1. Bellwork
Americans just won the Revolutionary War and the USA is a free and independent nation. What now? What do they need to do next? What questions are left to be answered?

2. PEANUT BUTTER

3. The Articles of Confederation
The Critical Period ( )

4. Essential Question:
What were the long-term problems with the Articles of Confederation?

5. Primary Source

7. The American republic would be a more “enlightened” version of the Roman Senate
When Americans declared independence in 1776, they needed to form a new government
They wanted to form a republic where citizens vote for elected leaders to represent them
They wanted to protect citizens & individual states from a powerful national government
King George III

8. When independence was declared, the 13 colonies became independent states
Each state had its own constitution, legislature, & an elected governor; 8 states had Bills of Rights
But, the USA needed a national gov’t to do things that states could not, like sign treaties & form a military
America’s 1st national gov’t was the Articles of Confederation ( )

9. This “confederation” style gov’t loosely connected the states under a weak national government

10. To pass a law, 9 of the 13 states had to agree
Each state could send between 2-7 representatives to the national congress, but each state had only 1 vote
To pass a law, 9 of the 13 states had to agree
Confederation Government in New York City
The national congress could make laws, settle disputes between states, negotiate treaties, handle Indian affairs, oversee a military
But all other powers were left up to the states

11. So, the national gov’t had
Americans did not want to re-create a powerful gov’t like the one they just fought the Revolutionary War to break away from
So, the national gov’t had
no president & could not tax the states or citizens
Confederation Government in New York City

13. Western Lands, 1783
Western Land Claims, 1783
The lands between the Appalachian Mountains & Mississippi River that were acquired from the British in 1783 were claimed by numerous states. Many of these land claims overlap. How should we solve this problem?

14. The Articles established a good system of settling western lands
The United States, 1783
Areas of Settlement, 1783
The Articles established a good system of settling western lands

15. Western Land Claims Ceded by the States
First, states must cede (give up) their claims to lands in the west to the national gov’t
The “West” presented a problem:
Many states had overlapping land claims in the West
Some “landless” states (MD, NJ, DE) wanted part of West & refused to ratify the Articles without this issue resolved
The US gov’t negotiated treaties with Indians to gain land in Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Kentucky

16. Congress passed the Land Ordinance of to create an orderly way to divide the west into townships & farms
Selling western lands was the only way the national gov’t could generate money since it did not have the power to tax

17. Section 16 of each township was set aside for a public school
Land Ordinance of 1785
Section 16 of each township was set aside for a public school

18. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 gave government to the territories
When a territory had 5,000 residents, it could create a self-governing legislature
When a territory had 60,000 residents, it could apply to become a U.S. state
Slavery was outlawed in the NW

19. Closure Questions
The Articles of Confederation were created intentionally weak
What powers does the national government have?
What powers do the individual state governments have?
What problems do you predict will occur because of these political weaknesses?

20. The Articles of Confederation was America’s 1st form of gov’t
The weakness the national gov’t was originally seen as good because it eliminated tyranny
Later, these same weaknesses kept the gov’t from solving serious national problems
Confederation Government in New York City

21. The inability of the government to collect taxes led to problems
Confederation Government in New York City
America could not pay off debts from the Revolutionary War

23. Articles of Confederation
STRENGTHS
WEAKNESSES
Make coins and borrow money
Negotiate treaties
Organization of western lands (the land ordinances)
No taxing power
No power to form army
Emphasis in state power, not federal power
Difficult to raise money
No federal enforcement of law
Amendments required all 13 states’ approval
AoC was very difficult to modify
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT WAS TOO WEAK!
What was the mindset of the states when they created the Articles of Confederation?
What did small states fear?
What did all states fear? Encourage students to reflect on the experiences under the English government.

24. Problems in the New Nation
Lack of Respect: congress could not force states to provide soldiers for an army, so other countries like Britain and Spain would not listen to them
British West Indies no longer wanted to trade with the U.S.
No power to regulate trade between states
Trades differ from state to state=inflation

25. Shay’s Rebellion
Read pages of the textbook and respond to the questions on your note sheet.

26. America’s First National Government: The Articles of Confederation
After Shays’ Rebellion, people like Hamilton & Madison began calling for a stronger national gov’t
In 1787, delegates met in Philadelphia to discuss ways to improve the Articles
Instead of revising the Articles of Confederation, the delegates replaced it with the Constitution
34a - explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays' Rebellion led to a call for a stronger central government

27. Bellwork
Describe what happened at Shay’s Rebellion? Why is it considered a significant event in U.S. history?

29. Differing Perspectives
Did all Americans think the Article of Confederation were too weak?
Read document from Thomas Jefferson and answer the following questions individually.
Be prepared to discuss your answers.

30. Constitutional Convention Presentation