1. The Articles of Confederation

2. The Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation

4. The Articles of Confederation created a loose alliance or league of independent states (A confederation is a loose alliance, or league, of independent states)

6. The Thirteen Articles of the Confederation

7. The 13 Articles of Confederation
Establishes the name of the confederation as "The United States of America.“
Asserts the equality of the separate states with the confederation government, i.e. "Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and independence, …."
Establishes the United States as a new nation, a sovereign union of sovereign states, a firm league of friendship with each other, united. . . for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, …
Can only be altered by approval of Congress with ratification by all the state legislatures.

8. The 13 Articles of Confederation
Establishes freedom of movement – anyone can pass freely between states. All people are entitled to the rights established by the state into which he travels.
Allocates one vote in the Congress of the Confederation to each state, which was entitled to a delegation of between two and seven members. Members of Congress were appointed by state legislatures; individuals could not serve more than three out of any six years.
Only the central government is allowed to conduct foreign relations and to declare war. No states may have navies or standing armies, or engage in war, without permission of Congress (although the state militias are encouraged).

9. The 13 Articles of Confederation
When an army is raised for common defense, colonels and military ranks below colonel will be named by the state legislatures.
Expenditures by the United States will be paid by funds raised by state legislatures, and apportioned to the states based on the real property values of each.
Requires nine states to approve the admission of a new state into the confederacy; pre-approves Canada, if it applies for membership.

10. The 13 Articles of Confederation
Defines the powers of the central government:
To declare war to set weights and measures (including coins), and for Congress to serve as a final judge for conflict between states.
Reaffirms that the Confederation accepts war debt incurred by Congress before the Articles.

11. The Articles established a one-branch national government that was very weak

12. The Articles set up a unicameral (one-house) legislature called “Congress”; each state was given one vote

13. Bad experiences with British → desire for weak national government

14. The Continental Congress was given very few powers – declare war, raise an army, make treaties

15. The Articles of Confederation
WEAKNESSES of the National Government

16. Lack of Power and Money – no power to collect taxes, no power to enforce laws, no power to regulate trade

17. Lack of Central Power – no executive branch (president); no judicial branch (Supreme Court or federal courts)

18. Rules too rigid – approval of 9 states needed to pass laws; approval of all 13 states to amend (change) Articles

19. Inability to collect taxes → Congress to borrow money to pay for the war → debt

20. Congress sold land west of the Appalachians to raise money

21. Northwest Ordinance (1787) – provided basis for governing this territory; set up a process to admit new states into the union

22. The primary effect of the ordinance was the creation of the Northwest Territory as the first organized territory of the United States (out of the region south of the Great Lakes, north and west of the Ohio River, and east of the Mississippi River)

24. Arguably the single most important piece of legislation passed by members of the earlier Continental Congresses other than the Declaration of Independence, the Northwest Territory established the precedent by which the United States would expand westward across North America by the admission of new states, rather than by the expansion of existing states

25. Shay’s Rebellion

26. States had also run up war debts → high taxes

27. Britain banned trade between U.S. and Caribbean colonies

28. Farmers were in debt because they could not sell crops → face losing their land

29. Daniel Shays (Mass. farmer) led 1200 farmers in an uprising

30. Massachusetts had to call out state militia to stop rebellion

31. Congress was powerless to help → calls for a stronger national government

32. Twelve states are going to send delegates to Philadelphia in the late spring of to revise the Articles of Confederation

33. LACK OF POWER & MONEY Congress had no power to collect taxes
Congress had no power to regulate trade
Congress had no power to enforce its laws

34. No national court system existed (Supreme Court or federal courts)
LACK OF CENTRAL POWER
No single leader or group directed government policy – no executive (president)
No national court system existed (Supreme Court or federal courts)

35. Congress could not pass laws without the approval of 9 states
RULES TOO RIGID
Congress could not pass laws without the approval of 9 states
The Articles could not be changed without the agreement of all 13 states

36. The 13 Articles of Confederation
Defines the powers of the central government: to declare war, to set weights and measures (including coins), and for Congress to serve as a final court for disputes between states
Requires nine states to approve the admission of a new state into the confederacy; pre-approves Canada, if it applies for membership.
Reaffirms that the Confederation accepts war debt incurred by Congress before the Articles.