Articles of Confederation

Vocabulary Bicameral- Having two separate lawmaking chambers Republic- A government in which citizens rule through elected representatives

Objective- Analyze the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. EQ- Why does society need a government?

tch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8 What were some positives and negatives about the articles? min

Bell Ringer Who won the American Revolutionary War? What is the next step for America?

The Americans won the Revolutionary War Need to set up a new government to run the newly found country. Why do you think the Americans want State governments and a National government?

13 States needed a plan for government. Why? What issues do you think will come up?

State Governments Congress asked states to organize their own government in 1776 What was happening during 1776 in North America? All the States would have their own constitution by 1780 States did not want too much power in the hands of one ruler. Why do you think that is?

States divided power between the governor (or council) and the legislature Most States set up a bicameral legislatures to divide the work of the government First state constitutions=keep power in the hands of the people Who had more power, the governor or the legislature?

Because of the constitution limited the powers of the governors, the legislatures became the most powerful branch of government.

Central Government The American people also needed to form a national government (AKA Central Government) Turn to your shoulder partner and discuss why this would be needed.

American people agreed the new country needed to be a republic- a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives. Could not agree on what powers the new republic’s government should have.

Why would the Americans want a weak central government (the national government) ?

States expected they would remain free to act independently on most issues States would rely on the central government only to wage war and handle foreign nations

Articles of Confederation Second Continental Congress (1776) appointed a committee to draw up a plan for a new central government Congress adopts the Articles of the Confederation What other document was created in 1776?

Under the Articles Strengths Conduct foreign affairs Maintain armed forces Borrow money Issue currency

Weaknesses- No power to… Regulate foreign trade Force citizens to join the army Force states to carry out laws Impose taxes All 13 States had to agree to any amendments No chief executive Weak central government What do taxes do for governments at the national, state, and local level? What issues come up with needing all states to agree on amendments?

Raises money If Congress needed money to raise money for troops- had to ask the states States did not have to contribute Each state only had one vote- If one state disagrees than an amendment would not pass

Central government did not have a chief executive (president or governor) What does a president or governor do?

Run the day to day operations of the government.

Early disputes Population- States with large populations believed they should have more votes Land- Some states claimed the same lands in the west Maryland refused to approve the Articles until NY, VA, and other states abandoned their land claims west of the App. Mtns

Once these states did- Confederation formally became the government of the USA AoC- Official government in 1781 Early Achievements- Formed the Treaty of Paris of 1783 Expanded some Foreign trade Helped settle and govern country’s western lands

In your journals, Analyze the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederations, including no power to tax, no common currency, no control of interstates commerce, and no executive branch. Why were these weaknesses issues for the AoC? At least FIVE sentences