Articles of Confederation

Who was ruling the colonies during the Revolutionary War? America’s first attempt at a government… The Articles of Confederation – Colonists feared the power of an absolute monarch, so they designed a government with a weak federal system and powerful state governments

Articles of Confederation Passed by the Second Continental Congress in 1777 Ratified in 1781, ruled America until the Constitution was created in 1789

What’s the difference between a confederation and what we have now? Confederation – Alliance of independent states that maintain the majority of power and sovereignty at the expense of a weak central government Federal System – Partially self-governing states united by a central federal government

Strengths of the gov’t under the AoC! Coordinated the colonists’ fight against the British in the American Revolution Negotiated peace treaty that ended American Revolution (Treaty of Paris 1783) Passed Northwest Ordinance to organize settlement of the Midwest Created method to amend (change/add to) the Articles of Confederation

Weaknesses of the gov’t under the AoC? Could NOT collect taxes without approval of states Could NOT regulate trade Could NOT raise an army without approval of states Amendments required unanimous approval of all the states States retained their sovereignty, freedom and independence No separate executive (President) Each state only had one vote in Congress Congress can only operate on states, not on citizen Could not enforce treaties