Our First Constitution: The Articles of Confederation

Placard 1.3 A

Did not want another powerful executive like KING GEORGE A: No Chief Executive Why Included? Problem? Did not want another powerful executive like KING GEORGE Lack of leadership in CENTRAL GOVERNMENT No single leader DISUNITY

Placard 1.3B

B: Laws Needed 9/13 to be Approved Why Included? Problem? To protect individual states’ rights power. Fear of strong central government Difficult to get 9 states to agree on new laws Central/national/federal govt. had little power

Placard 1.3 C

C: Congress had no power to tax citizens C: Congress had no power to tax citizens. It could only request money from states Why Included? Problem? Fear of being Unfairly taxed, like before revolution States could choose to pay Govt. had no money to operate

Placard 1.3D

D: Congress had no power to draft an army. Why Included? Problem? Fear of central Government with strong army that may take away citizens’ rights. Left the country vulnerable without a dependable military force

Placard 1.3E

E: No National Court System Why Included? Problem? Fear that the central govt. with a court system that may be unfair to STATES RIGHTS States could be biased Unfair trials in one states court

Placard 1.3F

F: Amendments/ Changes had to be approved by all 13 states Why Included? Problem? Wanted states to have equal power in shaping govt. Impossible to make changes Any one state could stop an amendment that other states wanted

Placard 1.3G

G. Congress could not collect state debts owed to federal government Why Included? Problem? Fear that central govt. could force states to pay for things they didn’t want Federal government had no money to operate

Placard 1.3H

H: Congress had no power to settle disputes Why Included? Problem? Wanted states to have ultimate authority to settle disputes Disputes were often unresolved DISUNITY