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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