1. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline
Post-war Social Change
Who Should Lead?
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles: Pro and Con
Summary
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?
Summary Question: Why were the Articles
designed the way they were?
Were they a mistake?

2. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
8 Questions
The British ambassador to the new nation of the United States asked a rude question to point out what he saw as a flaw with the Confederation government.
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

3. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline
Post-war Social Change
Who Should Lead?
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles: Pro and Con
Summary
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

4. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 1. Post-war Social Change
Women should
have their own
revolution too.
- A. Adams
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?
“Big” Question: How democratic (“people rule”) was the establishment of the new nation economically, socially, politically from 1775–1840’s?
Question: What changes in American society
occurred after the Revolution? How lasting
were they?

5. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 1. Post-war Social Change
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?
“Big” Question: How democratic (“people rule”) was the establishment of the new nation economically, socially, politically from 1775–1840’s?
Question: What changes in American society
occurred after the Revolution? How lasting
were they?

6. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline
Post-war Social Change
Who Should Lead?
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles: Pro and Con
Summary
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

7. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 2. Who Should Lead?
“When a man who is only fit to patch a shoe attempts to patch the State [country] He cannot fail to meet with contempt.”
- James Otis, 1777
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

8. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 2. Who Should Lead?
“Specious, interested, designing men Men, respectable for their property, their virtue, nor their abilities [are courting] the [voting] of the people by tantalizing them with improper indulgences.”
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s? “

9. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline
Post-war Social Change
Who Should Lead?
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles: Pro and Con
Summary
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s? “

10. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 3. The Articles of Confederation
Grammar lesson, 1786:
The United States _________ a great
place to live. (form of “to be”)
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?
“Big” Question: How democratic (“people rule”) was the establishment of the new nation economically, socially, politically from 1775–1840’s?
Question: What was right about the
Articles of Confederation? What was
not?

11. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 3. The Articles of Confederation
Imagine a rebellious teenager who resented
his parents’ restrictive rules on cleaning the
house, who he may associate with, and
curfew. Now he lives on his own for
the first time. What will be his rules
for the above?
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?
“Big” Question: How democratic (“people rule”) was the establishment of the new nation economically, socially, politically from 1775–1840’s?
Question: What was right about the
Articles of Confederation? What was
not?

12. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Under the British government Under the Articles . . .
(“rebellious teenager” gov’t)
The king was a “tyrant” 1.
Parliament was too big and 2.
impersonal
The courts always ruled in 3.
favor of government policies
4. Parliament taxed us without our 4.
consent
The Navigation Acts restricted 5.
which nations and what we
could trade
“redcoats” enforced laws and 6.
created a “presence”

13. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Under the British government Under the Articles . . .
(“rebellious teenager” gov’t)
The king was a “tyrant” no executive/”king”
Parliament was too big and single house legislature
impersonal
The courts always ruled in no national judiciary
favor of government policies
4. Parliament taxed us without our 4. no taxation power
consent
The Navigation Acts restricted no power to regulate trade
which nations and what we
could trade
“redcoats” enforced laws and no national army
created a “presence”

14. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 3. The Articles of Confederation
Congress could also manage
Western lands and mint a
national currency.
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?
“Big” Question: How democratic (“people rule”) was the establishment of the new nation economically, socially, politically from 1775–1840’s?
Question: What was right about the
Articles of Confederation? What was
not?

15. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline
Post-war Social Change
Who Should Lead?
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles: Pro and Con
Summary
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s? “

16. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
8 Questions
The British ambassador to the new nation of the United States asked a rude question to point out what he saw as a flaw with the Confederation government.
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

17. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to ConstitutionOR

18. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 4. The Articles: Pro and Con
Settling western land claims and avoiding “megastates” was Articles greatest achievement.
“Big” Question: How democratic (“people
rule”) was the establishment of the
new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

19. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 4. The Articles: Pro and Con
“Big” Question: How democratic (“people rule”) was the establishment of the new nation economically, socially, politically from 1775–1840’s?
Question: What conclusion did many Americans reach regarding the Articles of Confederation? What was
that conclusion based on?

20. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 4. The Articles: Pro and Con
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

21. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline 4. The Articles: Pro and Con
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

22. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
“Good God! There are
combustibles in
every state
which a spark may
set fire to!”
- G. Washington
Shays’ Rebellion, 1786
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?

23. “The Critical Period”, 1777 - 1787: from Confederation to Constitution
Outline
Post-war Social Change
Who Should Lead?
The Articles of Confederation
The Articles: Pro and Con
Summary
“Big” Question: How democratic
(“people rule”) was the establishment of
the new nation economically, socially,
politically from 1775–1840’s?