1. October 19, 2015 #18 AOC Warm-Up: What is a Confederation?
Wrap-Up:
What issues surrounded important events in the writing of the Articles of Confederation?
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
Timeline and AOC notes

3. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
The first system of government designed by the Founding Fathers was a Confederation. Under a Confederate system, the National or Central Government is given only a few powers, while most of the power is given to the States.
Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan of government?

4. The Articles of Confederation
During the Revolution, the new U.S. needed a working government
States would keep sovereignty (self rule)
The Articles of Confederation were crafted from a combination of urgent necessity and past experience. After the colonies declared their independence in 1776, the leaders needed a government to oversee the operation of the war and, if victorious, help the country settle the peace. Fundamental issues needed to be addressed: How much political power should be given to the central government when cooperation among the states was so important? Would France gamble on aiding the fledgling nation if the United States appeared weak? How would the central government speak for all the states while each state maintained its sovereignty?
In 1777, the “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union” were drafted and submitted to the states for ratification, but the states didn’t approve the document until March of The Articles were modeled after the colonial charters, with the legislative branch having supremacy over the other branches. The Articles’ creators made sure that each state would remain sovereign and would retain all power not expressly given to the national Congress. This would insure that all decisions made by the government were subject to discussion and debate and that the states would never face a distant dominant power as when they were colonies under Britain.
Due to past experience with the British, Americans were
afraid that a strong central government would create
tyranny, and stamp out the peoples natural God given rights

5. Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation
Ran the 7-year Revolutionary war effort
Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783
Established the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Though they had many shortcomings, the Articles of Confederation cannot be considered a total failure. Under them, the government operated for nearly 12 years and managed to conduct a successful war of rebellion against what was then the most powerful country in the world.
Under the Articles, the United States also negotiated a very favorable peace treaty in which Britain formally recognized the United States and agreed to remove all British troops from U.S. territory. From the land granted to the United States as a result of the treaty, the country doubled in size, gaining land that today holds the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
Many historians view the Northwest Ordinance as the most important piece of legislation to come out of this period. The Ordinance provided a method for admitting new states into the Union and for placing them on an equal footing with existing states. Thus, citizens from these new states would enjoy all the rights for which Americans had fought in the Revolution. The Ordinance even provided a bill of rights, something both the Articles and the original Constitution lacked.
Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

6. Map of the land settled under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Created a clear, orderly process by which new territories in the west could become states.
Congress would appoint a territorial governor.
When a territory reached 5,000 voting residents, the settlers could write a temporary constitution and elect their own government.
When population of territory reached 60,000, settlers could apply for statehood.
Though they had many shortcomings, the Articles of Confederation cannot be considered a total failure. Under them, the government operated for nearly 12 years and managed to conduct a successful war of rebellion against what was then the most powerful country in the world.
Under the Articles, the United States also negotiated a very favorable peace treaty in which Britain formally recognized the United States and agreed to remove all British troops from U.S. territory. From the land granted to the United States as a result of the treaty, the country doubled in size, gaining land that today holds the states of Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota.
Many historians view the Northwest Ordinance as the most important piece of legislation to come out of this period. The Ordinance provided a method for admitting new states into the Union and for placing them on an equal footing with existing states. Thus, citizens from these new states would enjoy all the rights for which Americans had fought in the Revolution. The Ordinance even provided a bill of rights, something both the Articles and the original Constitution lacked.
Map of the land settled under the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

7. 10/20/15 #19: AOC Strengths and Weaknesses
Warm Up: Nifty Notes set up (will also go taped here)
Wrap Up: In your opinion, what was the greatest weakness of the AOC?
Make a T-chart:
Title it “AOC Strengths and Weaknesses”
On the left side, label it “Strengths”
on the right side, label it “weaknesses”

8. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths and Weaknesses of the AOC

9. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Power to Draft Soldiers
Declare War &
Establish an Army/Navy
No power to raise funds for an army or navy

10. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Power to Enforce Treaties or trade agreements
Make Peace & Sign Treaties
Hear disputes among the states related to trade or boundaries

11. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Power to Collect Taxes from the States to repay loans
Borrow Money

12. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Power to Collect Taxes from the States to run post office
Organize a
Post Office

13. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Chief Executive
No national court system
No Power to regulate (control) Interstate Commerce (trade)
No National Currency
Difficult to Pass laws (2/3 vote)

14. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
Difficult to Amend the Articles
(unanimous vote needed to change the articles)

15. October 21, 2015 Warm-Up: Pre-Assessment (will be given to you)
Wrap up:
Exit Ticket on the index card:
What issues surrounded important events in the writing of the A.O.C.?
What were strengths and weaknesses of the A.O.C.?
**Remaining notes will go on the RIGHT side of your warm-up (Cornell notes)

16. US Difficulties after the War
Britain refused to turn over its forts in U.S. territory to American control.
Britain closed off trade with the British West Indies and imposed high tariffs on American merchants. Tariffs are taxes on imports and exports.
Spain closed the lower Mississippi to shipping.

18. US Difficulties after the War
England closed markets in the British West Indies and imposed high tariffs (taxes on imports/exports) on American merchants. This caused American exports to drop.
Cheap British goods flowed into the United States.
The Confederation Congress had no authority to pass tariffs, or order states to pass tariffs, to help correct unequal trade with Britain
States worked independently to increase their own trade instead of improving the situation for the whole country.
American merchants were forced to look for new markets in China, France, and the Netherlands.

19. You are going to be looking at a picture in a few seconds
You are going to be looking at a picture in a few seconds? See if you can figure out what is going on in the picture. Look at the picture closely.

21. Shays’ Rebellion The American Revolution ended in 1783
The money paid to the soldiers who had fought in the Revolution was worthless.
This was because the government was not allowed to raise taxes in the Articles of Confederation.
As a result, the farmers were unable to pay their debts.

22. Soldiers fire on protesters during Shays’ Rebellion
The farmers were taken into court, then into jail, and their land was taken away from them.
In 1786, Daniel Shays led an armed revolt by farmers against the state government.
The farmers began to forcibly prevent the courts from meeting so they couldn’t take anyone else’s land away or put them in jail.
Early in 1787, the Governor sent 4,400 men against the rebels and the rebels were defeated.
Soldiers fire on protesters during Shays’ Rebellion

23. Results of Shays’ Rebellion
Shays’ Rebellion showed the leaders of America that the Articles of Confederation were too weak, and a stronger national government was needed.
The nation needed to function as ONE united country & not 13 small unorganized nations.
This would lead to the creation of a whole new constitution
Constitutional Convention

24. October 22, 2015 Warm Up: Why was the A.O.C. ineffective?
Wrap Up: Review of Quiz answers
Assessment will go taped here

25. Friday October 10/23/15 Warm-up: Political Cartoon will go taped here
Pretend that you are a delegate at the Second Continental Congress, what changes would you have made to the A.O.C.
Political Cartoon will go taped here