Articles of Confederation

America’s First Government

Thirteen Countries

• Each colony became a state

• Each state was really a independent country.

• People were loyal to their state, not one big country.

State Government

• Each state had its own government.– More important than Congress

• Each state dealt with foreign countries on their own.

• Each state made its own money

States Work Together

• Each state sends representatives to Congress.

• Congress helps plan and direct the War

• However, Congress has no power over any state.

Articles of Confederation

• An agreement by the states to work together.

• Formed a very weak central government.– No judiciary (national court system)– No executive branch (think King)– One legislature, with little power.

NH MA RI CT NY PA NJ MDDE SC GANCVA

Citizens of Each State

Elects State Gov’t

CongressEach State = 1 Vote

No Executive No Judicial System

Why a Weak Government?

• Parliament and the King were strong!

• The colonies had rid themselves of such a government.– An executive reminded them of a King, so

no deal.

Problems with the Articles

• Congress could not tax the colonies.– Each state levied its own taxes.

• Congress could not fix trade problems between states.

• Each state had only one vote– It did not matter how big or how many

people lived in it.

Government Gridlock

• To pass a law, 9 of 13 states must agree– Nearly 70%!!– Few laws were passed

• To amend (change) the Articles of Confederation, all states must agree.

Land Issues

• Colonies won lots of new land.

• Each state claimed some of that land as theirs.

Northwest Ordinance

• All states agree to give up claims to land in the west.

• System is created to make new states.– Three step process to

statehood

• New states would be equal to old states.

• Only big success under the Articles of Confederation.

Call for Change

• Small number of people want change

• Reasons:– Create a government that can do something!– Fix many of the problems facing the states.– People are too dumb to govern themselves

• Folks call for a convention in Annapolis Maryland to discuss changes.

Annapolis Convention

• 1786 Annapolis, Maryland

• Only 12 reps from 5 states show.

• Delegates plan to meet again in Philadelphia in 1787

• Goal is to fix the national government.

Shay’s Rebellion

• Colonists in Mass. angry over high taxes.

• Framer named Shays leads an armed rebellion.

• Congress cannot raise funds for an army

• Mass. finally raises an army and defeats Shay.

• Convinces many people the Articles need serious revision.