1. Chapter 2 Section 3
The Articles of Confederation

2. 1777 – committee appointed by Second Continental Congress presented a plan for permanent national government
Basically continued structure and operation of government that currently existed
March 1781 – all 13 states had ratified

3. “A firm league of friendship”
The new government took the form of a confederation: each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence…”
The states came together “for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare.”

4. Government Under the Articles
Unicameral – single-chamber Congress
Committee of the States – one delegate from each state managed the government when Congress was not assembled
No federal court system

5. Government Under the Articles
Congress settled disputes among states
Each state had one vote in Congress
State legislatures selected its own representatives

6. Congressional Powers Make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors
Enter into treaties
Raise and equip a navy
Maintain an army by requesting troops from the states

7. Congressional Powers Appoint senior military officers
Fix standards of weights and measures
Regulate Indian affairs
Establish post offices
Decide certain disputes among the states

8. Weaknesses of the Articles
Created a weak national government
Congress did not have the power to levy or collect taxes
Congress did not have the power to regulate trade

9. Weaknesses of the Articles
Congress could not force anyone to obey the laws it passed or to abide by the Articles
Laws needed the approval of 9 of the 13 states
Each state had only one vote

10. Weaknesses of the Articles
Amending or changing the Articles required the consent of all states
The central government did not have an executive branch
No national court system

11. Achievements
Establishment of a fair policy for the development of the lands west of the Appalachians
Individual states could cede, or yield, land claims to territories west of the mountains to the central government

12. Achievements Land Ordinances The Ordinance of 1785
Allowed for survey and division of ceded western lands
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Territories were to be developed for statehood on equal basis with older states

13. Achievements Terms of the Treaty of Paris – 1783
Britain recognized American independence
Land acquired from Britain enlarged the nation’s boundaries (Atlantic to Mississippi River; Great Lakes/Canada to northern boundary of Florida)
Congress set up departments headed by secretaries, a precedent for the later creation of the Cabinet
Affairs
War
Marine
Treasury

14. Need for Stronger Government
The structure of the central government could not coordinate the actions of the states effectively.
States began to quarrel over boundary lines and trade issues, and grew increasingly jealous and suspicious of one another.

15. Growing Problems
Some states began to deal directly with foreign nations, organize their own militia, and print their own money.
Congress could do little about these matters--States often refused to support the central government financially, or any other way

16. Growing Problems
1787 – the government owed $40 million to foreign governments
American soldiers still unpaid
1786 – economic depression left farmers and merchants in debt

17. Shays’s Rebellion Economic troubles led to rebellion
Armed groups of farmers forced several courts
to close in order to
prevent farm
foreclosures
and the loss of
their farms

18. Daniel Shays led a band that
closed the MA state supreme court
Gathered a force of 1200
men and advanced on the
federal arsenal in Springfield
MA militia put down the rebellion

20. Amend the Articles!!
1. Identify human needs in the context of the larger society
2. Analyze how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation affected colonial society
3. Assume the identity of a delegate from one of the original 13 states and write 2 amendments
4. Bring before the class and vote