Articles of Confederation Our First Government

Our First form of Government States retained most of the power and the central government had a very limited role in the governing process. Loyalty most citizens had was to their state first and foremost.

Powers Under the Articles of Confederation Declare war and make peace Enter into treaties and alliances Establish Army and Navy Requisition men and money from states Financial Regulate coinage Borrow money Fix uniform weights and measures Other Create admiralty courts Create a postal system Adjudicate disputes between states

Accomplishments under the Articles States gave up claims to western lands Maryland then signed AC Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Abolished land claims Set up procedures for new states Abolished slavery in NW territory Education laws

Weaknesses of the Articles Lacked power to: Compel states to obey Treaties it negotiated Compel states to meet military needs Regulate interstate commerce and foreign commerce Collect taxes directly from people Compel states to meet financial obligations of govt. Provide a sound monetary system Unanimous vote to amend 9 out of 13 approval on new laws

Shay’s Rebellion Central government could do little to maintain peace and order. States bickered with each other. 1784 financial crisis – banks calling in loans, states demanded taxes Daniel Shays began disrupting trials of debtors Attempted to seize a military arsenal Effort failed.

Shay’s Rebellion Demonstrated that the government could not protect citizens from armed rebellion This event caused the nation’s leaders to take action to continue with the American experiment. Daniel Shay

Constitutional Convention Meeting called to ‘revise’ the Articles of Confederation. Members saw the serious weaknesses Issues: Relationships among the states and national government Powers of the national legislature Need for executive leadership Need for economic stability

Constitutional Convention Fifty-five men attended and about 40 participated actively 33 were lawyers 3 physicians 50% College graduates 7 former governors 6 plantation owners 8 business men

Constitutional Convention Procedural rules Agreed to maintain total secrecy Simple majority present to conduct business Simple majority would move a motion forward James Madison – ‘father of Constitution’ kept personal journal about Convention.

Factions rear their ugly head! Alexander Hamilton supported near- monarchism Some decentralized republicanism George Washington and Ben Franklin wanted stronger central government Some left when they realized federalist tone of meeting

Summary Questions Detail the Articles of Confederation and some of its weaknesses.