Why a weak national government did not work

Most of the authority and power was given to the States; National government did not have much

Just fought war with Great Britain GB has very strong central gov’t that abused power Because of this, we did not want strong nat’l power So power given to states

Nat’l Congress could: Negotiate with other countries Raise armies Declare war What could they NOT do? Regulate trade Impose taxes

One vote in Congress Coin their own currency PERFORM ANY OTHER GOVERNMENT FUNCTION

Each state had different currency How much is a Virginia dollar vs. Massachusetts dollar? “I’m a Maryland merchant, I only accept Maryland dollars.” States did not need to agree with trade agreements made by other states or by Congress No money to pay back soldiers who fought in Revolution Shays’s Rebellion No nat’l power to put down a rebellion

By 1787 (Treaty of Paris signed in 1783), it becomes clear that AofC are not working In May, 1787, each state (except Rhode Island) sent delegates to Philadelphia “for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.” Called the Constitutional Convention

What were some of the problems with the AofC? Why did each state send delegates to Philadelphia in 1787? PREDICT: What is going to occur during the Constitutional Convention?