The Articles of Confederation Government State vs. federal government

What kind of Government should America have? Now that America is independent it needs a government. Americans are against having a single ruler. American agree that rule by the people is the most fair way to set up a government.

Democracy A government directly run by the people. Democracy goes back to Athens in ancient Greece (508 B.C.) Citizens of Athens were randomly selected for government office and all citizens could vote on decisions at an open assembly.

A Republic The founding fathers agreed that the country should be run by elected officials. -Therefore America would be like ancient Rome, a Republic. In the Roman Senate, elected officials made military and economic decisions for the people of Rome.

The Founding fathers believed that having America be a full democracy like Athens would put too much power in the hand of the uneducated masses. Discussion Question : Should only people with a high school education or greater be allowed to vote on important issues or Presidential Elections?

By 1776 The Colonies got used to ruling themselves. Each of the 13 had their own governors and Assemblies. Colonies like Jamestown had to defend, collect taxes, and rule themselves.

After declaring independence many states created their own Constitutions. A Constitution is a plan for government. It also sets out the laws and principles which the government will follow.

From the government of United States is known as the Articles of Confederation.

Articles of Confederation Under the Articles America was a confederation or alliance of states. Each State had a great deal of independence. Each state made its own laws Women in New Jersey could vote and in some free African-Americans could vote. One of the realistic portraits of a free African- American around 1777.

How it worked Each State controlled its own affairs under the Articles of Confederation. They were almost separate countries. The only way they worked together was through delegates sent to Congress.

What is a Federal Government? A federation is a group of states that make up a nation. A federal government rules and makes decisions for all of the states. In the Articles of Confederation, Congress was the federal government.

What was the role of the national government? The Congress has the powers of a federal government.

Federal Government Could… Issue currency Create an army Make treaties It owned land, which it then could sell

The Articles of Confederation government had a system where each state had one vote. A 9 of 13 majority of votes was needed to pass anything. It was positive in that each state had a representative and an equal vote.

Problems with the Articles The Federal Government is very weak and limited in what it can do. Imagine the federal government but without the President or Judges.

Weaknesses No President to enforce laws ! No court system! Like our current government without a judicial or executive branch.

In the budget to run the United States was about $9,000,000 The Congress could not tax the states for money. Instead Congress had to ask the states for money. After 12 months the states received $450,000.

Big State vs. Little State Argument In 1780 Virginia had over 500,000 people living in it. Georgia had 1/10 that population in Under the Articles of Confederation Small States and Large States had the same number of votes. What’s unfair about this system?