Creating the Constitution

2 The Articles of Confederation The Articles were created because during the Revolution, the new United States needed a functioning government –Modeled after colonial governments –States would retain sovereignty –Founders were fearful of concentrated power due to past experience with the British

3 A Limited Government Articles established a “firm league of friendship” among the states where most of the power was held by the states and only a few were delegated to the national government. –Bills were passed by nine of thirteen states (a super majority. –Amending the Articles took unanimous consent of the states

4 Organization of Government Unicameral (single house) legislative body Each state had one vote regardless of population size Congress given sole authority to govern the country An executive committee oversaw government when Congress was not in session Congress would establish temporary courts to hear disputes among the states

5 Powers Granted to Government under the Articles of Confederation Declare war and make peace Make treaties with foreign countries Establish an army and navy Appoint high-ranking military officials Requisition, print, and borrow money Establish weights and measures Hear disputes among the states related to trade or boundaries

6 Powers Denied to Government No power to raise funds for an army or navy No power to tax, impose tariffs, or collect duties No executive branch to enforce laws No power to control trade among the states No power to force states to honor obligations No power to regulate the value of currency

7 Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation Administered the seven-year Revolutionary War effort Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783 Established the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

8 Problems Facing the New Nation Problems with Britain over fur trade and not evacuating forts, plus blocking trade in Caribbean Problems with Spain over Caribbean trade, Mississippi River, Florida boundary Financing the nation Interstate relations (between states) A 1783 cartoon satirizing relations between Britain and America

9 Shays’ Rebellion Confederation owed debt to soldiers of Revolutionary War Confederation Congress could not levy (collect) taxes - had to ask states for money Massachusetts very high taxes Daniel Shays – Mass. Farmer and former soldier led rebellion in Feb on federal arsenal where weapons stored Mass. Militia stopped rebellion – national government had no army American leaders realized Articles had no power to stop rebellion; something needed to be done to give national government more power.

Articles of Confederation Strengths To declare war and make peace. To coin and borrow money To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties To operate post offices Weaknesses The national government could not force the states to obey its laws. It did not have the power to tax It did not have the power to enforce laws Congress lacked strong and steady leadership There was no national army or navy There was no system of national courts Each state could issue its own paper money Each state could put tariffs on trade between states. (A tariff is a tax on goods coming in from another state or country.) 10