1. Essential Question: Articles of Confederation
What are the major failures of the government under the Articles of Confederation?

2. Objectives
Discuss the ideas that guided the new state governments.
Describe the government under the Articles of Confederation.
Explain the Ordinances of 1785 and 1787 and their importance to westward expansion.
Identify the problems created by a weak central government.

3. Terms and People
constitution – document stating the rules under which a government will operate
executive – person who runs the government and sees that the laws are carried out
economic depression – period when business activity slows, prices and wages drop, and unemployment rises
Daniel Shays – army veteran and Massachusetts farmer who led an uprising to protest economic conditions

4. What were the major successes and failures of the government under the Articles of Confederation?
With independence came a new nation and a new form of government.
As troubles plagued the country, many feared that their new government had created new problems.

5. Even before independence was won, many colonies—now states—began to create new state governments.
Constitutions

6. Colonists believed the king had abused his powers.
For this reason, the states gave few powers to the governor.
Powers
of the
legislature
Powers
of the
executive
Most powers went to legislatures elected by the people.

7. Most states allowed more people to vote than in colonial times.
Voter Qualifications
White
Male
Over 21
Property ownership
Still, African Americans and women were not allowed to vote in almost all the states.

8. Virginia Bill of Rights
To make sure that people’s rights would not be abused again, many states included a bill of rights in their constitutions. Virginia was the first.
Virginia Bill of Rights
Freedom of Religion
Freedom of the Press
Trial by Jury
Limits on Searches
Limits on Arrests
No Cruel and Unusual Punishment

9. While the states were writing new constitutions, so was the Continental Congress.
In 1777, the Congress adopted a new plan of government for the nation: the Articles of Confederation.
Articles of
Confederation

10. Many of the concerns about colonial rule that shaped the new state constitutions also shaped the Articles of Confederation.
Powers
of the
legislature
Under the Articles, the powers of the central government were given to Congress—a legislature elected by the people.

11. There was no leader of the country.
In fact, the legislature was the only branch of government created by the Articles.
There was no leader of the country.
There were no national courts.
Executive
Branch
Judicial
Branch

12. Powers given
to Congress
To make sure the new legislature did not become too strong, its powers were limited.
deal with foreign countries
deal with Native Americans
make laws
declare war
coin or borrow money
run a postal service

13. Even more important than the powers given to Congress, however, were the powers not given to Congress.
Powers not
given to
Congress
regulate trade
collect taxes
Create an army
Congress was forced to depend on the states when it needed money. This weakened the central government and gave considerable power to the states.

14. It's All About Power!
Look at the Americans' experience with the powerful central government of Britain
Do the opposite!

15. BIG PROBLEMS! Federal Rights States' Rights
If the central government doesn’t have enough power then we are going to have…….
Federal Rights
States' Rights
BIG PROBLEMS!

16. Weak Government = Problems!
Here's an explanation of how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to Shays' Rebellion, which led to the creation of the Constitution.

17. Daniel Shays
Captain in the Revolutionary War
Retired from the army
Wanted to be a farmer in Massachusetts

18. Uh oh...no money!
Remember! The Congress didn't have the power to tax states...they could only ask for money!
The states said no!
So Congress couldn't pay its bills!

19. SCENARIO: How can you be a farmer if you have no money?
Get a loan from the bank!
Plant your seeds!
When your crops are grown, harvest them, sell them, and pay your loan back!

20. Uh oh...problems! What if the bank wants its money back NOW?
But your crops haven't grown yet?

21. THE REPO MAN COMES!
The bank repossesses the farms and kicks the former soldiers out of their homes!

22. Why didn't they have any money?
Taxes! The state of Massachusetts had placed high taxes that hit the farmers very hard.

23. Who cares about having a farm anyway?
Without property, you can't feed your family!
Without property, you can't vote!
Without property, you can't make money!
Without making money, you get thrown into debtor's prison!

24. Give me my house!
Daniel Shays and the farmers pick up their guns and go to the state courthouse to stop the government from foreclosing on their homes.
AND IT WORKED!!!

25. So they kept doing it...
And made the people in the government afraid!
The government made new laws that were meant to punish Shays and his followers.

26. The Congress can't help
Since the Articles of Confederation did not give Congress the power to raise a standing army, the federal government could not help stop Shays rebellion.

27. The Climax The state of Massachusetts sets up an army.
Shays and his followers try to take over a federal arsenal to get more guns so that they could fight the army.

28. Shays and his men lost the battle
Shays and his men lost the battle. Some of them got the death penalty for having participated in the rebellion.

29. To the Constitution...
The failure of the federal government to solve the problem of Shays' Rebellion made people understand that the Articles of Confederation had made the government too weak.
A Constitutional Convention was called to solve the problem.

30. What about the West?
Some states refused to approve the Articles until other states gave up their claims to lands in the west.
Finally, the Articles were approved, and the land was turned over to the national government.

31. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
The western lands were very valuable and in great demand.
To provide for the sale and settlement of these lands, Congress passed two new laws.
The Land Ordinance of 1785
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

32. Land Ordinance of 1785
Lands were divided into townships.
Townships were divided into sections.
Each section was sold piece by piece.

33. Within each township, one section would be set aside for schools.
The nation’s leaders believed that democracy could not survive without education.

34. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
created a government for the Northwest Territory—the lands north of the Ohio River.
guaranteed basic rights for settlers.
banned slavery in the new territories.
created a three-step process for admitting new states.

35. Three step process to becoming a state:
Once a territory was settled, Congress would appoint a governor, a secretary, and three judges
Once there were 5000 free adult males, it could elect a legislature to make laws.
Once the free population reached 60000, they could apply to be a state

36. Five states were eventually carved from the lands of the Northwest Territory.