Download Power Point Presentation

Objective: To
examine the
weaknesses of the
Articles of
Confederation.
United States of America
M
r
e
B
r
n
il
m
o
c.
Articles of
Confederation
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
m
o
I. Currency Issues
c.
• The United States did not have a common currency.
n
il
• Americans carried money from
the federal government, state
government, and foreign nations.
M
r
e
B
r
• Merchants stopped accepting money from outside of their
own state, causing a lot of money to become worthless.
• This caused an increase in inflation.
n
il
r
e
B
r
Expenses
Wages
M
m
o
c.
= Inflation
(value of money
)
n
il
M
r
e
B
r
c.
m
o
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
m
o
II. Debt
c.
• Congress could not tax the people and depended on money
from the states.
n
il
• Therefore, the U.S. was unable to pay its debts!
r
e
B
r
Examples:
- The U.S. owed money to France, Holland, and Spain for
loans made during the Revolutionary War.
M
- The U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers!
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
m
o
III. International and Domestic Problems
• The U.S. lacked the
military power to defend
itself against Great Britain
and Spain.
r
e
B
r
n
il
• States acted as
individual countries and
seldom agreed.
Example:
- Connecticut and
Virginia almost went to
war over land claims!
M
c.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
m
o
Courts (Judicial Branch)
c.
• The nation lacked a
national court system.
n
il
r
e
B
r
Supreme Court
M
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
m
o
President (Executive Branch)
c.
• The nation did not have a
President, or Chief Executive.
n
il
r
e
B
r
White House
M
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
m
o
Congress (Legislative Branch)
c.
• Congress had one house. (unicameral)
n
il
• Laws were difficult to pass, needing the
approval of nine states.
r
e
B
r
• Congress was responsible to the states, not
the people.
• Congress had no power to collect taxes,
regulate trade, coin money, or establish a
Capitol
Capitol Building
military.
Building
M