Download Les. 3 - Leoti.org

Constitution
Lesson 3
The Critical Period
- 2nd Continental Congress had no legal backing!
A. First National Constitution
- Nov. 15, 1777 -- Articles of Confederation
- had to be ratified – formally approved by all 13 states.
- took until March 1, 1781 to be ratified Æ become official
1. Articles of Confederation
- “a firm league of friendship”
- each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.”
- come together for defense, security of liberty, and general welfare
2. Governmental Structure
- unicameral congress - 1 rep/state
- no executive or judicial branch
3. Powers of Congress
- make war
- send ambassadors
- make treaties
- create monetary system
- raise an army
- settle disputes between states
4. State Obligations
- states agree to obey Articles of Confed.
- provide $$ & troops when needed
- treat citizens of other states equally
- respect other state’s laws
- allow interstate trade & travel
- states retained powers not given to congress.
5. Weakness
- U.S. govt. cannot tax (only borrow)
- could not regulate trade between the states
- had no power to make states obey
- can only use its powers if 9 of 13 states agree
B. Critical Period - 1780’s
- war ended in Oct. 1781
1. Country is in economic peril
- cannot raise money
- states fought with each other
- banned trade across state lines
- began dealing on their own with other countries
- Daniel Shays – put together a group of vigilante farmers
and began seizing MA courthouses to
protest taxes.
- Government was about to collapse
C. Meetings at Mt. Vernon & Annapolis
- Maryland and Virginia were having problems
1. delegates agreed to meet at Mt. Vernon - 1785
2. went well – so VA assembly called for
meetings of all states.
3. Sept. 11, 1786 @ Annapolis, MD
- only 5 states attended
4. One more try – Philadelphia – Feb. 1787
- Constitutional Convention