Articles vs. Constitution Similarities & Differences

Essential Question What were the major successes of the Articles of Confederation? How were the governments established by the Articles of Confederation and the US Constitution similar and different?

Essential Question What were the major successes of the Articles of Confederation?

Articles of Confederation John Dickinson’s plan for central government Proposed cession of West to Congress opposed Proposed equality in state representation opposed Articles of Confederation severely limited central government’s authority over states At the time the Articles were developed and put in place, our main concern was winning a war not setting up a national government. 11

Articles of Confederation: Central Government Structure and Power Each state had one vote Could send two to seven representatives No Executive Branch No Judicial Branch No taxing power Amendments required unanimity In charge of foreign and Native American relations, military, and disputes between states No western lands

Western Land: Key to the First Constitution Native Americans lost out when British left 1781—Virginia took lead in ceding western claims to Congress Other states ceded claims to Congress Congress gained ownership of all land west of Appalachians This was a major development for the future of the country. 12

Western Land Claims Ceded by the States

Northwest Ordinance: The Confederation’s Major Achievement Land Ordinance Orderly division of land into sections and townships One section set aside to finance school system Land to sell for minimum of $1 gold per acre Speculation Manasseh Cutler and the Ohio Company 13

Land Ordinance of 1785 13

Northwest Ordinance: The Confederation’s Major Achievement Created three to five new territories in Northwest Population of 5000 may elect Assembly Population of 60,000 may petition for statehood Bill of Rights provided Slavery outlawed South of the Ohio River Settlement more chaotic Daniel Boone and Kentucky State of Franklin

Northwest Territory

The Nationalist Critique Restoration of trade with Britain caused trade deficit and hard currency shortage Congress unable to address trade, inflation, and debt Congress had no power to tax Nationalists versus localists Failure to pay soldiers sparked “Newburgh Conspiracy” (squelched by Washington) Failure of reform prompted nationalists to consider Articles hopelessly defective 15

Diplomatic Humiliation Congress failed to get states to collect debts owed British merchants In retaliation, British refused to evacuate Ohio River Valley Spain closed New Orleans to American commerce in 1784 John Jay to negotiate re-opening Mississippi Instead signed treaty favoring Northeast West and South denounced, Congress rejected Jay-Gardoqui Treaty 16

Need to Stronger Federal Authority Dissatisfaction with Confederation Economic recovery after the Revolution slow People thought stronger central government would restore economic growth Fear of rebellion by the lower classes 14

Now it’s Your Turn! On a separate piece of paper, Create a Venn Diagram showing the similarities and differences between the Articles of Confederation & the US Constitution. Label each part of the diagram.

Similarities Neither wanted one person to have too much power. (Why not?) Both created a representative form of government Both had a Legislative Branch

Articles of Confederation Differences Articles of Confederation US Constitution States’ power stronger than central power Unicameral (one legislative body) Did not include protection of human rights Central government did not have the power to tax Central power stronger than states’ power Bicameral (two legislative bodies) Included protection of human rights (Bill of Rights) Included an executive & judicial branch Created a federal system where the central government is supreme