1. The Articles of Confederation:
Our First System of Government

2. Forgotten Presidents? John Hanson (1781) Elisa Boudinot (1782)
Thomas Miffin (1783)
Richard Henry Lee (1784)
John Hancock (1785)
Nathaniel Gorham (1786)
Arthur St. Clair (1787)
Cyrus Griffin (1788)

3. Timeline 1775 = First shots of the Revolution
1776 = Declaration of Independence
1778 = Articles of Confederation is drafted
1781 = Victory at Yorktown
1781 = Articles of Confederation is finally ratified by the states
1787 = Constitutional Convention in Philly

4. A Loose Alliance
The Articles of Confederation = first written national government
Very limited power
Most people identify with their states
Very local interests

5. What you need to know…
How did the early government of the US function?
What were some of the major problems with the first system of government?
What issues brought about the need for a new government?

6. How the Articles of Confederation Operated
Unicameral system
Each state had 2 to 7 delegates, but the state only had one vote
Two-thirds of the states were required to pass laws
Any amendments required a unanimous vote
Continental Congress had few powers
Two major powers that it lacked: power to tax and the power to regulate commerce

7. State Governments Each state had it’s own Constitution
State gov’t had more power than the nat’l government
Each state had it’s own currency
State gov’t had the power to tax
State militias
Bottom line: state government is much more powerful

8. Failures of the Articles

9. Problems
No national currency
Boundary disputes between states

10. More Problems Tariffs between the states No national army
No court system
No chief executive
Inability to collect taxes = can’t repay debts from the Revolutionary War

11. The Nationalists
By the 1780s, a group called “The Nationalists” emerged
Wanted to strengthen the national government
Who were they? Former military officers, members of the Continental Congress, wealthy landowners, lawyers, etc.
Feared chaos

12. Shays’ Rebellion
Wealthy loaned huge sums of $$$ to the states to help finance the Revolution
Wanted repayment = convinced state leaders to raise taxes
In Massachusetts, taxes could only be paid in gold and silver, which many western farmers did not have
Farmers wanted to use paper currency like other states
State legislature refuses to back down; property begins to be seized

13. Farmers Revolt Led by Daniel Shays, farmers decide to take up arms
They scare off the tax collectors
Riots
Seize a gun depot in Springfield, MA
Refuse to pay these taxes
State militia has to put down this rebellion

14. Time for a meeting of the Minds
Annapolis Convention (1786) = only a few states attend
Constitutional Convention (1787) = 12 of the 13 send delegates to Philly