1. The Articles of Confederation Chapter 2 Section 3

2. Vocabulary Ratify Unicameral Cede Ordinance Legislature Levy Precedent

3. What are the Articles of Confederation? The form of government that came before the Constitution Ratified – voted to approve Presented by Congressional committee in 1777, ratified by all 13 states by 1781. Why did it take so long?

4. What did the government look like? It was unicameral – or a single legislature Leaders chosen from legislature When not in session, government was run by Committee of States How many people made up this committee? 13 – why? No federal system, Congress settled disputes Each state had 1 vote (State paid its representatives and could recall them)

5. What powers did Congress have? Only those listed in the Articles Make war and peace Send and receive ambassadors Make treaties Raise and equip a navy Maintain an army by asking states for troops Appoint military officers Fix weights and measures Regulate Indian affairs Set up post offices Decide some state disputes

6. Weaknesses of the Articles Created an ineffectual national government, why? No states would give up sovereignty Congress could not levy, or collect, taxes Congress could not regulate trade Congress could not enforce laws

7. Weaknesses Congress needed 9 of the 13 states to pass laws To amend the Articles, all states had to agree No executive branch, no unitary policy No national court system

8. Achievements Established a fair, consistent policy for settling lands west of the Appalachians. States ceded, or gave up, land claims Congress passed two ordinances, or laws, that set how the land would be governed 1783 treaty with Britain – recognized American independence Set up departments of War, Treasury, Foreign Affairs Set precedent for cabinet departments

9. Problems States began to fight, why? Each state thought it was sovereign Growing money problems Owed $40 million to foreign governments and Revolutionary soldiers 1786 – economic depression

10. Shay’s Rebellion Former Revolutionary Army captain Marched on a federal arsenal in Springfield with 1,200 men Put down by Massachusetts militia – damage was done

11. Annapolis Convention Only 5 states sent delegates Included Hamilton and Madison, both favored strong central government Hamilton persuaded delegates to call another convention in Philadelphia in 1787 to regulate commerce and make national government more effective Set the stage for the “miracle at Philadelphia”