1. American Government The Articles of Confederation
February 8, 2019
American Government The Articles of Confederation

2. WARM UP HSA Questions of the Day
Which is not one of three major democratic principles found in the Declaration of Independence?
a. Popular Sovereignty b. Consent of the Governed c. Natural Rights d. Tax-free goods
2. What is “taxation without representation?” 
Colonists claimed it was unfair that they did not have representation in British Parliament to vote on taxes and laws.

3. WARM UP HSA Questions of the Day
3. What is a Constitution?
 A framework of guidelines and laws for a government.

4. Today’s Key Questions:
What was the Articles of Confederation?
Why was it replaced by the United States Constitution?

5. Articles of Confederation
After the colonists won independence from Great Britain, they were no longer under a monarchy. Their new government was a democratic (TYPE) confederacy (FORM).
The new United States put together the Articles of Confederation, our original constitution, in The Articles of Confederation was a document that created a confederacy, a loose union of states of a “firm league of friendship.”

6. Articles of Confederation
There was no president and each state maintained its sovereignty which means independence or right to rule itself (no higher government power).
The Articles of Confederation gave the central (national) government the power to declare war, negotiate with other countries, and established the Post Office. However, there were a few things that went wrong with the Articles of Confederation.

7. Problems with the Articles of Confederation
The weak central government had no power to tax. (They had the right to declare war, but how could they pay soldiers in the military if they didn’t have any money from taxes? They would have to ask to borrow money from the states.)
No common currency, better known as money. (Imagine visiting friends in South Carolina and you can’t spend your Maryland money in S. Carolina or in the states you traveled through to get there, Virginia & North Carolina.)

8. Problems with the Articles of Confed.
The central government didn’t have the power to settle fights between states because there was no national court system. (If oil was found below the water of the Potomac River, who could claim it: Maryland or Virginia? If gold was found?)
There was no way to handle border and territory disputes between states or states and another country. (Would the individual state of New York have to defend its own territory if Canada attempted to claim some of New York’s land?)

9. The United States Constitution
The Articles of Confederation, the country’s first constitution, gave too much power to the states and left the central government weak. It needed to be revised.
James Madison and Thomas Jefferson were among 53 delegates who met in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania at the Constitutional Conventions. During this time, these men – The Framers – debated creating a new Constitution for America.

10. The United States Constitution
The Framers needed to find a way to balance and share the power between the central government and the state governments; this is federalism.
The new constitution would be based on limited government, consent of the governed, popular sovereignty and separation of powers which means the powers of government would be divided so no one person had too much power like King George III.

11. Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan
Two different plans emerged one favoring small states and one favoring large states. Can you tell which is which? Virginia Plan or New Jersey Plan
Virginia Plan: Legislative branch has two chambers; Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s population.
New Jersey Plan: Legislative branch has one chamber; Each state gets one vote.

12. The US Constitution
The new US Constitution was created in 1787 and ratified (approved) by the states in 1788, laying the foundation for the structure of the US government.
The US Constitution is divided into 7 Articles and 27 Amendments.

13. The US Constitution Articles I, II & III
Article I - Legislative Branch: Congress passes laws, power of impeachment, approves war declarations and treaties with other countries.

14. The US Constitution Articles I, II & III
Article II - Executive Branch: President commands the military, appoints judges to the national courts, approves or vetoes laws passed by Congress.

15. The US Constitution Articles I, II & III
Article III - Judicial Branch: Supreme Court interprets laws, decides whether or not a law is constitutional, settles disputes between states.

16. The US Constitution Articles I, II & III
Ultimately, the US Constitution limited the government because they have guidelines.
One of the ways it makes sure no one gets too controlling is through checks and balances, when one branch checks another (e.g., the president has to approve a law passed by Congress, but the Supreme Court could determine if it’s unconstitutional).

17. Today’s Key Questions:
What was the Articles of Confederation? Who had the power under the Articles of Confederation?
America’s first Constitution; the states
Why was the Articles of Confederation replaced by the United States Constitution?
The AoC created a weak central government and gave too much power to the states