The Articles Of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation

“No taxation without representation”

• It means, 'We will only pay taxes that our representatives in a House or Assembly [or similar body] have approved and passed into a law.

• The slogan was used by the American revolutionaries and meant they they weren't willing to pay taxes imposed by the British House of Commons - as they were not represented there.

Common Sense• A pamphlet written in America by

Englishman Thomas Paine, published on January 10, 1776.

• It called for – American independence

and – a union of the American colonies It was propaganda and influenced colonists

to pursue both in the Revolutionary War.

The Articles: powers to Congress1. make war and peace (sending/receiving

ambassadors and making treaties), 2. raise an army and navy (build a navy and

raising an army by asking the states for troops),

3. print money (set up a money system, fix uniform standards of weights and measures), and

4. set up a postal system.

Major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:

• No chief executive to enforce the laws

• No national court system• Could not collect taxes from individuals• No National Currency

Successes of AoC• Treaty of Paris (1783)

ended the Revolutionary War, recognized 13 colonies as free and sovereign states, and recognized the Mississippi River as the country’s new western border

Successes of the AoC

• Land Ordinance (1785) provided a way to divide western land into separate territories and created a procedure for the new territories to apply for statehood and join the United States.

The Land Ordinance of 1785

• Congress, eager for revenue from the sale of land in the Old Northwest, adopted the Ordinance of 1785. That law required the government to survey the Old Northwest before selling the land to the public. The territory was divided into townships of 6 miles (9.7 kilometers) square. These townships were further divided into 36 sections, each 1 mile (1.6 kilometers) square, an area that equals 640 acres (259 hectares). The 640-acre units were then auctioned off to the public for a price of at least $1 an acre.

• Few farmers could afford to buy as much as 640 acres. Land speculators, such as the Ohio Company and the Scioto Company, grabbed up most of the land. These companies then divided the land into smaller sections and sold them at a profit.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Successes of the AoC• Northwest Ordinance (1787) established a plan for

governing the new land between the Appalachian mountains and the Mississippi River. This plan set up government for the territory and also abolished slavery in the new western states.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 established a government for the Old Northwest, which then became known as the Northwest Territory. The ordinance also provided for the eventual division of the region into three to five states. Congress appointed the first officials of the territory—a governor, a secretary, and three judges. When the territory reached a population of 5,000 adult males, it could elect an assembly and send a nonvoting delegate to Congress. When any division of the territory reached a population of 60,000, it could apply for statehood.

Impact of the ordinances

• The ordinances of 1785 and 1787 paved the way for full-scale migration to the west.

• The laws also established guidelines for the administration of all U.S. territories.

Failure of the AoC• Shay’s Rebellion (1787) a group

of Massachusetts farmers, lead by Daniel Shay, protested the rising taxes on land. They attacked a federal court house. – The revolt convinced many people

that the U.S. needed a stronger central government to prevent violence and disorder.

Solutions• To fix some of the problems with the AoC a

Constitutional Convention was called. At the convention the delegates threw out the AoC and created a new document called the Constitution.

– Constitution: a written plan of government• A document that outlines the powers and limitations

of government

– Bicameral: a legislature with two houses

The Articles of

Confederation

Vs. The

Constitution

Constitution:

• Provides a written framework for government.

• A plan or instruction manual of powers and restrictions for government

• Limits or restricts certain powers

Discuss:

•Why is a constitution essential to a government?

Articles of Confederation

• The national government had no chief executive to carry out laws made by congress

• The President heads the executive branch of the government

• President enforces the laws.

Constitution

Articles of ConfederationNo national

courtsState courts

had jurisdiction within their state

Both national and state courts exist.

Depending on the case, some cases fall under state jurisdiction and others under federal.

Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Congress did not have the power to tax

Congress is given the power to tax

Constitution

Articles of ConfederationThere was no

national currency

Each state coined its own money

Common national currency

Only the national government has the power to make money

Constitution

Discuss:

• Defend my claim: The need for a strong executive leader is essential to the functioning of government.

Great or Connecticut CompromiseTopic: Representation in Congress

Large States:

• Virginia Plan• Large states

wanted representation by population

Small States:

• New Jersey Plan• Small states

wanted equal representation

The Great Compromise

•Bicameral legislature •equal representation =

–Senate (2 per state)•proportional representation =

–House (population)

(3/5 Compromise) Three/Fifths Compromise: Population

South• Southern states

wanted slaves to count in population counts– They were more

dependent on slavery.

North• Northern states

did not want slaves to count– They were less

dependent on slavery

3/5ths Compromise

• For the purposes of representation, five slaves would be counted as 3 free people

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Opposing Sides Southern States Vs. Northern States

Each Side’s Position South: no taxes on tobacco exports, Congress not to interfere with slave tradeNorth: wanted the Constitution to be signed

Compromise Congress could not tax exports from any state or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.

THINK:

• Which of the compromises would you say is most important to our government today?