1. Articles of Confederation
When you see the pencil appear, fill in the information in red on your info-graphic guided notes page.
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

2. Out with the old government…
Thomas Jefferson outline a list of crimes the King of England had committed against the colonists in the Declaration of Independence. Colonists had been forced to follow laws that were written and enforced by a far away government controlled by a King who didn’t care about the needs or rights of his colonial subjects. Once they declared independence, the colonists still had to fight and win the Revolutionary War before they were truly free from British authority.
But when the Declaration of Independence was signed and the colonies broke away from the British monarchy, they knew they had to have some sort of governing body to unite the 13 states, protect our nation’s borders, and make sure the other countries of the world took us seriously. The question was, what will the new government actually look like? X
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

3. The Articles of Confederation
The Continental Congress continued to meet after the Declaration of Independence had been signed. They created an outline for the government they wanted to replace King George III. The first plan for government was called the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation
“A Firm League of Friendship”
First document for U.S. Government.
13 sovereign & independent states that cooperated for common purposes
Governed by a congress where each state got 1 vote.
Raise an army & declare war.
Make treaties with other countries.
Written in 1777
Ratified in 1781
Print money & run postal system
These are the only powers the central government had under the Articles of Confederation. The rest of the powers belonged to each of the 13 individual state governments.
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

4. Why was government given so little power?
The colonies were still fighting to get rid of a big powerful government.
They were afraid of
“trading one tyranny for another.”
1776 Declaration of Independence is signed. Continental Congress must create a national government to unite the 13 colonies.
1777
1781 Revolutionary War ended and 13 Colonies became the United States of America governed by the Articles of Confederation.
1786
1787 Congress called a convention to revise or replace the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation written
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

5. Too Many Weaknesses
While a government that only loosely united the 13 States seemed like the best option, there were many problems with the Articles of Confederation.
No agreements between states.
No Executive Power
No respect for trade or commerce.
No power to tax.
Weak central government.
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

6. Tough Times
After the Revolutionary War, Britain would no longer trade with the United States. This plunged the new country into massive debt. The federal government did not have the power to pass taxes in order to pay off the debt. Each state began printing its own money. Thirteen different currencies caused confusion. Nobody knew what each bill was truly worth. The price of goods throughout the colonies went sky high.
The government couldn’t repay the debt they owed to countries that lent them money during the war. They also could not pay the colonial troops that had left their farms and businesses to fight the British.
Federal government couldn’t tax.
States printed their own money.
War veterans were not getting paid.
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

7. Farmers Struggle
In spring of 1786 the state of Massachusetts raised taxes on land to raise money. The high taxes impacted farmers the most. Many of these farmers had left their farms during the war to fight in the Continental Army. They still had not been paid for being soldiers and they did not make money on their farms while they were fighting. When they could not pay the taxes, the state started taking their land away. Some were put in jail and their families had to pay to get them out.
Taxes were raised on farmland.
Farmers couldn’t afford to pay the high taxes.
Former soldiers were jailed and lost
their farms.
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

8. Shays’ Rebellion
Massachusetts
Where farmers rebelled against the government.
When peaceful protests to the Massachusetts’ legislature failed, farmers were fed up. War hero Daniel Shays organized a rebellion of nearly 1600 farmers against the courts and other government buildings around the state. The government struggled to stop the rebellion and leaders were afraid the rebellion would spread.
Daniel Shays
War veteran and farmer who led the rebellion in 1786.
Farmers asked the government for help but were refused.
Shays led farmers in attacks on courthouses and the arsenal.
The government struggled to put down the rebellion.
© Karalynn Tyler 2015

9. Articles of Confederation written
A Call for a Convention
Shays’ Rebellion alarmed Congress. The Articles of Confederation gave the Federal Government no power to intervene because it was a state issue. Congress decided a convention was needed to consider the situation the new country was facing. Each state was invited to send delegates to a convention in Philadelphia. The original purpose was to simply make revisions to the Articles of Confederation.
However, leaders like George Washington, Alexander Hamilton, and James Madison wanted to make the federal government stronger and it was decided the Articles of Confederation should be completely replaced..
The original plan was to revise the Articles.
13 separate states needed a stronger central government
to unite them.
1776 Declaration of Independence is signed. Continental Congress must create a national government to unite the 13 colonies.
1777
1781 Revolutionary War ended and 13 Colonies became the United States of America governed by the Articles of Confederation.
1786
1787 Congress called a convention to revise or replace the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of Confederation written
Shays’ Rebellion
© Karalynn Tyler 2015