1. U.S. History Chapter 8: A More Perfect Union Lesson 1: The Articles of Confederation

2. Section 1-Polling Question
How difficult is it to get a group of your friends to agree on what movie to watch or game to play?
A. Very difficult
B. Somewhat difficult
C. Somewhat easy
D. Very easy A B C D

3. How effective was government under the Articles of Confederation?
Essential Question
How effective was government under the Articles of Confederation?
How effective was government under the articles of confederation?

4. Second Continental Congress
Needed a plan of government that met the needs of all 13 states
The states joined to fight against the British, but would they be able to work together and maintain their independence?
The states’ first task was to establish their own political institutions

5. State Constitutions
May 1776, Congress asked the states to organize their governments
Each state adopted a constitution (Plan of government)
Each learned from British rule and did not want too much power on a single ruler
Each had limited power on the governor
Pennsylvania even had an elected council with 12 members

6. Limiting Power
States also divided government functions between the governor and the legislature
Most states established bicameral (two-house) legislatures to divide power even further
The writers of the constitutions wanted to keep the power in the hands of the people
Elections were frequent
In order to vote (in most states) you had to be a white male, 21 years old or older, and own property
Some states allowed free African Americans to vote

7. Forming a Republic Americans agreed that they should be a republic
Citizens rule through elected representatives
Disagreements arose on organization of the powers
Most Americans wanted a weak central government
Each state would be like independent countries
States would act independently on most issues
The central government would only wage war and handle relations with other nations

8. Planning a New Government
1776- Congress appointed a committee to draw a constitution
November The Articles of Confederation were adopted
Was America’s first constitution
Central government in which the states kept most of their power
Under the Articles Congress had the power to:
conduct foreign affairs,
maintain armed forces,
borrow money,
and issue currency
John Hanson- 1st President of the United States under the Articles of Confederation

9. Section 1
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress could do which of the following?
A. Regulate trade
B. Force citizens to join the army
C. Impose taxes
D. Conduct foreign affairs A B C D

10. Weaknesses of the Articles
Congress could not regulate trade
Or force citizens to join the army
Or impose taxes
If Congress needed money they had to ask the state legislatures- but they were NOT required to contribute
Congress lacked a chief executive

12. More of the Articles
The Articles were not fully supported by the states
Each state got one vote, regardless of population
All states had to approve the articles and any amendments
Larger states believed they should have more votes
Some states claimed land in the West
Maryland refused to approve the Articles until these states abandoned these land claims
The states did and all 13 states approved the Articles on March 1, 1781

13. The Confederation Government
Did not provide a strong enough government
To pass a law 9 states had to agree
Despite weaknesses it made some important achievements
Under the Confederation government, Americans won independence and expanded foreign trade
Also helped with the governing if western territories

14. Moving West
Before the Revolutionary War, on a few thousand lived west of the Appalachian Mountains
1790- About 120,000
Settlers hoped to organize lands as states and join the union
Land claims were given up and Congress took control of these lands
1784- Congress divided the western territory into self-governing districts
When the number of people in a district reached the population of the smallest existing state, that district could petition for statehood

16. The Ordinance of 1785
1785- Congress passed an ordinance (law) that established a procedure for surveying and selling western lands north of the Ohio River
Divided the massive territory into 6 miles by 6 miles townships
Townships were divided into 36 sections (640 acres)
Each would be sold at public auction
To govern the territory, a new ordinance was needed

18. The Northwest Ordinance
1787- Created a single Northwest Territory
North of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River
Divided into 3 to 5 smaller territories
When the population reached 60,000 the people could petition for statehood
Each new state would have the same rights as the original 13 states

19. More of the Northwest Ordinance
Had a bill of rights for settlers
Guaranteed freedom of religion and trial by jury
Slavery was outlawed
This clause (condition added to a document) marked the first attempt to stop the spread of slavery in the US
The Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance opened the way for settlement of the Northwest Territory in a stable and orderly manner

20. Financial Problems
By The money printed during the Revolutionary War depreciated (fell in value) so far that it was almost worthless
Taxes could not be collected so Congress and the states printed their own paper money
Not backed in silver or gold, so it had no real value
“Not worth a continental”- worthless

21. Financial Problems War for independence left Congress with a huge debt
Congress owed money to American citizens and foreign nations
Still owed money to soldiers
States did not send money

22. Robert Morris’s Import Tax
1781- The finances were collapsing
Congress created a department of finance led by Philadelphia merchant Robert Morris
Morris proposed a 5% tax on imported goods to help pay the debt
The plan called for the Articles to be changed to give Congress the power to tax
Rhode Island refused so it did not pass
The financial crisis continued to worsen

23. Problems With Britain
The British didn’t leave the forts they were supposed to according to the Treaty of Paris (1783)
Americans complained that the British were keeping them out of the West Indies and other British markets
1785- John Adams was sent to London to discuss the problems
The British responded that the United States didn’t live up to their side of the Treaty
The states never paid the loyalists that lost their land and property

25. A B C D Who honored all the promises they made in the Treaty of Paris?
Section 1
Who honored all the promises they made in the Treaty of Paris?
A. Both Britain and the United States
B. Just Britain
C. Just the United States
D. Neither Britain nor the United States A B C D

26. Problems With Spain
Spain wanted to stop American expansion into its territory
Spain closed the lower Mississippi River to American shipping in 1784
Westerners no longer had this trade route
The Confederation could not deal with these problems
These problems worried many leaders and they saw that there was a need for a stronger government

27. How effective was government under the Articles of Confederation?
Essential Question
How effective was government under the Articles of Confederation?
-Ineffective because the Congress lacked important economic and diplomatic powers.
How effective was government under the articles of confederation?

28. Chapter 8 Section 1

29. 8.1.1 The Americans were ready to concentrate power in the hands of one ruler.
True
False

30. 8.1.2 The war left the Continental Congress with a large debt.
True
False

31. 8.1.3 The Americans formed a republic, a government in which citizens rule through
elected representatives.
monarchies.
kingships.
appointed representatives.

32. 8.1.4 What was the single territory that was created out of the lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River?
Mississippi Territory
Western Territory
Northwest Territory
Ohio Territory

33. 8.1.5 One major weakness of the Confederation was that it could not deal with
drawing maps.
new states.
Native Americans.
the nation's finances.

34. 8.1.1 The Americans were ready to concentrate power in the hands of one ruler.
True
False

35. 8.1.2 The war left the Continental Congress with a large debt.
True
False

36. 8.1.3 The Americans formed a republic, a government in which citizens rule through
elected representatives.
monarchies.
kingships.
appointed representatives.

37. 8.1.4 What was the single territory that was created out of the lands north of the Ohio River and east of the Mississippi River?
Mississippi Territory
Western Territory
Northwest Territory
Ohio Territory

38. 8.1.5 One major weakness of the Confederation was that it could not deal with
drawing maps.
new states.
Native Americans.
the nation's finances.