1. Articles of Confederation
Guiding Questions:
Why did Americans create a weak central government?
What convinced them that change was needed?
Weaknesses of America’s first plan of government, the Articles of Confederation, led to a call for a new plan of government.

2. Problems facing the United States after the American Revolution:
Foreign Relations
Domestic problems
debt
Citizens
Mississippi
power
central
States
British
Shays’ Rebellion

3. AOC
The Articles of Confederation created the first US government; it was America’s first plan of government, or _________________. It set up a __________________, a form of government in which people elect representatives to make their laws. The plan was written in It was not adopted for a couple years. All ______________ states were required to _____________ (approve) it, and __________________ reused to ratify it until large states gave up their land claims to western lands on the other side of the Appalachian Mountains.
constitution
republic 13
ratify
Maryland

4. Successes
The greatest success of the Articles of Confederation government was the way in which it dealt with organizing western lands in territories­­­­ in the __________________________ and admitting new states created from that land, set up by the ____________________
_______________________.
Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance

5. The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation were revealed by the way the national government did nothing to stop _____________________________. In that rebellion, Daniel Shays’ and followers attacked Massachusetts courts to prevent foreclosures on farms. The government’s inaction helped convince George Washington and others to meet in 1787.
Shays’ Rebellion

6. Strengths and Weaknesses
Gave Americans the ___________ government they wanted (afraid government would abuse power)
Established orderly _______________ procedures that would be used throughout US westward expansion –
good job on _________________ ____________ and ______________
Land
Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance

7. Strengths and Weaknesses
tax
debt
Congress couldn’t _________ – no way to pay off __________, pay for government
___________ held more power than ___________ government and couldn’t be forced to obey federal law
no ______________ system to resolve disputes between states (judicial branch)
couldn’t resolve __________ _______________
The Articles government had to ask states to raise money or troops.
It had no ____________________ (president or single leader to carry out the government’s business) – its 3-person executive committee didn’t have the power to enforce law
______ states out of 13 states (two-thirds) had to agree to pass a law – not many were passed
_____________states had to agree to ratify or amend the Articles
national
States
court
Disputes between states
Chief executive 9
All 13

8. Land Policies of the AOC
The greatest success of the Articles of Confederation government was the way in which it dealt with organizing western lands in territories and admitting new states created from that land.
Ordinance: law
The ________________________ divided the Ohio River Valley into 5 _______________ . It divided each territory into ________ square mile ______________ that were sold by the government for $_____/section. Each section was ___ square mile and had 640 acres. Section ____ was set aside to fund public education in that township.
Ordinance of 1785
territories
sections 6 1 1 16

9. Land Ordinance of 1785
Wisconsin
Michigan
Ohio
Illinois
Indiana

10. Land Policies Northwest Ordinance 1787 state constitution religion
The _________________ ____________________ (________) set up the process a territory must go through to become a _________________.
Had to write a state _______________ (to be approved by Congress), guaranteeing
Freedom of ______________
Trial by ______________
_______ slavery (first attempt by Congress to end slavery – didn’t succeed)
White, male, property-owners over 21 could ___________.
When the territory reached a population of _____________, it could apply to Congress for _______________________
The Northwest Ordinance opened the way for orderly westward expansion.
state
constitution
religion
jury
Ban
vote
60,000
statehood