1. Articles of Confederation

2. Start of the Articles
Members argued on and off for more than a year before establishing the Articles of Confederation
Then the states argued for 4 more years before approving the Articles of Confederation

3. Fears about the Articles
Creating a national government that was too strong
Some states would have more power than others in the national government

4. Set up of the Articles
Continental Congress agreed that there was a need for a national government – made it weak
Powers should be kept by the states
National legislature
No executive or judicial branch

5. Power States had the power to control any person in their state
States had the power to collect taxes from the people – national government could request money from states
9 of 13 states had to agree in order for a decision to be made by the Continental Congress

6. Fear of too strong of central government
Need for equal votes by states
States could send several representatives to the Congress
Each state only received one vote

7. Problems caused by Articles
No money and no power to get it
No power over the state governments and their citizens
Unenforceable trade agreements
Unfair competition among the states

8. Problems cont. Threats to citizens right to property Shay’s Rebellion
9 of 13 states had to agree to a bill before it became law
13 states had to agree to make any changes to the Articles
No executive branch to carry out the laws of Congress

9. Shay’s Rebellion Farmers in Massachusetts had problems
When could not pay debts, they lost homes, farms, and were thrown in jail
Daniel Shay led several 100 farmers to the arsenal in Springfield to get weapons
Failed to get weapons, but scared enough people and convinced them they needed a stronger national government

10. Strengths of the Articles
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance
Extraditing criminals from the states
Accept laws, records and court decisions of other states as legal

11. Land Ordinance of 1785
Land must first be surveyed – Township/Range system
National Government kept 4 sections for use, rest was sold
Money was used to pay for public schools and war debt

12. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
West of the Allegheny mountains – Northwest Territory
Way for state to become part of the Union
Congress appointed a governor and 3 judges
When reached 5000 free adult males – elect legislature
When reached 60,000 in population – write a constitution and become a state with equal standing