CH. 2-3 THE CRITICAL PERIOD AMERICAN GOVERNMENT

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION The First and Second Continental Congresses were meant to be temporary Something more permanent was needed to govern the new country Lee’s independence resolution also proposed “a plan of confederation” to the States Articles of Confederation approved November 15, 1777

Articles of Confederation established “a firm league of friendship” among the states Each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, and every Power, Jurisdiction, and right…not…expressly delegated to the United States, in Congress assembled The states came together “for their common defense, …security,…and general welfare”

The Articles did not go into effect immediately RATIFICATION—formal approval All 13 states needed to approve the document 11 states ratified within a year DE approved Articles February 1779 MD approved Articles March 1, 1781 The Articles were now in effect

GOVERNMENTAL STRUCTURE A Congress was the sole body created Unicameral, made up of delegates chosen yearly by the states Each state had 1 vote No executive or judicial branch These functions were handled by committees of the Congress Each year one member of Congress was chosen as its president

The person chosen would be the presiding officer (chairman) Civil officers such as postman would be appointed by Congress POWERS OF CONGRESS --make war & peace --send and receive ambassadors --make treaties --borrow money

--set up a monetary system --build a navy --raise an army by asking states for troops --fix uniform standards for weights and measures --settle disputes among states

STATE OBLIGATIONS --States pledged to obey the Articles and the acts of Congress --Provide the funds and troops --Treat citizens of other states fairly --Give full faith and credit to public acts, records --surrender fugitives to another state --submit their disputes to Congress --allow open travel and trade

States were primarily responsible for protecting life and property WEAKNESSES Congress did not have the power to tax Only option was borrowing and asking states for money Not one state came close to meeting the financial requests made by Congress

Congress couldn’t regulate trade between states Congress could only exercises its powers if 9 of 13 states agreed The Articles could be AMENDED (changed) only if all 13 states agreed No amendments were ever added to the Articles

THE CRITICAL PERIOD, THE 1780S Revolutionary War ended October 19, 1781 Confirmed by the Treaty of Paris 1783 Peace brought the economic and political problems into sharp focus States bickered amongst themselves and became suspicious of one another States refused to support the central government States made agreements with foreign governments without approval from Congress

Most states organized their own military “We are one nation today and 13 tomorrow”—George Washington States taxed one another’s goods and restricted some trade Debts, public and private, went unpaid Violence broke out as the result of economic chaos

SHAYS REBELLION—western MA Small land owners were losing their land due to lack of payment of taxes Fall 1786 Daniel Shays (officer during the Revolution) led an armed uprising forcing many judges to close their courts Early next year Shays mounted an unsuccessful attack on a federal arsenal Shays fled to VT MA passed laws to ease the burden of debtors

A NEED FOR STRONGER GOVERNMENT Articles created a government that couldn’t deal with the nation’s troubles Demand grew for a stronger, more effective national government The movement for change took shape in 1785 MOUNT VERNON MD & VA took the first step in the movement for change

Delegates met in Alexandria, VA in March 1785 G. Washington moved the meeting to his home in Mount Vernon Their meetings were very successful Jan. 21, 1786—The VA General Assembly called for “a joint meeting of [all of] the States to recommend a federal plan for regulating commerce

ANNAPOLIS The joint meeting occurred at Annapolis, MD Sep. 11, 1786 Poor turnout—only 5 of 13 states Another meeting in Philadelphia was scheduled By mid-Feb of 13 states committed delegates DE, GA,NH, NJ, NC, PA, VA

Feb. 21, 1786, the Congress, finally encouraged states to send delegates The meeting was for the sole purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation The Philadelphia meeting became the Constitutional Convention THE END