1. The Articles of Confederation
America’s First Constitution

2. Background
America was at war with Great Britain in the American Revolution
A constitution was needed to govern the country and its citizens
The continental congress passed the Articles of Confederation on November 15, (BUT!)

3. Articles of Confederation
The Articles were not exactly a constitution, but more along the lines of an agreement between states.
Due to that fact, Maryland did not agree to the Articles until land disputes were settled.
It took four years for Maryland to ratify the Articles

4. Background
“Perpetual Union between the states of New Hampshire, Massachusetts-bay, Rhode Island and Providence Plantations, Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia, North Carolina, South Carolina and Georgia.
When the Articles were passed the Continental Congress became the “United States in Congress Assembled.”
Under the Articles of Confederation the leader of the Congress was officially the President of the United States.

5. U.S. Presidents
Due to the fact that the President of the country was also the leader of congress, Samuel Huntington became the first ever President of the United States.
These Presidents were limited to one year terms. There would be nine more Presidents under the Articles of Confederation.
George Washington is technically the 11th U.S. President

6. The First Ten Presidents
John Jay would be one of the first Presidents under the Articles.
He would later help write the Federalist Papers
He would also be the first ever Chief Justice of the Supreme Court.

7. Presidency of Arthur St. Claire
Under St. Claire, the government would produce its most important historical event during the Articles.
States were required to give up their land claims in the Northwest Territory
Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, and Wisconsin
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Allowed these territories to create their own states, government and governing bodies.
Full equality would be given to new states as if they were in the original 13.

8. Northwest Ordinance Northwest Ordinance was passed in 1787.
Encouraged orderly settlement and the formation of new states, all controlled by law
Promised settlers religious freedom and other civil rights
Did not allow slavery in the Northwest Territory
A single governor was put in charge.
A district could become territory with a population of 5,000 adult males. Then could send a nonvoting representative to Congress
A territory could write a constitution and apply for statehood with a population of 60,000.

9. Northwest Ordinance
Would increase American expansion into the western territories
Set a precedent for future creation of states

10. Problems with the Articles
The Articles of Confederation
Established a confederation—an association of independent sovereign states with certain common goals
The states retained most of their powers.
Weak national government
Legislative branch, Continental Congress
Each state had only one vote, regardless of population.

11. Nine of the 13 states had to agree on any major law.
All 13 states had to agree to amend the Articles.
The new government’s major problems involved money.
Large war debts
No power to impose or collect taxes
Could not afford an army or navy
Could not repay money it borrowed from foreign governments and from individual Americans during the war

12. Troubles with foreign nations
Because it was so weak, Congress had trouble taking advantage of the territory that the United States had won in the Treaty of Paris.
The British did not leave their forts in the Great Lakes region.
The British and their Native American allies kept American settlers out of the Northwest Territory.
Negotiating with Spain about using the Mississippi and port of New Orleans was difficult.

13. Strengths States sent delegates to Congress Each state had one vote
The national government had the power to wage war, make peace, sign treaties, and issue money.

14. Weaknesses
The national govt. could not force the states to obey its laws
No president (No strong authority)
No national system of courts
Each state issued its own money

15. Articles of Confederation
Why were the Articles set-up this way?
After the Revolution Americans feared a strong government that would be like the British Monarchy.
This is the reason states were given the most power rather than national government.
States were more local, so it would be easier for the people to control the government

16. Shays’ Rebellion
Many had come to realize that the Articles and the government were simply not going to work. However, efforts were still taken to fix the problems.
Due to the fact that all 13 states had to agree to change an article, fixing the problems was becoming extremely hard.
It would not be until Shays’ Rebellion that all states finally agreed to join together and make substantial changes.

17. Shays’ Rebellion
Daniel Shays was a Captain during the Revolutionary War
Many Massachusetts war veterans had not been paid for their wartime services
They had lost their homes and farms due to the fact that they could not repay their debts
Discontent rose and Shays’ “regulators” rose to as many as four hundred men.

18. Shays’ Rebellion
Shays’ mob prevented the sale of land which had been taken away by the Massachusetts government.
The rebellion was progressing for roughly a month and then Shays tried to take control of the arsenal at Springfield, MA.
Through this entire saga the national government did not have the power to put down the rebels.

19. Shays’ Rebellion
A great fear emerged as Shays led a seemingly unpreventable revolt.
Eventually the Mass. militia put the events to an end.
But other states had refused to help and the National Congress was virtually powerless to do anything.

20. The Philadelphia Convention
Delegates from most states were sent to Philadelphia to hold meetings on making significant changes to the Articles.
Rhode Island refused to send delegates.
13 States were still required to amend articles.
By not showing up, Rhode Island believed they were simply voting no for any changes.

21. The Philadelphia Convention
Although the original intent was to talk about changes to the Articles, many wanted to simply scrap them and start anew.
James Madison had come to the convention prepared with a new constitution ready to be put into place.