1. The Articles of Confederation
America’s First Constitution

2. The Articles were written during the Revolutionary War
Each colony became a state
But each state was more like an independent country.
People were loyal to their state, rather than their nation.

3. State Governments Each state dealt with foreign countries on its own.
Each state made its own money.
Each state decided how many
troops it would provide to defend
the nation

4. So this was NOT a united nation
Under the Articles, it was simply an agreement by the states to work together.
Which they didn’t.

5. Other problems came with the structure of the central (national) government

6. No judiciary (national court system) What if two states got into an argument?

7. One-house legislature, (congress) with little power.

8. No real executive branch
Without a President, the government lacked anyone to enforce the few laws that Congress passed

9. Other problems with the Articles
Congress could not regulate trade between states. This caused conflict over the trade rules each state passed on its own
Each state had only one vote in Congress
It did not matter how many people lived in the state. Do you see how that could be seen as unfair?

10. And the congress could only ask for taxes from the thirteen states, not demand them

11. Government Gridlock To pass a law, 9 of 13 states must agree
It’s difficult to reach a majority that large
Few laws were passed
To amend (change) the Articles of Confederation, all states must agree.

12. Congress Each State = 1 Vote No Executive No Judicial System
Citizens of Each State
Elects State Gov’t NH MA RI CT NY PA NJ DE MD VA NC SC GA
Congress
Each State = 1 Vote
No Executive
No Judicial System

13. Call for Change
The central government is simply too weak to govern effectively
With no uniform currency, and no government power over trade, trade among the 13 states slows to a halt
The new nation faces a depression soon after it wins independence

14. Is the United States doomed?

15. Shay’s Rebellion (1787) freaks the Founding Fathers out!
Colonists in Mass. angry over high taxes.
A farmer named Daniel Shays leads an armed rebellion.
Congress cannot raise funds for an army to end the rebellion—eventually, it ends on its own

16. The rebellion convinces many people the Articles need serious revision.
So delegates from the states meet in Philadelphia to “revise” our first constitution
They wind up throwing it out and writing a new one!

17. To think about:
Why does it actually make sense that Americans would create such a weak government after their experience with King George III and Great Britain?