Experimenting with Confederation Coach Martin

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation 1) Congress could not collect taxes 2) 9 out 13 states needed to agree to pass a law 3) Articles could be amended only if all states approved 4) No power to enforce laws 5) No Court System 6) No National Unity Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Americans adopted the Articles of Confederation but found the new government too weak to solve the nation’s problem What now? Do we need a government? Big Idea

Americans Debate Republicanism Colonies Become States People consider their colony to be the government system colonists give their allegiance to colony idea persists when colonies become states Americans Debate Republicanism

Americans Debate Republicanism Unity Through a Republic Colonists believe democracy gives too much power to uneducated Is this true? Colonists prefer a republic--- citizens rule through elected representatives Views of Republicanism Government should be based on the consent of the people John Dickinson Beliefs A nation can only succeed if people placed the good of the nation above their own Adam Smith Beliefs Allow people to pursue their own economic and political interests Americans Debate Republicanism

Americans Debate Republicanism State Constitutions Characteristics 1) Many states limit powers of government leaders 2) Guarantee specific rights to citizens; stress liberty, not equality 3) Only white males can vote; in some states must own property Political Precedents Previous republican governments cannot be adapted to U.S. needs: State and National government Rome, Greece, and Italian States didn’t last Americans Debate Republicanism

The Continental Congress Debates Representation By Population or By State? Size and Population of state varies Continental Congress believed represented state so each state is represented equally Supreme Power: Can It be Divided? Confederation or alliance: national government and states share powers Articles of Confederation—laws assigning national, state powers National government handles war, treaties, weights, measures, mail No Executive or Court System??? The Continental Congress Debates

The Continental Congress Debates Western Lands: Who Gets Them? By 1779, 12 states approve Articles of Confederation Maryland approves when western land claims given to U.S. Articles of Confederation go into effect March 1781 Governing The Western Lands Land Ordinance of 1785- creates plan for surveying western lands Northwest Ordinance of 1787-plan for creating territories, statehood The Continental Congress Debates

The Confederation Encounters Problems Political and Economic Problems 1) Confederation lacks unity; states pursue own interests 2) Congress amasses huge debt during Revolutionary War 3) Rhode Island rejects tariff on imports; foreign debt cannot be paid The Confederation Encounters Problems

The Confederation Encounters Problems Borrowers Versus Lenders Taxes put farmers in debt and causes them to lose their farms Creditors favor high taxes to ensure they are paid back Debtors want large amount of paper money Creditors want small amount of paper money The Confederation Encounters Problems

The Confederation Encounters Problems Foreign-Relations Problems U.S. does not pay debts to British merchants or compensate Loyalists In retaliation, Britain refuses to evacuate forts on Great Lakes In 1784, Spain closes Mississippi River to American navigation Westerners unable to ship crops east through New Orleans Congress unable to resolve problems with foreign nations The Confederation Encounters Problems