The Articles of Confederation Ms. Masellis Benchmark: SS.7.C.1.5 Civics

After The American Revolution

WANTED: A government that……. Has enough ________ to do its job Doesn’t give anyone too ______ power Considers the needs of all _________ Lets people have a ________ Protects individual __________ POWER WANTED: A government that……. MUCH THE STATES SAY RIGHTS

The Articles Of Confederation In 1777, the Americans wrote their first plan for government in a document called the The Articles Of Confederation ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

The Articles of Confederation A confederation is a _________ of individuals _______ together for a _________. group united purpose

The Articles of Confederation They started by drafting a document called The Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation explained how the 13 states would be governed as one nation. Each state was independent and had it’s own government. Each state would send representatives to the “Congress of the Confederation,” a lawmaking body. Congress was the only branch of government. (NO PRESIDENT OR COURTS) In Congress, each state got one vote. The Articles of Confederation

PROS States get to keep their ______ and ____________ No _____________ telling the states what to do Congress had the power to create a _________ to ________all the states power independence PROS government military protect

CONS Congress had no way to __________ its _______! Congress had no power to collect _________ to pay for the military! The Articles could only be _________ if ______ the states agreed! enforce laws CONS taxes changed ALL

QUICK QUIZ

 Think About It  True  False Under the Articles of Confederation, a President would lead the country. Think About It  True  False 

Under the Articles of Confederation, states would be independent. Think About It   True  False

 Think About It  True  False Under the Articles, states with more people got more votes in Congress. Think About It  True  False 

The Articles of Confederation created the first American government. Think About It   True  False

Different states had different needs for government to meet. Think About It   True  False

An event led by Daniel Shay in 1786 when 2,000 Massachusetts farmers rebelled against land foreclosure and debt from the Revolutionary War. Congress would not respond because it was too weak and did not have it’s own army. This led representatives from five states to meet and to call for a constitutional convention. Shay’s Rebellion

In 1787, Representatives from every state except Rhode Island met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles. This meeting was called The Constitutional Convention because they ended up doing more than just fixing the Articles…. THEY WROTE THE CONSTITUTION. Lets Fix This Thing

A New Idea! Articles of Confederation New Idea 1 Branch Legislative—makes laws 3 Branches Legislative: Congress/ Make laws Judicial: Courts/ Interpret Laws Executive: President/ Carry out Laws

Under the Articles of Confederation, each state got one vote no matter how many people it had. Both large and small states had the same amount of votes Was this fair? Votes

Battle of the Plans The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan Two different plans emerged – one favoring small states and one favoring large states. The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan Legislative branch has ___ “chambers” Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s ___________ ________ states would have more power Legislative branch has ___ “chamber” Each state gets ___ vote ________ states would have more power 2 1 Battle of the Plans 1 population Smaller Larger

The Constitution Solution The two states FINALLY reached a compromise Legislative: Makes laws Divide Congress Into Two Houses Senate House of Representatives Each state gets 2 votes. The more people the state has, the more votes it gets! The Constitution Solution Executive: Carries out laws Judicial: Interprets laws

The Constitution was the second and final attempt to write a document that would govern the United States, and we still follow it today. The constitution also solved some other problems found in the articles of Confederation The Articles didn’t require states to treat citizens from other states the same as their own citizens, BUT the Constitution does. The Articles couldn’t be changed unless ALL states agree, but the Constitution can be changed if ¾ of the states agreed and 2/3 of Congress agrees. The Articles didn’t require states to follow the laws Congress passed, but the constitution says federal laws are superior to state laws. The Constitution

QUICK QUIZ

 Think About It  True  False The Articles required states to treat citizens from other states the same as their own citizens. Think About It  True  False 

Think About It citizens same The Constitution requires each state to treat ________ of other states the ______ as it treats its own citizens. Think About It citizens same

 Think About It  All states  A majority of states How many states had to agree in order for the Articles of Confederation to be changed? Think About It   All states  A majority of states

The Constitution can be changed if ________________ of the members of Congress and ________________ of the states agree. Think About It two-thirds (2/3) three-fourths (3/4)

 Think About It  True  False The Articles of Confederation required states to follow the laws Congress passed. Think About It  True  False 

The Constitution says that the laws passed by Congress are _________ to laws passed by the _______. Think About It superior states

Created a President Created a Government Had one branch of government Created a court system Gave large and small states the same power Created a Congress Compromised between large and small states Didn’t let Congress enforce its laws Created a military Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both.