Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock A More Perfect Union The Articles of Confederation
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 2 State Constitutions Britain ignored the terms of the Treaty of Paris, and kept troops at frontier posts in American territory. They believed the new American government was weak and ineffective.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 3 In May 1776 the Continental Congress asked the states to organize their governments. Because of their experience with British rule, the states limited the power of the governors.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 4 They also divided government functions between the governor and the legislature. Most states established two-house, or bicameral, legislatures to divide the power even further.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 5 Bicameral Legislature
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 6 To keep power in the hands of the people they held elections frequently.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 7 Forming a Republic Establishing separate state governments turned out to be much easier than creating a national government.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 8 They agreed the country should be a republic, a government in which the citizens rule through elected representatives, but disagreed on how to organize it.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 9 Most wanted a weak national government. The states would be independent —like the original colonies were. The states would act independently on most issues, working together through a national government only to wage war and handle relations with other nations.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 10 States = STRONG National Government = WEAK
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 11 Yeh! We don’t want another King George! Don’t give the national government too much power! Then we have to tax people so that we have money. That’s fine but we still have to work together in case of another war… This is getting really complicated! The states will never agree!
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 12 Planning a New Government At the beginning of the war, the Second Continental Congress wrote a plan of government called the Articles of Confederation, America's first constitution.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 13 Although it was not officially approved until March 1781, they followed it during the war. It allowed the states to keep their individual power but also formed an alliance or "a firm league of friendship.”
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 14 The Articles of Confederation only had a legislature (no president and no courts) because the legislature was run by “the people.”
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 15 Congress had to ask the state legislatures for money and troops, but the states did not have to contribute. Under the new plan, each state had one vote in Congress, regardless of its population, and all decisions had to be unanimous.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 16 The states with more people complained because they thought they should have more votes. The states also disagreed over which western land belonged to which colony.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 17 The Confederation Government The national government was too weak under the Articles of Confederation. 9 out of 13 states had to agree in order to pass a new law. Changes to it required a unanimous vote.
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 18 STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could conduct foreign affairs…
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 19 STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could maintain an army…
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 20 STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could issue currency (money)…
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 21 STRENGTHS of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could borrow money from other countries...
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 22 WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT force citizens to join the army…
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 23 WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Did NOT have an Executive Branch…
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 24 WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Did NOT have a Judicial branch…
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 25 WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT impose taxes...
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 26 WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT regulate currency from state to state...
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 27 WEAKNESSES of the government under the Articles of Confederation… Could NOT regulate trade...
Copyright 2005 Sherri K. Heathcock 28 Could not force citizens to join the army… Did not have a Judicial branch… Could not impose taxes…Could not regulate trade… Did not have an Executive branch… Could not regulate currency from state to state… Could maintain an army… Could conduct foreign affairs… Could issue currency (money)…Could borrow money from other countries… Strengths of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation Weaknesses of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation