ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION (AOC) Essential Skills: 1)Explicitly assess the structure of the Articles of Confederation, and draw conclusions as to why it was structured that way. 2)State implications and consequences of the structure of the Articles of Confederation.

A. NO CHIEF EXECUTIVE (ADD NOTES TO YOUR MATRIX!)  Why?  States feared a strong, national gov. would take away rights, as Great Britain had.  Problems Caused?  Lack of central leadership  States did not work well together  No Executive Branch at all – laws were not enforced

B. LAWS NEEDED APPROVAL BY 9 OF 13 STATES  Why?  States wanted to protect their own interests.  States feared other states or national gov. would take away their rights.  Problems Caused?  Hard for Congress to get things done (b/c needed a super-majority)  Congress passed few laws of importance (except Ordinances 1785 & 1787)

C. CONGRESS HAD NO POWER TO TAX  Why?  Fear of “Taxation without Representation” and a national gov. trampling on the states  Problems Caused?  ADD THESE POINTS!:  Government on verge of bankruptcy  Revolutionary war debts had not been paid

D. CONGRESS COULD NOT DRAFT ARMY. IT HAD TO ASK STATES TO HELP.  Why?  Fear of national gov. taking away rights of citizens  Problems Caused?  No protection against foreign powers  No protection against internal rebellions

E. NO NATIONAL COURT  Why?  States didn’t want to give up power to a national court  Problems Caused?  No way to resolve disputes b/w states (over land, trade, etc.)  PA and VA almost went to war over western lands

F. AMENDMENTS NEEDED UNANIMOUS VOTE  Why?  Every state wanted a veto. They didn’t want other states to tell them what to do.  Problems Caused?  It was impossible to make needed changes to the AOC

G. CONGRESS HAD NO POWER TO COLLECT STATE DEBTS OWED TO NATIONAL GOV.  Why?  States didn’t want to give the national gov. power over them  Problems Caused?  Nation on verge of bankruptcy  Revolutionary war debts unpaid  Mistrust b/w states, b/c unfair that some had paid their debts and others had not

H. NO POWER TO SETTLE DISPUTES AMONG STATES  Same answers as E (No national court system)  Other Weaknesses of Articles:  No Power to Regulate Trade (states taxed each other and traded more with foreign countries; economy a mess)  No Power to Regulate Currency (trading b/w states difficult; money becoming worthless)