Unit 2 Lesson 8

Unit 2 Lesson 8

What were the Articles of Confederation and why did some of

the Founders what to change them ?

Vocabulary:Articles of ConfederationConfederationShays’ Rebellion

Why and how were the Articles of Confederation created? Creating state constitutions and unifying meant sorting

out issues: Economics Political relationships Boarder disputes Global diplomacy

Articles of Confederation Sovereign States gave the central government directives and

power over specific issues and for specified purposes. Ben Franklin submits a draft at Second Continental

Congress (SCC)1775 Richard Henry Lee (VA) submits a set of resolutions for

independence to (SCC)and government on June 7, 1776 Model for resolutions used in Declaration of Independence and

Articles of Confederation

What problems did the Articles of Confederation address? Fear of a strong National Government

Needed central gov’t to win war, but did not want British style gov’t…The state was their country

Control was needed to protect state and individual rights

Fear that states could dominate others in that national government. Solution? Create a “firm league of friendships” States maintain soverignty, defined authority of

congress, defined what states could an could not do, Made congress the sole and exclusive right on

determining war and peace.

Powers given to states Only state governments had authority over

their citizens Congress could not pass taxes, but I could ask

states to provide funds which were raised by citizens

Congress could not regulate trade among the states

Fear the Some states would dominate others Representation: Article V each state given one

vote regardless of population. 9 states had to agree so smaller 7 states could not out vote larger states

Request for funds formula was not based on population free or enslaved. Based on improved land, but hard to calculate

Landed states were asked to grant land in the west to United States (Oooo, so new states could develop)

Maryland was last to ratify March 1, 1781

Critical Thinking Exercise Page 62 Use Excerpts from the Articles of

confederation to answers questions with your partners

10 minutes!

Achievements of the National government under the Articles of Confederation American Revolution conducted under this

government, diplomats secured recognition of US independence in Europe

Congress created offices of finance, foreign relations, and military affairs (later dept.s of treasury, state and war)

Admiralty courts could hear appeals sent by states Northwest Ordinance-1787 defined territory and plan

for government Process for which territory becomes a state with equal

rights to existing states Prohibited slavery in NW territory Required states to provide for education and set land

aside for schools.

Northwest TerritoryNorth of Ohio River

and East of Mississippi River

Becomes Ohio Michigan Indiana Illinois Wisconsin Minnesota (part of)

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Congress has no power to tax

American Revolution was paid with loans, the requested funds from the states who also had bills) $10 mil requested $1.6 received. Yay, a nation built on national debt!

Could not make agreements with foreign nations but could not force states to honor them some states would import goods and refuse to pay for them British saw weakness and closed trade in West Indies,

limiting American sales (mostly food stuffs) Could not make laws to regulate interstate trade

States levy trade/transport taxes= inefficient & unproductive No power to make laws to regulate behavior of citizens

Could not enforce resolution, recommendations or requests made by Congress

Issues Treaty of Paris ends war and protects property of

Loyalists. States that had confiscated property could not be forced to return it

Localists isolated western part of state. Went into debt during war. When in power, some states cancelled debts,issued

paper money= inflation and favors debtors Cosmopolitans lived in Easter ports…argued cxld

debts did not protect their property. States were used by one class of people to deny rights

of another Thought international trade agreements and debts

needed to be honoredWHAT DO YOU THINK? p. 65

Reformation attempts