1. Articles of Confederation
Ss.7.C.1.5 – Identify how the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to the writing of the Constitution.

2. Review: American Independence

3. Review: Confederations

4. Articles of Confederation (T-Chart)
Weaknesses
Problem
No Power to tax
No chief executive
No executive branch
A government with little money, little power
No national military
Lack of strong leadership
Government can’t enforce laws

5. Articles of Confederation (T-Chart)
Weaknesses
Problem
No executive branch
No national court system
Could not enforce laws
No power to make states comply
No one to interpret the law or resolve disputes

6. Articles of Confederation (T-Chart)
Weaknesses
Problem
Only 1 government branch
No power to regulate trade
No separation of powers
No checks and balances
States might trade unfairly
States might compete economically

7. Articles of Confederation (T-Chart)
Weaknesses
Problem
Difficult to Amend
Had to be unanimous (all 13 states)
Any state could block change

8. Shays’ Rebellion Armed uprising of poor farmers in Massachusetts
Felt their state government was treating them unfairly
Shays’ Rebellion = “Tipping Point”
AHA! Moment that the AOC was not going to work

9. “You Do”
Task – Read through each excerpt from the U.S. Constitution and identify how the excerpt relates to one of the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.