The Critical Period Thinking Skill: Explicitly assess information and draw conclusions SWBAT: explain the purposes of Government and describe the structure of the government set up under the Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation November 15, 1777 Established a firm league of friendship among the States “for their common defense, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare” Formal approval or ratification was needed by all 13 States

Governmental Structure Congress was single body Unicameral-delegates chosen yearly by state Each state had one vote No executive or judicial branch Presiding officer

Powers of Congress Make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors Make treaties Borrow money Set up a money system Establish a post office Build a navy Raise an army Fix uniform standards of weights and measures Settle disputes among the states

State Obligations Obey articles and acts of Congress Provide funds and troops Treat citizens of other states as equally as their own Surrender fugitives from justice to one another Submit their disputes to Congress Allow open trade and travel between and among States Retained those powers not explicitly given to the Congress

Weaknesses Work with a partner to brainstorm –some weaknesses of the articles –problems that could occur between the states

A Need for Stronger Government Mount Vernon Annapolis Philadelphia “for the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation…”

Analytical Thinking The Articles of Confederation contained several weaknesses. Why would the States purposefully create a weak government under the Articles? For what reasons is the period during which the Articles were in force called the Critical Period in American history?