The Road to the Constitution The Articles of Confederation

The first national government was created by the Second Continental Congress in The new national government was outlined in a document called the Articles of Confederation. By 1781, all of the states had ratified the Articles of Confederation.

What is a confederation? A confederation is a group of individual state governments that band together for a common purpose.

Governmental Structure The national government consisted of a unicameral (one-house) legislature. This legislature was called the Confederation Congress.

Structure Continued There were no executive or judicial branches. Each state had one vote. Nine votes were needed to pass a law. Amending the Articles required a unanimous vote of all the states.

Legislative Powers Under the Articles of Confederation, the Confederation Congress had the power to: 1.Declare War 2.Develop Foreign Policy 3.Coin Money

Legislative Powers Continued 4. Run the Post Office 5. Borrow Money 6. Appoint Officers to the Army and Navy *All powers not specifically given to the Congress belonged to the states.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Congress could not tax the states; The Congress could ask the states for money but could not compel them to pay. Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade. Congress could declare war but had no authority to raise troops.

The state of the “union” under the Articles of Confederation Extremely weak national government Economic chaos and depression The troubles with the young nation became very apparent after Shay’s Rebellion. A meeting was called for the purpose of revising the Articles. However, this quickly changed to establishing a new plan for the United States government.