A I M : H O W W E R E G O V E R N M E N T S O R G A N I Z E D A F T E R I N D E P E N D E N C E ?

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (1781 – 1787)

• First constitution (plan for government) of the United States.

• Created a loose union of thirteen republics.

• The states retained the most important powers.

• Each state had one vote in Congress. • 9 out of 13 states had to agree to any

decision (bills to be passed).• All 13 states would have to agree in

order to amend the Articles.

STRUCTURE OF GOVERNMENT

• Unicameral (single house) legislative body

• Each state had one vote regardless of population size

• Congress given sole authority to govern the country

• An executive committee oversaw government when Congress was not in session

• Congress would establish temporary courts to hear disputes among the states

POWERS GRANTED TO GOVERNMENT UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

• Declare war and make peace• Make treaties with foreign countries• Establish an army and navy• Appoint high-ranking military officials• Requisition, print, and borrow money• Establish weights and measures• Hear disputes among the states related to trade

or boundaries

POWERS DENIED TO THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT

• Congress• Had no executive power to

enforce laws. • Had no power to make

laws.• Had no power to tax,

impose tariffs, or collect duties.

• Had no power to regulate trade and there was no uniform currency.

• No power to force states to honor obligations

• Had no power to draft for war.

• Congress

• Could “recommend” laws.

• Could ask the states for money.

• Could ask the states to supply soldiers for the army.

ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

• Victory over Britain in the Revolutionary War.• Negotiated the

Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783• Organization of the

Western Lands. • Established the Land

Ordinance (1785) and the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785

• Divided the Northwest Territory into “townships” to be offered for sale.

• Each township consisted of 36 lots of 640 acres each.

• A lot was the smallest unit that could be bought and couldn’t be sold for less than $1 an acre.

• The proceeds from the sale of one lot in each township would be used for public education.

NORTHWEST ORDINANCE OF 1787

• Provided a government for the Northwest Territory and admission to the United States. • No less than 3 states and no more than 5 states

would be created as soon as the population in an area reached 60,000. • Each state would have a Bill of Rights. • Slavery was forbidden. • The new states would be equal to the original 13

states. • Education was provided.

PROBLEMS FACING THE NEW NATION

• Trade with foreign nations

• Financing the nation

• Foreign relations

• Interstate relations

• You decide!!! A 1783 cartoon satirizing relations between Britain and America

ANNAPOLIS CONVENTION (1786)

• Originally called to discuss British trade restrictions and the problems of inter-state trade.

• The delegates arranged to meet the next year to discuss revising the Articles of Confederation.

• U.S. no longer the favorite trading partner of Great Britain

• U.S. exports to British ports had to be on British ships

• Many U.S.-produced goods were barred from British ports

• Britain sent vast amounts of cheap goods to U.S.

• Potential Remedy• Establish a tariff on British

goods• Weakness in Articles of

Confederation preventing this solution

SHAY’S REBELLION (1786)

• A revolt led by Daniel Shays, of the farmers in western Massachusetts against the state government.

• The farmers were protesting high taxes, underrepresentation in the state legislature and the foreclosure of their farms for debts.

• This showed the weakness of the national government and the need to change the Articles of Confederation