The Articles of Confederation America’s 1 st Constitution The first system of government designed by the Founding Fathers was a Confederation. Under a Confederate system, the National or Central Government is given only a few powers, while most of the power is reserved for the States. Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan of government? Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation America’s 1 st Constitution The Articles had 2 major achievements: 1)Bringing the Revolutionary War to a successful conclusion 2) Northwest Ordinance (plan for governing the western lands)

The Articles of Confederation Congress was given the power to: America’s 1 st Constitution Declare War & Establish an Army/Navy No Power to Draft Soldiers

The Articles of Confederation Congress was given the power to: America’s 1 st Constitution Make Peace & Sign Treaties No Power to Enforce Treaties

The Articles of Confederation Congress was given the power to: America’s 1 st Constitution Borrow Money No Power to Collect Taxes from the States

The Articles of Confederation Congress was given the power to: America’s 1 st Constitution Organize a Post Office

The Articles of Confederation Congress was given the power to: America’s 1 st Constitution No Chief Executive No national court system No Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce No National Currency Difficult to Pass laws (2/3 vote)

The Articles of Confederation Congress was given the power to: America’s 1 st Constitution Difficult to Amend (unanimous vote needed to change the articles)

The Articles of Confederation Congress given the power to: Declare War Make Peace Sign Treaties Borrow Money Establish an Army & Navy Organize a Post Office No Chief Executive No National Court System No Power to Draft Soldiers No Power to Control Interstate Commerce No Power to Enforce Treaties No Power to Collect Taxes from the States Difficult to Pass Laws (2/3 vote) No National Currency Difficult to Amend (Unanimous Vote Needed to Change Articles)

Conclusion They feared that a strong central government would create tyranny, and stamp out the peoples natural God given rights. Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan of government?

Conclusion Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution? The nation needed to function as ONE united country & not 13 small unorganized nations. Shay’s Rebellion proved the need to strengthen the government.

Weak Government = Problems! Here's an explanation of how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to Shays' Rebellion, which led to the creation of the Constitution.

Daniel Shays Captain in the Revolutionary War Captain in the Revolutionary War Retired from the army Retired from the army Wanted to be a farmer in Massachusetts Wanted to be a farmer in Massachusetts

Uh oh...no money! Remember! The Congress didn't have the power to tax states...they could only ask for money! Remember! The Congress didn't have the power to tax states...they could only ask for money! The states said no! The states said no! So Congress couldn't pay its bills! So Congress couldn't pay its bills! So they printed more money! So they printed more money! So they caused inflation and made money worth less! So they caused inflation and made money worth less!

How can you be a farmer if you have no money? Get a loan from the bank! Plant your seeds! When your crops are grown, harvest them, sell them, and pay your loan back!

Uh oh...problems! What if the bank wants its money back NOW? But your crops haven't grown yet?

THE REPO MAN COMES! The bank repossesses the farms and kicks the former soldiers out of their homes!

Why didn't they have any money? Inflation! The money they did have was worthless. Inflation! The money they did have was worthless. Taxes! The state of Massachusetts had placed high taxes that hit the farmers very hard. Taxes! The state of Massachusetts had placed high taxes that hit the farmers very hard.

Who cares about having a farm anyway? Without property, you can't feed your family! Without property, you can't feed your family! Without property, you can't vote! Without property, you can't vote! Without property, you can't make money! Without property, you can't make money! Without making money, you get thrown into debtor's prison! Without making money, you get thrown into debtor's prison!

Give me my house! Daniel Shays and the farmers pick up their guns and go to the state courthouse to stop them from foreclosing on their homes. Daniel Shays and the farmers pick up their guns and go to the state courthouse to stop them from foreclosing on their homes. AND IT WORKED!!! AND IT WORKED!!!

So they kept doing it... And made the people in the government afraid! The government made new laws that were meant to punish Shays and his followers.

The Congress can't help Since the Articles of Confederation did not give Congress the power to raise a standing army, the federal government could not help stop the rebellion.

The Climax The state of Massachusetts sets up an army. Shays and his followers try to take over a federal arsenal to get more guns so that they could fight the army.

Shays and his men lost the battle. Some of them got the death penalty for having participated in the rebellion.

To the Constitution... The failure of the federal government to solve the problem of Shays' Rebellion made people understand that the Articles of Confederation had made the government too weak. The failure of the federal government to solve the problem of Shays' Rebellion made people understand that the Articles of Confederation had made the government too weak. A Constitutional Convention was called to solve the problem. A Constitutional Convention was called to solve the problem.

How the Constitution addressed the problems of the Articles of Confederation

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Weakness No power to tax No power to tax No national executive No national executive Unicameral legislature Unicameral legislature No judicial/national court No judicial/national court Solution Solution Article I sec 8 Congress has power Article II Presidential power Article I B icameral legislature Article III National Courts

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Weaknesses No regulation of commerce No regulation of commerce No power to maintain army No power to maintain army Government dominated by states Government dominated by states Need 9/13 to pass a law & unanimous consent to amend Need 9/13 to pass a law & unanimous consent to amend Solutions Solutions Article I sec 8 Article I sec 8 foreign & interstate commerce Article I sec 8 army & navy Article VI Constitution & Federal Govt are supreme Articles I & V I = majority for laws V = 2/3 & ¾ to ammend