1. The Articles of Confederation: America’s First Government

2. Questions about how to set up America’s First Government
1.) Does the nation need a federal government in addition to the state governments?
2.) Should it be Strong or Weak?

3. Federal vs. State Federal Government State Government
Meets in Washington D.C.
Makes Laws for the entire country
State Government
Meets in the individual states
Makes laws for the state ONLY

4. Schools: Federal Government = Principals
Make rules that affect the entire school
Hats, gum chewing, electronics etc
State Government = Individual Classes
Make rules that affect the individual class
No Name policies, late work, how a class is run.
In your opinion who should have more power over the classrooms? Principals or the Teachers?

5. Federal or State? SB 1070 Drinking and Driving is illegal
Consequence for drinking and driving?
Why should individual states have the power to make their own laws?
Federal
STATE

6. America’s 1st Government = Articles of Confederation
Basics:
Why: The newly independent United States needed a government.
Who: Continental Congress
What: A loose confederation (association) of independent (self-governing) states
When: Ratified (formally approved) in 1781
Where: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

7. The Articles of Confederation
Federal Government
One Branch of Government – The National Legislature (Congress)
States = A single vote in the National Legislature
No Executive or Judicial Branch
Powers of National Legislature:
Power to declare war
Make treaties with foreign countries
Work out trade agreements between states
Maintain an army and a navy

8. The Articles of Confederation
State Governments:
State governments created to support federal government
Each State Created a Constitution
Each Constitution included Montesquieu’s idea of “separation of powers”
Legislature was given the most power because it is the most representative of citizens

9. Articles of Confederation’s Successes
Negotiated the Treaty of Paris ending the Revolutionary War
The passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785
Plan for dividing federally owned land west of the Appalachian Mountains
Land was divided equally in squares rather than by rocks and trees

10. Articles of Confederation’s Successes
3. The passage of the Northwest Ordinance
Outlined how Northwest Territory would be governed and procedures for admission of new states to the Union.
5,000 Free Males = Self-Government
60,000 people = Apply for statehood

11. Article of Confederation’s Weaknesses
No power to tax
Federal gov’t had to ask for money from the states who were under no obligation to give the money
No control over foreign commerce
Were not able to successfully regulate trade between the states
States were free to tax each other

12. Article of Confederation’s Weaknesses
Could pass laws but could not force the states to comply with them
The government was dependent on the willingness of the various states to cooperate
Often the states refused
Could not draft soldiers
Had to ask the states to provide them willingly

13. Paying for the Revolutionary War
The States had to pay off their debts
Law makers created new taxes with many states requiring that debts be paid with silver or gold
Farmers brought in very little silver and gold and found it very difficult to pay their debts
Many farmers lost their land in Debtors Court
Some ended up in jail as debtors
Massachusetts had the worst, largest war debt in nation from fighting the most and longest

14. Shays’ Rebellion
1786, Mobs of Farmers gathered under the leadership Daniel Shays, a local farmer
They violently shut down Debtors Courts
Prevented business from occurring so that no one would lose their land or be jailed
Congress of the Confederation authorized the raising of troops to combat the rebels, but the national government was powerless to raise the money to finance the troops

15. Excuse me, Massachusetts…Do you think that you can collect taxes from your people and send them to me? I really need the money.
Are you kidding me??!?! I am in debt too! My people can not even pay MY Taxes!
I am in debt… BAD! But I can not collect taxes… I can only ask the states…. I hope that they help!!

16. I don’t think so scooter… I am poor too… I don’t have enough money to pay you and feed my family!
Due to the Debt from the Revolutionary War every family is going to have to pay taxes.
Well then I am going to have to tax food. Bread is now $1.50 instead of a dollar!
ARE YOU INSANE?!?!?! Now I can not even afford to feed my family!! WHAT CAN I DO?!?!

17. I wouldn’t do that if I were you bucko!!
I risked my life and fought for my country and NOW they wont even pay me what they owe me!!! I am going to REVOLT!
I must destroy the state’s weapons to show them I mean BUSINESS… maybe then they will listen to me!
I wouldn’t do that if I were you bucko!!
BANG
Sorry MA… I can’t help you out, I do not have enough money to get troops to you!
State Militia
Shay

18. Impact of Shays’ Rebellion
Shays rebellion showed the National Government had no power to meet such a crisis; revision needed
Washington:
“The Confederation appears to me to be little more than a shadow without substance.”
Jefferson:
“A little rebellion now and then is a good thing…the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants.”