Articles of Confederation

THe Articles of ConfederatioN

• FIRST CONSTITUTION for the United States of America

  • Agreed to establish a confederacy

  • Held the 13 new states together during the revolution

What was its purpose?

• Take 13 states acting as individual nations and unify them under one government.

When did it happen?

• 1776 - Second Continental Congress appoints committee to create the governing document for the United States of America

• 1777 - SCC approved the draft ​and sent it to the states for final approval

• 1781 - each state finally approves the Articles of Confederation as the formal agreement on the new government​

How did it structure the new government?

• The states agreed to have each other's back

• CONFEDERATION style government

  • Strong state governments and a weaker national government

• Only one branch in national government

  • The Legislative Branch​

How did law making work?

• Congress was made up of 2-7 delegates from each state

• Congress had very little power

  • No executive branch to enforce the law

  • No judicial branch to uphold the law​

• Declare war

• Make treaties

• Settle disputes between states

• Request money from the states

• Direct the military​

National Powers

• Tax

• Create courts

• Enforce (or not enforce) laws passed by Congress

• ​Any power or responsibility not specifically given to the national government

State Powers

National government can't enforce taxes

• Can't raise money

  • can't provide services

  • can't pay debts

  • can't pay soldiers​

National government can't regulate currency

• Each state could have their own currency

  • Economic nightmare domestically and abroad

No national court system

• No system to uphold the law

No national executive branch

• No one to enforce the law

National government can't Regulate trade

• Each state had it's own rules for commerce (business)

  • International trade was a nightmare​

one vote per state

• Equal representation regardless of a state's population size

  • Unfair to more populated states

2/3rds majority required to pass laws

• Very difficult to get 2/3rds of any group to agree on anything

unanimous vote required to make any changes to the AoC

• Essentially impossible to make any changes or improvements to the Constitution

Shay's Rebellion

• Many people were suffering due to the weakness of the national government

• Daniel Shay and farmers in Massachusetts instigated a rebellion against the government​

• This was the final straw that led to the Constitutional Convention!​

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