1. The Articles of Confederation
The 1st Constitution
for
The United States

2. No executive branch and no President Each state had 1 vote in Congress
Articles of Confederation
Unicameral Congress
No federal courts
No executive branch and no President
Each state had 1 vote in Congress

3. Government Under the Articles
Representatives had no set term.
Only powers given to Congress were
Make war and peace
Send and receive ambassadors
Enter into treaties
Raise and equip a navy
Maintain an army

4. Weaknesses of Articles
No power to levy or collect taxes. Had to borrow or request money from states.
No power to regulate trade.
No power to force anyone to obey the laws.
Needed 9 of 13 states to pass laws. 1 2 3 4

5. Weaknesses of Articles
Every state, regardless of population, had equal vote.
Amendments required consent from all states. (No amendments ever passed!!!)
No executive branch and no President.
No national court system. 5 6 7 8

6. Need for Stronger Government
Quarrels among the states.
Boundaries
Taxes
Some states began to deal directly with foreign nations.

7. Need for Stronger Government
Money problems
Unpaid debt to foreign lenders
Unpaid soldiers

8. The Breaking Point SHAY’S REBELLION Economic depression
Armed group of farmers
Attacked federal arsenal

9. The Impact !!! Scared American leaders
Demonstrated how weak the central government really was.
Caused general public to support the idea of a stronger central government.

10. The Annapolis Convention
1786
Delegates were invited to discuss commerce.
Meeting successfully resolved some problems between states.
So another meeting was called in 1787 in Philadelphia to propose changes to make the central government more effective.

11. 1787 They began to write an entirely new Constitution.
Some of America’s most brilliant leaders gathered in Philadelphia.
They immediately skipped any attempt to improve the Articles of Confederation.
They began to write an entirely new Constitution.