * Each State had one vote, no matter the population or wealth of the State

The Critical Period * The Articles did not establish an executive branch or a judicial branch * Congress would choose one member to be the presiding officer (chair of Congress) * There was no President of the US

The Critical Period Powers of Congress * It could make war and peace * It could send and receive ambassadors * It could set up a money system * It could establish post offices * It could build a navy * It could raise an army by asking the States for troops * It could fix the uniform standards of weights and measures * It could settle disputes among the States

The Critical Period State Obligations * The States pledged to obey the Articles and the acts of Congress * They promised to provide troops and funds when requested by Congress * They were treat citizens of other States fairly and equally * They would give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other State

The Critical Period * They agreed to surrender fugitives from justice to one another * They would submit their disputes to Congress * Beyond this, the States retained those powers not explicitly given to the Congress

The Critical Period Weaknesses: * Congress did not have the power to tax and could only raise money by asking the States. * Most States ignored any request for money from Congress – very little money was raised this way * Borrowing was a sore subject since so much was done during the Revolutionary War and much was not paid back

The Critical Period * Congress did not have the power to regulate trade between States * This would be a major issue that led to the Constitution * They lacked the power to make State obey their laws * Congress had to get permission from 9 of the 13 States to exercise any power they did not have

The Critical Period * Finally, the Articles could only be changed if all 13 States agreed to it. * Not one Amendment was ever passed during the period of time

The Critical Period The Critical Period, the 1780s * The Treaty of Paris confirmed America’s victory over Great Britain * Economic and political problems began right away * The weaknesses of the Articles led to most of the problems the government had

The Critical Period * A central government that was unable to act, the States bickered among themselves, and grew increasingly jealous and suspicious of one another * Central government got very little money from the States, led to more problems * Several States made foreign agreements among themselves, without approval of the National Government

The Critical Period * The State’s tax each other’s goods * The States each had their own currency * There was no backing of these currencies * Economic chaos was rampant and led to much violence in the States * Shay’s Rebellion came about because of this chaos

The Critical Period Shay’s Rebellion * In Western Massachusetts, many farmers had lost their farms since they did not have the money to pay back the loans. * They also lost their possessions as well * They were not able to pay their taxes as well and this led to more problems for the farmers.

The Critical Period * Daniel Shay in 1786 led an uprising that forced the Supreme Court in Springfield, MA to close. * They also had an unsuccessful attack one year later on a federal arsenal. * State forces led to quiet this rebellion and forced Shay and his followers to move to Vermont.

The Critical Period A Need for Stronger Government * The Articles proved to be too weak to govern the United States * In January, 1786, all States were called to a meeting to recommend a federal plan for regulation commerce (trade). * That meeting was in Annapolis, MD on Sept. 11 th, 1786 * Only 5 of the 13 States showed up

The Critical Period * In Mid-February, 1787 seven States named delegates to this convention in Philadelphia, PA * Congress also urged the other States to name delegates to this meeting * The Philadelphia meeting became the Constitutional Convention.