ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION America’s First Constitution

Needs/Wants in a federal government Second Continental Congress ( ); becomes known as “Confederation Congress” in 1781 (when Articles of Confederation were ratified) through 1788 (US Constitution was ratified) Fear of a strong central government (Thanks, King George) Strictly limit powers of central legislature (Confederation Congress) Confederation Congress had no real power Fear that some states would dominate others in the central government Questions to address in new government: How can government be limited and effective? How would each state be represented? How will each state pay for the American Revolutionary War? How will America address territorial claims on western land?

Articles’ Weaknesses: What’s the problem? WEAKNESS OF ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION THE PROBLEM WITH THIS WEAKNESS THE US CONSTITUTION SOLVES THE PROBLEM… Congress had no power to tax Congress had no power to regulate trade Congress could not coin money Congress had no power to enforce laws No Executive Branch No national Supreme Court Articles couldn’t be changed without approval of ALL 13 states Congress had no power over any person Each state had just one vote in Congress

Don’t forget the positives about the Confederation Congress Declaration of Independence under 2 nd Continental Congress Won the Revolutionary War Created a new government Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to organize expansion

Shays’ Rebellion – A Signal of the END Daniel Shays: A Revolutionary War captain – now a Massachusetts farmer Many soldiers were in debt – had never been paid; lost homes, farms, sent to prison Shays was going to lose his farm Crowds would gather to prevent courts from selling property of those who couldn’t pay debts Shays led a rebellion to obtain weapons for their demonstration, but the militia stopped them Washington (in 1786) wrote to James Madison: “What stronger evidence can be given of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders? If there exists not a power to check them, what security has a man of life, liberty, or property?... Thirteen Sovereignties pulling against each other, and all tugging at the federal head, will soon bring ruin on the whole.”