The Articles of Confederation

1. The Articles of Confederation

2. Why did they need the Articles of Confederation? • Once the Revolutionary War had started with Great Britain: • Each state was like a separate nation. • Each state had its own constitution and government. • To the people, the STATE was their country. • Short movie from the history channel: • http://www.history.com/topics/articles-of-confederation/videos#american-revolution

3. What are the Articles of Confederation? • Definition - A document created during the AR defining the features of a central government for the United States. • The Founders of the A of C believed a National Governmentwas needed: • To unify the states • To conduct the Revolutionary War • To control trade • To manage conflict among the states

4. More Facts of the Articles of Confederation • Adopted in 1777 • One branch: a one-house legislature, called Congress. • Provided for a very limited Central Government. • Most power remained with the States.

5. Problem #1 in writing the A of C: • The people feared a strong national government. • People believed the British government had deprived them of their rights. • People were convinced that government should be close to the people, that way, the people would have more control and their rights would not be violated.

6. Problem #2 in writing the A of C: • The people feared that some states would have more power in a national government than other states. • How would the states vote in Congress? • Would each state have one vote? • Would states with a greater population have more votes? • Would decisions be made by a majority vote? • Also, the people feared that the majority would use its power for its own interest at the expense of those who were in the minority.

7. How was the A of C Organized? • The founders agreed the states needed a central govt. • Created a Legislature only. • No Executive or Judicial branches. • Legislature was weak and had limited powers. • Left most of the power with the states. • Central government had little powers over the states. • Every Legislative action had to be approved by the states. • Each state had one vote in the Legislature (Congress). • Nine states had to agree, which ensured the 7 smaller states could not outvote the 6 larger states.

8. What did the National Government under the A of C achieve? • Successfully waged a war for independence against Great Britain. • Negotiated the treaty, known as the Treaty of Paris, to end the American Revolution. • Provided that each state recognize the laws of other states. Examples: • Marriage in one state was valid in all states. • A citizen could travel freely from one state to another. • Criminals who had crossed state lines could be sent back to the state where they committed a crime.

9. What did the National Government under the A of C achieve? (continued) • Passed the Northwest Ordinance of 1787. • Gave people in the northwest the right to organize their own governments. They could ask to be admitted as new states with the same rights as the original 13 states. • Provided for Public Education. • Forbade slavery. • Guaranteed freedom of worship, the right to trial by jury and due process of law.

10. Issue #1 under the A of C: • Congress did not have any money or the power to raise money. • No power to tax the people. • States refused to give money to the National Government.

11. Issue #2 under the A of C: • Congress had no power over the state governments or their citizens. • Citizens ignored laws. • Government had no way to make people obey, there was no “national” policing system • State governments refused to honor the Treaty of Paris. • Refused to return property to Loyalists. • Refused to pay money owed to Loyalists.

12. Issue #3 under A of C: • Congress had no power to regulate trade among the states. • States taxed goods going from one state to another. • Trade became impossible.

13. What’s coming up next… • http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8