C HAPTER 2 S ECTION 3 Mr. Gordon

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Articles of Confederation In 1777 the Second Continental Congress passed the first official plan for national government, the Articles of Confederation. After the Revolutionary War, weaknesses in the Articles led to conflicts among the states, sparking calls for a stronger national government.

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Main Idea The states’ first attempt to build a national government, the Articles of Confederation, proved too weak to last. Reading Focus How was the first national government organized under the Articles of Confederation? What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? What events convinced some American leaders that a stronger national government was needed?

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION States become Government

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION First National Government Articles of Confederation June 1776: new model of government crafted to build “firm league of friendship” among states, retaining “sovereignty, freedom and independence” June 12, 1777: Articles of Confederation adopted Had to be ratified before going into force

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION First National Government A Delay in Ratification Disputes over control of western lands delayed the ratification process. Small states feared large states with claims to western lands would overpower them. Articles were changed to allow Confederation control over western lands. Articles finally ratified in 1781

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION First National Government Powers of the National Government Created weak national government; did not provide for national court system One-house Congress: power to act on matters of common interest; admit new states; settle disputes; coin money; raise army; declare war; conduct foreign policy

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION First National Government State Powers States retained all powers not specifically given to Congress Powers included: ability to collect taxes, enforce national laws States required to contribute funds to national government as they saw fit

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Summarizing How did national and state powers differ under the Articles? National powers were limited and specifically cited in the Articles of Confederation. State powers were all the other powers that were not specifically cited.

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Articles gave Congress key responsibilities, but placed limits that kept it from effectively enforcing laws and policies Without executive branch, national government lacked means to carry out Congress’s laws Without national court system, Congress had to rely on state courts to apply national laws Mostly importantly, Articles denied Congress power to tax Difficult to raise funds to repay money borrowed during Revolution Lacked authority to regulate trade Congress had power to coin money, but not sole power to do so; created barrier to trade, major obstacles to economic development Congress required to have 9 of 13 states to ratify laws, while only one state could raise objections to block changes in Articles—weakened Congress’s ability to act swiftly and decisively

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Summarizing What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation? It had no executive or judicial branch; the Confederation could not levy taxes, enforce its laws, or regulate commerce between states; all states had to agree before the Articles could be changed.

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Pressures for Stronger Government Its independence secured with the Treaty of Paris in 1783, the United States faced a range of challenges that the national government was ill-equipped to meet. The shortcomings of the government created by the Articles of Confederation would lead to calls for a new plan of government.

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Northwest Ordinance 1787: Northwest Ordinance planned for settling Northwest Territory Included areas now in Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Minnesota and Wisconsin— disputed western lands that had delayed ratification of the Articles Created system for admitting new states, banned slavery, included bill of rights

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Dangers and Unrest Most pressing problem: war debts 1783: Congress tried to approve tax on imports but act never ratified and government went broke Postwar depression struck States pursued own interests, flouting national laws; like “13 sovereignties pulling against each other”

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Pressures for a stronger government Shay’s Rebellion September 1786: rebellion of Massachusetts farmers facing prospect of losing land Revolutionary War Captain Daniel Shays led attacks on courthouses to prevent judges from foreclosing on farms. Shay’s Rebellion swelled to nearly 2,500 by Massachusetts legislature asked Congress for help; Congress had no money or forces Shay’s Rebellion showed how feeble the Confederation Congress was and hastened moves to revise the Articles.

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Pressures for a stronger government Calls to Revise the Articles March 1785: Washington invites representatives from Virginia and Maryland to his home at Mount Vernon to discuss resolving trade dispute. Led to meeting to discuss regulating commerce between all the states February 1787: James Madison persuades the Confederation Congress to endorse meeting for “purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.” May 1787: meeting to strengthen Articles held in Philadelphia

A RTICLES OF C ONFEDERATION Identifying Cause and Effect What events caused leaders to want to revise the Articles of Confederation? Shays’s Rebellion; interstate trade disputes; inability to levy taxes and pay war debts