1. A Loose Confederation Learning Objectives:
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation
Pgs
Learning Objectives:
SWBAT tell why each new state made a constitution and tell what the new Constitutions were like.
SWBAT describe America’s first government, the Articles of Confederation.
SWBAT explain the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and tell why it did not last.
SWBAT explain the importance of the Land Ordinance of 1785 and the Northwest Ordinance.
SWBAT explain what happened in Shay’s Rebellion and tell why the colonies needed to change or replace the A.O.C.

2. A Loose Confederation TIME LINE Pgs.200-204
Chapter 7
Section 1
Pgs
TIME LINE
Fighting breaks out in Lexington and Concord, the
American Revolution begins.
1776 July 4th, the Continental Congress passes the
Declaration of Independence. America becomes a
nation.
The Continental Congress passes America’s first
government, the Articles of Confederation.
States pass their own constitutions, setting up state
governments.
The peace treaty is signed, ending the Revolutionary
War.
The states call a meeting to fix the A.O.C.

3. A Loose Confederation Setting the Scene
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Setting the Scene
Pg.200

4. Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation
Pg.200

5. A Loose Confederation The State Write Constitutions
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation The State Write Constitutions
Pg.200
As colonies became states, they wrote out constitutions to explain how their new governments would work without the laws of the King of England.

6. A Loose Confederation The State Write Constitutions
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation The State Write Constitutions
Pg.200
The states wanted to accomplish two main
things when writing their constitutions:
1. They wanted to spell out all of the rights of the citizens.
2. They wanted to limit the power of the government.

7. Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation
Pg.201

8. A Loose Confederation The State Write Constitutions
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation The State Write Constitutions
Pg.200
Most state governments only had two branches:
- a legislative branch to pass laws
- an executive branch (a governor) to carry out
the laws
Many state governments also had a bill of rights or list of rights guaranteed to the citizens.
* Note: There was not a judicial branch in many original state constitutions because there were many local courts to handle disputes.

9. Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation
Pg.201

10. A Loose Confederation The Articles of Confederation
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation The Articles of Confederation
Pg.201
Passed by the Continental Congress
in 1877

11. A Loose Confederation Limited Powers
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Limited Powers
Pg.201

12. A Loose Confederation Limited Powers
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Limited Powers
Pg.201
The Articles of Confederation (A.O.C.)
a one branch- legislative (Congress) and each state
gets one representative (one vote)
could pass laws with 9 votes out of 13 states
had the power to:
declare war
appoint military officers
coin (print) money
make treaties with foreign countries
request (ask for) money
set up a post office

13. A Loose Confederation Limited Powers
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Limited Powers
Pg.201
The States
regulate their own trade
make laws about taxes
could coin (print) their
own money
could act independently
on most issues
were responsible to
enforce the national laws
The A.O.C.
declare war
appoint military officers
coin (print) money
make treaties
request (ask for) money
set up a post office

14. A Loose Confederation Dispute Over Western Lands
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Dispute Over Western Lands Pg

15. Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Pg

16. A Loose Confederation Weaknesses of the Confederation
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Weaknesses of the Confederation
Pg.202

17. A Loose Confederation Weaknesses of the Confederation
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Weaknesses of the Confederation
Pg.202

18. A Loose Confederation Weaknesses of the Confederation
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Weaknesses of the Confederation
Pg.202
Many states did not enforce the laws properly which
made any national laws and the national government
weak.
When states argued with each other, the A.O.C. could
do nothing to solve it because there was no Judicial or
Executive branches.
Since the A.O.C. could not tax the states, it printed its
own paper money which became nearly worthless
because it had nothing of value to back it up.
Foreign countries took advantage of the weakness of
the A.O.C. government by disobeying it.

19. Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation
Pg.203

20. A Loose Confederation The Northwest Territory
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation The Northwest Territory
Pg.203

21. Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Admitting New States
Pg.203
Two positive laws passed by the A.O.C. government:
The Land Ordinance of set up a system for settling the Northwest Territory.
The Northwest Ordinance - set up a government for the Northwest Territory. AND… set up a way to admit new states to the nation.

22. A Loose Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785
Chapter 7
Section 1
Pg.203
After the land was surveyed (measured to see how big it was), it was divided into townships which were six miles by six miles square.
Each township could then be divided into one mile by one mile sections to be sold for $640 each.
One central section (usually section 16) was set aside to support public schools and other government buildings.
Eventually people divided the one mile by one mile sections even smaller and sold pieces.

23. A Loose Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785
Chapter 7
Section 1
Pg.203
A Loose Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785

24. A Loose Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation The Land Ordinance of 1785
Pg.203

25. A Loose Confederation The Northwest Ordinance
Chapter 7
Section 1
Pg.203
Set up a system to admit new states:
after there were 60,000 free settlers living in a territory and it had passed a written constitution, a territory could ask Congress to admit it as a state.
A new state would have equal “standing”/power with the other states

26. A Loose Confederation A Call for Change
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation A Call for Change
Pg.204

27. A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Pg.204

28. A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Pg.204
The Start of
Shays’ Rebellion

29. A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Pg.204

30. A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation Farmers Revolt
Pg.204

31. A Loose Confederation A Convention is Called
Chapter 7
Section 1
A Loose Confederation A Convention is Called
Pg.204

32. A Loose Confederation A Convention is Called
Chapter 7
Section 1
Pg.204
As a result of Shays’ Rebellion, many Americans acknowledged that the A.O.C. government was not working well. Several states called for a convention to fix the A.O.C. The meeting was set for May of 1787 in Philadelphia.
“I predict the worst consequences from a half-
starved, limping government, always moving
upon crutches and tottering at every step.”