The Articles of Confederation and the creation of the Constitution

The Second Continental Congress When the congress was formed in 1775, it was designed as a committee to resolve issues, it was not seen as new government. In 1777; the congress passed the Articles of Confederation. They did not go into effect until These articles created the first government of the newly recognized United States of America (USA)

Why The Articles? Questions about Government 1. What type of government should we have? 2. What responsibilities does that government have? 3. How should this government be designed? 4. What powers should the states and national government have?

What type of government should we have? Weak: The Colonists had just fought a war against tyranny They were afraid of giving all of the power to just one person (like the king) or a small group of people (like royal governors). NO LARGE BEAURACRACY

What responsibilities does that government have? Establish a name Taxation Defense Commerce (trade) Legislation (laws) Currency (print money) Postal Mail Foreign Relations Declare War

How should this government be designed? What does it look like? No Chief Executive (President, King, Oligarchy etc…) Remember, they had a King previously No judicial branch (national court system) Unicameral or single house legislature (becomes the Congress of Confederation: each state was permitted one vote regardless of population or size of state.

What powers should the states and national government have? The National Government was given very little authority to enforce its power. The Second Continental Congress believed that King George III and Parliament had crushed their rights and most power was given to the states rather than the Congress of Confederation.

Weakness and Failures Taxation (could only ask states to contribute funds to the Congress of Confederation…Would you do it?) Defense (could only ask states to contribute troops to the Congress of Confederation…Would you do it?) Commerce (trade) ~ no ability to regulate trade between colonies or nations. (leads to disputes between states)

Weakness and Failures Legislation (laws) ~ 9 of 13 states had to approve any legislative measure.. How often did you think that happened? Currency (print money) ~ states were hesitant to put faith in a new national currency and kept their old ones (the US had 15 different currencies in circulation, and no exchange rate) Declare War (hard to do when you do not have an army)

Shays Rebellion The war takes a large toll on New England farmers. – High taxes, farmers forced to pay creditors. Many farmers, and former minutemen, join together in 1787 under the leadership of Daniel Shays They open up debtor’s prisons and protest throughout Massachusetts

The national government does not have the power to raise an army to put down the riots. Local militias do the job, but it takes a while.

Successes The Congress of Confederation is successful in two ventures. – Setting up a Post Office ~ Benjamin Franklin first Postmaster General of the United States. – Creating the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 to deal with the need to create new states from the land taken from the British.

Now What?? What is the next step for the United States? Continued Disorganization and Disunion Or Revision and Change