Why a weak national government did not work

• Most of the authority and power was given to the States; National government did not have much

• Just fought war with Great Britain• GB has very strong central gov’t that abused power

• Because of this, we did not want strong nat’l power

• So power given to states

• Nat’l Congress could:• Negotiate with other countries• Raise armies• Declare war

• What could they NOT do?• Regulate trade• Impose taxes

• One vote in Congress

• Coin their own currency

• PERFORM ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNCTION

• Each state had different currency• How much is a Virginia dollar vs. Massachusetts dollar?• “I’m a Maryland merchant, I only accept Maryland

dollars.”

• States did not need to agree with trade agreements made by other states or by Congress

• No money to pay back soldiers who fought in Revolution

• Shays’s Rebellion• No nat’l power to put down a rebellion

• By 1787 (Treaty of Paris signed in 1783), it becomes clear that AofC are not working

• In May, 1787, each state (except Rhode Island) sent delegates to Philadelphia• “for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of

Confederation.”

• Called the Constitutional Convention

• What were some of the problems with the AofC?

• Why did each state send delegates to Philadelphia in 1787?

• PREDICT: What is going to occur during the Constitutional Convention?