1. The Articles of Confederation
Objectives: Students will know what the Articles of Confederation were and the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.
Students will understand why the Articles of Confederation were replaced.

2. The Articles of Confederation

3. The Articles of Confederation
Key Terms
Republic
Confederation
Articles
Articles of Confederation
Ratification
Confederation Congress
Northwest Territory
Land Ordinance of 1785
Northwest Ordinance
Levy

4. The Articles of Confederation
Development and Ratification
Colonies established their own governments
National Government should be a republic
Continental Congress meets in 1776
Articles of Confederation run by Confederation Congress
Passed in 1777, ratified by all colonies in 1781

5. The Articles of Confederation
National Problems
The Northwest Territory- How to divide and govern the lands west of the Appalachians?
Land Ordinance of divided land into plots
Northwest Ordinance of outlined how Northwest territory was to be governed
(60,000 to be a state, slavery outlawed, increased land disputes with Native Americans)

6. The Articles of Confederation
National Problems
2) Foreign Relations Conflicts
Congress borrowed money to fight Revolutionary War- had no power to pay loans
British presence remained south of Great Lakes
Britain and Spain barred American shipping to enter Caribbean and New Orleans’ ports

7. The Articles of Confederation
National Problems
3) Economic Problems and Shay’s Rebellion
Congress had no power to levy taxes
Could not pay debts it owed to soldiers
States had to raise money through high taxes
Farmers unable to pay high taxes (Shay led a farmer’s rebellion to capture Massachusetts’s arsenal)

8. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
The first system of government designed by the Founding Fathers was a Confederation. Under a Confederate system, the National or Central Government is given only a few powers, while most of the power is reserved for the States.

9. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
The Articles had 2 major achievements:
Bringing the Revolutionary War to a successful conclusion
North West Ordinance (plan for governing the western lands)

10. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress has power to: Declare War &
Establish an Army/Navy
No Power to Draft Soldiers

11. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
Make Peace & Sign Treaties
No Power to Enforce Treaties

12. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
No Power to Levy Taxes from the States
Borrow Money

13. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to:
Organize a
Post Office

14. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
No Chief Executive
No national court system
No Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce
No National Currency
Difficult to Pass laws (2/3 vote)

15. The Articles of Confederation
America’s 1st Constitution
Strengths
Weaknesses
Difficult to Amend
(unanimous vote needed to change the articles)

16. Conclusion
What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

17. The Articles of Confederation
No Chief Executive
No National Court System
No Power to Draft Soldiers
No Power to Control Interstate Commerce
No Power to Enforce Treaties
No Power to Collect Taxes from the States
Difficult to Pass Laws (2/3 vote)
No National Currency
Difficult to Amend (Unanimous Vote Needed to Change Articles)
Congress given the power to:
Declare War
Make Peace
Sign Treaties
Borrow Money
Establish an Army & Navy
Organize a Post Office

18. Conclusion
Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution?