The Critical Period
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Transcript of The Critical Period
The Critical Period
Chapter 2 Section 3
Today’s Agenda
• Warm-up: Study for Section 2 Quiz
• Notes on Section 3
• Homework
The Articles of Confederation
• Established “a firm league of friendship”
• Each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.”
• Came together for “their common defense, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare.
The Articles of Confederation
• November 15, 1777, the delegates approved this plan of government.
• The ratification, or formal approval, of each of the 13 states was needed.
• Maryland finally ratified on March 1, 1781 – the Second Continental Congress declared the Articles effective on that date.
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Government Structure
• Unicameral Congress with delegates chosen yearly
• Each state one vote• No executive or judicial branch• Congress chose a member to be its
President yearly – presiding officer no the President of the United States
Powers of Congress
• Make war and peace
• Send and receive ambassadors
• Make treaties
• Borrow money
• Set up a money system
• Establish post offices
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Powers of Congress
• Build a navy
• Raise an army by asking states for troops
• Fix uniform standards of weights and measures
• Settle disputes between states
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State Obligations
• Provide funds and troops requested by the Congress
• Treat citizens of other states fairly and equally
• Give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state
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State Obligations
• Surrender fugitives to one another
• Submit disputes to Congress for settlement
• Allow open trade and travel among states
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State Obligations
• States retained any powers not explicitly given to Congress.
• States were responsible for promoting life and property and “the safety and happiness of the people.”
Weaknesses
• No power to tax (raise money by borrowing and asking states for funds)
• No power to regulate foreign or interstate trade
• No power to make states obey the Articles of Confederation or the laws it made – no executive branch to enforce
• Required the consent of 9 of 13 states to exercise any power
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Weaknesses
• All 13 states legislatures had to consent to any changes in the Articles – not one amendment was ever added
• One vote per state regardless of size
• No national court system
The 1780’s
• The Revolutionary war ended on October 19th, 1781.
• The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783• Peace brought the weaknesses of the Articles
to the surface.• States bickered, taxing each other and
banning trade.
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The 1780’s
• Many states acted without Congress’ approval.
• Violence broke out in many places.• Shay’s Rebellion - 1786 Daniel Shays
led uprising that forced the Massachusetts Supreme Court to close (upset about economic conditions)
Need for Stronger Government
• Mount Vernon – successful negotiations between Maryland and Virginia that lead to a “meeting of all states to consider a plan for regulating commerce.”
Need for Stronger Government
• Joint meeting – September 11, 1786 – only 5 states attended. Call for another meeting.
• Congress calls on all states to send a delegate to Philadelphia “for the sole and expressed purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.
Need for Stronger Government
• May 25, 1778 – Meeting in Philadelphia becomes the Constitutional Convention.
• Began the establishment of a new government for the United States.