Download Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation
Articles Background
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1st constitution for the colonies
Confederation form of government
Colonies would remain separate and
independent
Banded together to form a cohesive
defense
Articles- provisions
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Unicameral legislature- one house
Each state sends delegates, but gets only
one vote per state
States obligated to send funds to pay
government officials and the military
States obligated to send troops to man
and maintain a central defense
9 state votes to pass any law
Articles- provisions
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The authority of the executive and judicial
branches would remain with the individual
states
Unanimous vote by the states was
necessary to amend the Articles
States set up trade agreements between
the states and with foreign countries
Accomplishments under Articles
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Set up the Post Office (only government
agency that is self-supporting)
Created the post roads
Created the Northwest Territory Act of
1787 that allowed new states into the
union
Set up a system of weights and measures
The weaknesses of
the Articles of
Confederation.
United States of America
Articles of
Confederation
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
I. Currency Issues
• The United States did not have a common currency.
• Americans carried money from
the federal government, state
government, and foreign nations.
• Merchants stopped accepting money from outside of their
own state, causing a lot of money to become worthless.
• This caused an increase in inflation.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
II. Debt
• Congress could not tax the people and depended on money
from the states.
• Therefore, the U.S. was unable to pay its debts!
Examples:
- The U.S. owed money to France, Holland, and Spain for
loans made during the Revolutionary War.
- The U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers!
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
III. International and Domestic Problems
• The U.S. lacked the
military power to defend
itself against Great Britain
and Spain.
• States acted as
individual countries and
seldom agreed.
Example:
- Connecticut and Virginia
almost went to war over
land claims!
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Courts (Judicial Branch)
• The nation lacked a
national court system.
Supreme Court
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
President (Executive Branch)
• The nation did not have a
President, or Chief Executive.
White House
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Congress (Legislative Branch)
• Congress had one house. (unicameral)
• Laws were difficult to pass, needing the
approval of nine states.
• Congress was responsible to the states, not
the people.
• Congress had no power to collect taxes,
regulate trade, coin money, or establish a
military.
Results of the Articles
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States dispute borders
States levied heavy taxes on themselves
to pay for war- did not send money to
national government
States created own currencies
States levied tariffs on each others goods
States refused to acknowledge any
national law they did not like
Results of the Articles
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Shay’s Rebellion- Massachusetts farmers
rebel against foreclosures on property.
Leaders of states convinced that more
rebellion was likely without a stronger
central authority
Led to the Annapolis Conference.
Annapolis Conference
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The conference was called to discuss how
to fix the government to avoid another
revolution
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States were in debt
Taxes to high- Shay’s Rebellion
Interstate commerce a mess
Foreign trade problems