Problems with the Articles of Confederation

Now that the Americans have won their independence,

what should they do?

1.1. Define: Monarchy, Anarchy, Define: Monarchy, Anarchy, Democracy, & RepublicDemocracy, & Republic

2.2. List the problems of the Articles of List the problems of the Articles of Confederation.Confederation.

3.3. Explain how the Articles of Explain how the Articles of Confederation limited the National Confederation limited the National Government.Government.

4.4. Describe the balance of power Describe the balance of power between the states and the national between the states and the national government.government.

If not me, how about

King George Washington?

A system in which a A system in which a king or queen king or queen governs the people.governs the people.

Power usually rests Power usually rests with one person.with one person.

Absence of government.Absence of government.

No laws because there is no supreme power.No laws because there is no supreme power.

Government by the people.Government by the people.

RepublicRepublic – Elected officials are chosen to represent – Elected officials are chosen to represent the people.the people.

According to Jon Locke & According to Jon Locke & Thomas Jefferson Thomas Jefferson – Protect the Rights of the Protect the Rights of the

People.People.

Equality, Life, Liberty, & the Equality, Life, Liberty, & the pursuit of Happiness.pursuit of Happiness.

Thomas JeffersonThomas Jefferson

John Locke

Our countries first plan of government were known as Our countries first plan of government were known as the Articles of Confederation and they had eight the Articles of Confederation and they had eight severe problems..severe problems..

……no ability to tax and no ability to tax and collect revenue from the collect revenue from the states.states.

State constitutions were State constitutions were far more powerful.far more powerful.

With the Federal Governments’ hands tied, states refused to cooperate.

……power to wage war.power to wage war.

Congress was forbidden Congress was forbidden to engage in a war.to engage in a war.

Each state appointed its Each state appointed its own officers, trained, own officers, trained, clothed, armed, and clothed, armed, and equipped its own equipped its own soldiers.soldiers.The British, occupying forts in

the Northwest Territory, violated the terms of the Treaty of Paris.

……power to control money.power to control money.

Each state had its own Each state had its own currency. currency.

To help people get out of To help people get out of debt, states printed more debt, states printed more paper money.paper money.– This led to This led to inflation.inflation.

Steady increase in Steady increase in the price of a good the price of a good over time.over time.

……power to control trade.power to control trade.

State placed tariffs on State placed tariffs on each other’s goods.each other’s goods.

Other nations placed Other nations placed tariffs on U.S. goods, but tariffs on U.S. goods, but the U.S. couldn’t do the the U.S. couldn’t do the same.same.

Desperate for money, states with good seaports put heavy taxes on goods.

NH MA RI CT NY PA NJ MDDE SC GANCVA

Citizens of Each State

Elects State Gov’t

Congress

……had one equal vote.had one equal vote.

It did not matter how It did not matter how big or how many big or how many people lived in it.people lived in it.

Virginia New Jersey

NH MA RI CT NY PA NJ MDDE SC GANCVA

Citizens of Each State

Elects State Gov’t

CongressEach State = 1 Vote

……executive.executive.– A person who A person who

ensures that laws ensures that laws are executed.are executed.

Someone was needed Someone was needed to enforce acts of to enforce acts of Congress and make Congress and make instrumental decisions.instrumental decisions.

An Executive, reminded the people of a King.

NH MA RI CT NY PA NJ MDDE SC GANCVA

Citizens of Each State

Elects State Gov’t

CongressEach State = 1 Vote

No Executive

……power in judicial matters.power in judicial matters.

State courts passed and State courts passed and interpreted their own laws. interpreted their own laws.

Every state had a wide range of laws and different punishments for each law.

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

……power to power to amendamend the the Articles of Confederation Articles of Confederation without the approval of without the approval of all 13 states.all 13 states.– ChangeChange

……were only a firm were only a firm league of friendship.league of friendship.

Each state retained its Each state retained its own independence, own independence, jurisdiction, and every jurisdiction, and every right.right.

Under the Articles of Confederation, there were really 13 individual countries

working together.

Can this government, made to protect the rights of Can this government, made to protect the rights of the people, work?the people, work?

Under the Articles of Confederation, it looks like Americans are living under

the type of government?

Shred the Articles of confederation and create a

new government.

Under the Under the Articles of Articles of

Confederation?Confederation?

Today?Today?

Supposed to Supposed to be?be?

1.1. Define: Monarchy, Anarchy, Define: Monarchy, Anarchy, Democracy, & RepublicDemocracy, & Republic

2.2. List the problems of the Articles of List the problems of the Articles of Confederation.Confederation.

3.3. Explain how the Articles of Explain how the Articles of Confederation limited the National Confederation limited the National Government.Government.

4.4. Describe the balance of power Describe the balance of power between the states and the national between the states and the national government.government.