1. Articles of Confederation

2. Articles Background 1st constitution for the colonies
Confederation form of government
Colonies would remain separate and independent
Banded together to form a cohesive defense

3. Articles- provisions Unicameral legislature- one house
Each state sends delegates, but gets only one vote per state
States obligated to send funds to pay government officials and the military
States obligated to send troops to man and maintain a central defense
9 state votes to pass any law

4. Articles- provisions
The authority of the executive and judicial branches would remain with the individual states
Unanimous vote by the states was necessary to amend the Articles
States set up trade agreements between the states and with foreign countries

5. Accomplishments under Articles
Set up the Post Office (only government agency that is self-supporting)
Created the post roads
Created the Northwest Territory Act of 1787 that allowed new states into the union
Set up a system of weights and measures

6. Problems with the Articles
States not fairly represented in the Congress
No central authority to negotiate with Foreign countries
No authority to make states comply with legislation
No power to collect taxes or impel troops into service

7. Problems with the Articles
No common currency
All states had to agree to amend the constitution
9 of 13 states had to agree to any new legislation
No system or authority to borrow money

8. Results of the Articles
States dispute borders
States levied heavy taxes on themselves to pay for war- did not send money to national government
States created own currencies
States levied tariffs on each others goods
States refused to acknowledge any national law they did not like

9. Results of the Articles
Shay’s Rebellion- Massachusetts farmers rebel against foreclosures on property.
Leaders of states convinced that more rebellion was likely without a stronger central authority
Led to the Annapolis Conference.

10. Annapolis Conference
The conference was called to discuss how to fix the government to avoid another revolution
States were in debt
Taxes to high- Shay’s Rebellion
Interstate commerce a mess
Foreign trade problems