1. Articles of Confederation

2. Let’s Think! What are the Articles of Confederation (A of C)?
America’s 1st governing document
Who created them?
Continental Congress

3. Taxes Federal government could not tax Result: Had to ask the states
States could ignore
No money to run central government

4. Raising An Army / Navy No national army Results: Had to ask the states
States ignored
No troops to enforce laws

5. Trade Could not control trade between states Results:
States taxed each other
Business suffered

6. Settling Disputes Could only help settle disputes Results:
Could not enforce decisions
States argued constantly
States didn’t follow decisions

7. Money Could not regulate the printing and earning of money
Government money was not backed by gold or silver
Results:
Each state printed its own money
Government money seen as worthless

8. Other Weaknesses of A of C
To make any changes, ALL states had to agree  unanimous is impossible
Representation in Congress  1 vote for each state regardless of population
No Executive Branch
No national court system

9. Land  Good!
Passed the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Results:
Explained the rules to add new states

10. Shays’ Rebellion Look on your reading…
Take a few minutes to read about Shays’ Rebellion
Answer your questions on the handout
What weaknesses of the A of C make it difficult to put down Shays’ Rebellion?
Solution???
We need a STRONGER central government so the A of C must GO!

11. So…the A of C must go! Constitutional Convention  2 plans
Virginia Plan
(AKA: Large State Plan)
 2 house Congress (bicameral)
 representation: based on population
New Jersey Plan
(AKA: Small State Plan)
 1 house Congress (unicameral)
 Representation: vote per state
What about slaves?
How do we count them?
3/5 Compromise!
Thank you James Madison – our Father of the Constitution
Solution:
The Great Compromise