The Articles of Confederation

Forming a New Government: What would it look like? ● A Republic? - Citizens rule through elected representatives A Democracy? Citizens rule directly Government based on the consent of the people (Republicanism) had different meanings to different people 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 1781. 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.

States wrote their own constitutions (plans for government). Three branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial) Limited powers of government Guaranteed citizens rights – freedom of religion, speech, press

There was still a need for a national government.

The Articles of Confederation The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a Pennsylvania statesman and created a… “league of friendship [between] each [state],…”

A confederation is an alliance All 13 states had to approve the plan for the Articles before they would be official The Articles were NOT accepted until 1781 - Why? Disputes over western lands

The Articles of Confederation There was a fear of the national government having too much power In the Articles, the state governments ON PURPOSE limit the power of the national Congress

Structure of Government/ Problems with the Government Unicameral (single house) legislative body Each state had one vote regardless of population size One branch of government – Legislative Branch (Congress) No executive or judicial branches 13 states must vote to amend Articles. The creators of the Articles believed that government was an agreement with the people and that power originated from the people. They further believed the best form of government was a republic, in which the people’s wishes were addressed by chosen representatives. The legislative body would be elected by and directly responsible to the people. Soon after independence had been declared, many smaller states expressed concern regarding the overlapping claims to western lands made by many of the states with larger populations. The small states feared their voices would be drowned out if representation was based solely on population. Thus, to equalize representation in Congress, each state had one vote—regardless of the size of its population. Congress was given the responsibility for governing the country; however, it wasn’t given much power to do so. An executive committee was meant to oversee the operations of the government, but it ended up serving more like a cabinet of advisors than as actual leadership. Congress had the authority to establish temporary courts to hear disputes among the states, but these courts could act only as mediators because they and the executive committee had no power to enforce the laws.

Powers given to the National Government Declare war Make peace Sign treaties Others: Borrow money Set up a post office Deal with Native Americans set standards for weights and measures

Powers Withheld Tax How did the new nation get money? Power to regulate foreign trade - How did the new nation make agreements with foreign nations?

Disputes over western lands Western lands – land west of the Appalachian Mountains, North of Ohio River and East of Mississippi River Maryland would not agree to Articles until all states gave up a claim to these lands - Thought states with this land would overpower smaller states

Northwest Territory The Northwest Territory was east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. The states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin would be formed from this area.

Now that the land belongs to no one what are you going to do with it?

The Land Ordinance of 1785, stated that land in the west was to be surveyed and divided into blocks 36 miles square

The Northwest Ordinance 1787 outlined a plan for applying for statehood to western territories 5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt Population of 60,000 could become a state

Settling Western lands The Northwest Ordinance provides an orderly settlement process in the West It promised no slavery education freedom of religion trial by jury

Reasons for Shay’s Rebellion Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they have no money because they were not paid during the war Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too. And seek to get money from the farmers debts

Daniel Shay & His Reasons Daniel Shay- Revolutionary War Veteran & farmer in debt. Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and close courts that are hearing cases against farmers

Shays’s Rebellion 1787 Formed an army of 1,200 farmers -Marched towards arsenal in Springfield -The Mass militia is called out to stop it - Result: 4 rebels killed -Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national leaders to create a stronger central government

Samuel Adams “Rebellion against a king may be pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death”

Thomas Jefferson "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion."

Call for Convention Problems: Trade between states Taxes on goods Madison & Hamilton called for convention in Annapolis, Maryland 1786 5 states sent delegates Failure Shay’s Rebellion got attention= Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia 12 states sent delegates Rhode Island did not 55 Delegates total- merchants, lawyers, planters.

Key Conflicts: Central Government Vs. States Strong Central Government: -Authority comes from the people -The central government should be stronger than the states Strong States: -Authority comes from the states -The states should remain stronger than the central government

Key Conflicts: Large Vs. Small States Large States: -Congress should be 2 houses -Delegates should be assigned based on population size Small States: -Congress should remain unicameral (1 house) -Each state should have one vote

Key Conflicts: North Vs. South -Slaves should not be counted when assigning delegates -Slaves should be counted when levying taxes South: -Slaves should be counted when assigning delegates -Slaves should not be counted when levying taxes