1. The Articles of Confederation
Ms. Masellis
Benchmark: SS.7.C.1.5
Civics

2. After The American Revolution

3. WANTED: A government that…….
Has enough ________ to do its job
Doesn’t give anyone too ______ power
Considers the needs of all _________
Lets people have a ________
Protects individual __________
POWER
WANTED: A government that…….
MUCH
THE STATES
SAY
RIGHTS

4. The Articles Of Confederation
In 1777, the Americans wrote
their first plan for government in a document called the
The Articles Of Confederation
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

5. The Articles of Confederation
A confederation is a _________ of individuals _______ together for a _________.
group
united
purpose

6. The Articles of Confederation
They started by drafting a document called The Articles of Confederation.
The Articles of Confederation explained how the 13 states would be governed as one nation.
Each state was independent and had it’s own government.
Each state would send representatives to the “Congress of the Confederation,” a lawmaking body.
Congress was the only branch of government. (NO PRESIDENT OR COURTS)
In Congress, each state got one vote.
The Articles of Confederation

7. PROS States get to keep their ______ and ____________
No _____________ telling the states what to do
Congress had the power to create a _________ to ________all the states
power
independence
PROS
government
military
protect

8. CONS Congress had no way to __________ its _______!
Congress had no power to collect _________ to pay for the military!
The Articles could only be _________ if ______ the states agreed!
enforce
laws
CONS
taxes
changed
ALL

9. QUICK QUIZ

10.  Think About It  True  False
Under the Articles of Confederation, a President would lead the country.
Think
About It
 True
 False 

11. Under the Articles of Confederation, states would be independent.
Think
About It 
 True
 False

12.  Think About It  True  False
Under the Articles, states with more people got more votes in Congress.
Think
About It
 True
 False 

13. The Articles of Confederation created the first American government.
Think
About It 
 True
 False

14. Different states had different needs for government to meet.
Think
About It 
 True
 False

15. An event led by Daniel Shay in when 2,000 Massachusetts farmers rebelled against land foreclosure and debt from the Revolutionary War.
Congress would not respond because it was too weak and did not have it’s own army.
This led representatives from five states to meet and to call for a constitutional convention.
Shay’s Rebellion

16. In 1787, Representatives from every state except Rhode Island met in Philadelphia to fix the Articles.
This meeting was called The Constitutional Convention because they ended up doing more than just fixing the Articles…. THEY WROTE THE CONSTITUTION.
Lets Fix This Thing

17. A New Idea! Articles of Confederation New Idea 1 Branch
Legislative—makes laws
3 Branches
Legislative: Congress/ Make laws
Judicial: Courts/ Interpret Laws
Executive: President/ Carry out Laws

18. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state got one vote no matter how many people it had.
Both large and small states had the same amount of votes
Was this fair?
Votes

19. Battle of the Plans The Virginia Plan The New Jersey Plan
Two different plans emerged – one favoring small states and one favoring large states.
The Virginia Plan
The New Jersey Plan
Legislative branch has ___ “chambers”
Number of votes for each state depends on the state’s ___________
________ states would have more power
Legislative branch has ___ “chamber”
Each state gets ___ vote
________ states would have more power 2 1
Battle of the Plans 1
population
Smaller
Larger

20. The Constitution Solution
The two states FINALLY reached a compromise
Legislative:
Makes laws
Divide Congress Into Two Houses
Senate
House of Representatives
Each state gets 2 votes.
The more people the state has, the more votes it gets!
The Constitution Solution
Executive:
Carries out laws
Judicial:
Interprets laws

21. The Constitution was the second and final attempt to write a document that would govern the United States, and we still follow it today.
The constitution also solved some other problems found in the articles of Confederation
The Articles didn’t require states to treat citizens from other states the same as their own citizens, BUT the Constitution does.
The Articles couldn’t be changed unless ALL states agree, but the Constitution can be changed if ¾ of the states agreed and 2/3 of Congress agrees.
The Articles didn’t require states to follow the laws Congress passed, but the constitution says federal laws are superior to state laws.
The Constitution

22. QUICK QUIZ

23.  Think About It  True  False
The Articles required states to treat citizens from other states the same as their own citizens.
Think
About It
 True
 False 

24. Think About It citizens same
The Constitution requires each state to treat ________ of other states the ______ as it treats its own citizens.
Think
About It
citizens
same

25.  Think About It  All states  A majority of states
How many states had to agree in order for the Articles of Confederation to be changed?
Think
About It 
 All states
 A majority of states

26. The Constitution can be changed if ________________ of the members of Congress and ________________ of the states agree.
Think
About It
two-thirds (2/3)
three-fourths (3/4)

27.  Think About It  True  False
The Articles of Confederation required states to follow the laws Congress passed.
Think
About It
 True
 False 

28. The Constitution says that the laws passed by Congress are _________ to laws passed by the _______.
Think
About It
superior
states

29. Created a President
Created a Government
Had one branch of government
Created a court system
Gave large and small states the same power
Created a Congress
Compromised between large and small states
Didn’t let Congress enforce its laws
Created a military
Decide whether each statement applies to the Articles of Confederation, the Constitution, or both.