Warm Up: Last class we heard from 5 historical figures with different perspectives on the type of government that would be best for the new nation. Now, take on the perspective of a founding father. Write 5+ sentences describing the type of government he might want. What types of rules would he think are important to the United States? What experiences might shape his view on what is best for the U.S. (King George, Revolutionary War, etc.)?

What did the first government of the United States look like? Today’s Question: What did the first government of the United States look like?

Agenda: Articles of Confederation: what worked, what didn’t work? Create diagram: What would you change?

Important Vocab: National Government: the central government that controls the nation State Governments: the government that controls a specific state Executive: the leader of the national government who has the power to enforce laws Court System: the branch of government that hears cases and decides who is right Congress: the branch of government that makes laws

Articles of Confederation: First set of laws governing the United States of America Under the Articles of Confederation, the state governments were stronger that the national government. This made the county a loose confederation of states.

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? With your group: Read/look at the picture on your placecard Find the weakness on your chart Fill in “where did this idea come from” and “problems that occurred.”

What should be changed? Old Rules New Rules

Where did this Idea come from? Problems that occurred… Weakness Where did this Idea come from? Problems that occurred…   1. No chief executive (No king or President leading the new nation) There was a lack of leadership for the new nation. No one to make tough decisions or represent USA to other nations. 2. no power to raise money or tax citizens; national government could only request money from the states

  3. no power to draft an army; the national government could only request that states send soldiers for defense Continental army dissolved after the war. Memory of a large army of british soldiers in the colonies was too painful! 4. new laws for nation need approval of 9 of the 13 states 5. No common currency; states printed their own money. Before the Revolutionary war, the 13 colonies used British pounds, shillings, and pence in silver. The new nation did not have silver.

You’re invited! Design an invitation that might be sent to people who might attend the Constitutional Convention. Your invitation should include information about when the convention will begin and end, where it will take place, who has been invited, and what will be accomplished at the meeting. Invitations must also include a bold title, a catchy statement to entice people to attend, and other creative touches common in formal invitations.