The Articles of Confederation Chapter 2 Section 3

Section 3 Government Under the Articles of Confederation By March 1781, all 13 colonies had ratified or approved, the Articles of Confederation. The central government under the Articles was a unicameral, or single-chamber, legislature. When the legislature, or Congress, was not in session, the government was run by a Committee of the States.

Section 3 Government Under the Articles of Confederation (cont.) Each state had one vote in Congress— no matter its size or population. Congress had only those powers mentioned in the Articles, such as: make war and peace, raise and equip a navy, maintain an army by asking states for troops, and regulate Indian affairs.

Section 3 Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation The Articles outlined a very weak central government and strong state governments. Problems: Central government could not regulate trade, or establish a currency. No power to tax, or request financial support. No national judicial system to settle disputes between states. The legislature had no power to make state governments obey laws or policies. The legislature had no power to regulate commerce, and states charged tariffs on goods coming from other states.

Section 3 The Need for Stronger National Government (cont.) Shays’ Rebellion–an uprising by armed groups of farmers that forced several courts to close to prevent farm foreclosures. In 1787 Alexander Hamilton and James Madison pushed for convention in Philadelphia to revise the Articles. favored stronger national government