1777-1789

The Articles of Confederation

The National GovernmentUnicameral (single chamber) CongressNo Executive Branch or PresidentNo Federal Courts, Congress settled

problems between states. Each state had one vote in the

Unicameral Congress.

I. Structure of The Articles of Confederation

Each States’ congresses controlled who represented the state. Not the voters.

The Unicameral Congress only had power expressly given by the Articles. (mainly lawmaking)

All other powers were held by the states.

Established the policy for lands west of the Appalachians.Land Ordinance 1785: set up a

system for surveying & dividing public territory (into squares!)

II. Success of the Articles

• Territories would be able to establish statehood in the future.

III. Northwest Ordinance 1787

Population needed to reach 60,000

Required public education be set up

Slavery prohibited (guess who proposed this!?)

“Northwest Territory”: Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana

Congress could not enact and collect taxes.

Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade.

Congress had no control over the printing of money – caused massive inflation!

Regardless of population, each state had only one vote in Congress.

IV. Weaknesses of the Articles

• Articles could be amended only if ALLstates approved.

Could only request troops from states to maintain army.

• There were 13 separate states that lacked national unity.

“Dis-United States”

Shays' Rebellion- angry farmers take weapons and burned down banks that held record of their debt. What can

Massachusetts do?

Well…that didn’t work.Annapolis Convention (1786) was called

to discuss fixing Articles. All states were invited, only 5 sent

delegates. Problem?Try again! -- this time in PhiladelphiaConstitutional Convention (1787)