ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION First Constitution of the United States. Approved by Continental Congress...
Transcript of ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION First Constitution of the United States. Approved by Continental Congress...
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION• First Constitution of the
United States.
• Approved by Continental Congress in 1777.
• Established in the middle of the war for independence.
• Colonies needed a government that would allow them to be organized against Britain.
Articles of Confederation
• Created a federal government.
• One legislative branch with limited powers.
• A congress where each state had one vote.
National Government Powers
National Government Powers
• Declare War
National Government Powers
• Maintain the armed forces.
National Government Powers
• Make treaties with other countries.
National Government Powers
• Settle disputes between states.
National Government Powers
• Borrow money.
State Powers
State Powers
• Collect Taxes
State Powers
• Create court systems.
State Powers
• Enforce laws passed by Congress.
State Powers
• Collect taxes
• Create court systems
• Enforce laws passed by Congress.
National (Congress) Powers
• Declare war
• Maintain the army
• Make treaties
• Borrow money
• Settle disputes between states.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• Congress cannot collects taxes.
• Congress cannot enforce laws.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• Congress cannot control trade.
• Congress cannot enforce laws.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• No executive branch to force states to obey.
• No judicial branch to settle disputes.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• Required 9 out of 13 states to pass laws.
• All states needed to agree to amend the constitution.
The Articles of Confederation
• Weak central government
• Limited power
• No power to enforce laws
Problem: Territory• New territories
available for settlement.
• More than 120,000 people moved to new territories.
• States disputed the land.
The Ordinance of 1785• Law proposed by
Thomas Jefferson.
• Land would be sold and divided into towns.
• Each town would be divided into 36 sections of 640 acres.
The Northwest Ordinance• States would be
organized from Northwestern territories.
• Territory could apply to become state when it reached a population of 60,000.
• Territory must draft a constitution.
• Slavery would be outlawed.
Problem: Economy• Money had lost it’s value.
• Government was in debt with foreign countries and American citizens.
• Congress tried passing taxes without success.
• Economic depression.
Problem: Shay’s Rebellion• Farmers in Massachusetts
grew tired of the economic situation.
• A group of farmers under the leadership of Daniel Shays rose up in arms.
• Their farms where taken away when they couldn’t pay the state taxes.
Problem: Shay’s Rebellion• Shays led more than 1000
farmers against the government.
• The state militia confronted them.
• Many rebels died and others were hanged.
The union was falling apart.