Lesson 1.2 Concept 2: Failures of the Articles of Confederation

Lesson Outline

1. Announcements & Lesson Norms

2. Bell Ringer Question

3. Lesson Objectives

4. American Government under the Articles of Confederation

5. Closing the lesson: work due before next time

​Announcements & Lesson Norms

• Assignment 1.1: Comparing Philosophies of the Enlightenment came due yesterday - finish if you have not already.

• Review your rubric score and any feedback I have left on the assignment...remember that you may make adjustments to and resubmit your work for a higher score if necessary.

• If you have a questions during our lesson, ask in the chat, or use the "raise hand" feature of Zoom to talk aloud - please wait to be acknowledged.

​Lesson Objectives

• Describe the organization of the first government of the United States, the Articles of Confederation (PD.4.C.1, CPI.2.C.4)

• Evaluate the effectiveness of the U.S. government under the Articles of Confederation (PD.4.C.1, CPI.2.C.4)

• ​Lack of representation in British Parliament (taxation without representation).

• Abuses of rights of colonial citizens (Quartering and Coercive Acts)

• Limits on colonial trade (Sugar and Stamp Acts

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American issues with great britain

Suspicion of tyranny

• Because of their experience with British governance of the colonies, the founding generation of American political leaders were wary of creating a government that had too much power. As a consequence, our first government as outlined by the Articles of Confederation, featured only one branch; a legislative (lawmaking) body with limited authority.

• This was not a single-minded debate, however; some such as John Adams and Alexander Hamilton would come to argue for a stronger federal government more closely based on the British constitutional monarchy. Others, especially Thomas Jefferson and James Madison, would argue for the states to have relatively more power (than the federal/national goverment)

American Government under the Articles

• The Articles of Confederation were drafted at the First Continental Congress in 1777, but did not go into effect until they were ratified in 1781.

• Under the Articles, the states were a loose confederation (alliance) of sovereign republics (like small countries).

• The national government consisted of only one branch, a unicameral (single-house) legislature (lawmaking body)

• The national government could mediate disputes between states, conduct diplomacy with other nations, declare war and sign treaties, print and borrow money, and regulate the affairs of Native Americans within the sovereign boundaries of the U.S.

Source: Library of Congress, guides.loc.gov/articles-of-confederation

​The Northwest ordinance

The main achievement of the government under the Articles was the passage of the Northwest Ordinance, a law that determined how new territories would enter the Union as states. This law served as the basis for the growth of American settlement in the "Old Northwest" (present day Ohio, Michigan, Indiana, and Illinois) during the early days of the nation.

• Unrest in Massachusetts in 1786 led to a series of attacks on settlements led by Daniel Shays. Shays was angry at how the government was handling the economy, especially debts from America's war for independence.

• While Shays' Rebellion was eventually squashed, it pointed out that the government under the Articles would have great difficulty in dealing with internal rebellions.

Source: NCC Staff, "On this day: Shays' Rebellion was thwarted". Constitution Center, January 25, 2019, constitutioncenter.org/blog/on-this-day-shays-rebellion-was-thwarted

Failures of the articles of Confederation

In their attempt to create a government that could not become too powerful, the founding generation of American political leaders made one that was too weak. Under the Articles, the national government could not...

• Raise an army or navy for national defense

• Collect taxes on a mandatory basis

• Enforce laws or administer justice

• Regulate interstate commerce (trade between states)

source: U.S. Articles of Confederation. Articles of confederation and perpetual union between the states of New Hampshire.... Williamsburg, 1777. Pdf. Retrieved from the Library of Congress, ,www.loc.gov/item/rbpe.17802600/>

Conclusion & Next Steps

• America's first attempt at government was a loose alliance of states unified under a weak central government that consisted of a unicameral (single-house) legislature (law-making body)

• The failures of the Articles brought into focus the changes that would be necessary to apply to America's next attempt at forming a government at the Constitutional Convention.

• Armed with this knowledge, your next step is to complete Quiz 1.2.