1. Articles of Confederation
America’s First Attempt to Create a Government.

2. The Articles of Confederation The Confederation created was not a nation, but only a league of sovereign States…

3. Articles of Confederation
What is going on?
At the 2nd Continental Congress, after we wrote the Declaration of Independence we…
Decided colonies need some sort of written plan for government (aka constitution)
So, in1777 the Articles of Confederation was created
1781, all 13 states ratified(approved) it!
But things can’t be this easy…

4. After Independence -13 individual colonies We are not the US yet
Just separate independent states.
-13 different governments
Hard to control
-very loose association of the 13 states in a confederate style government that was totally unwritten
Considered a: “firm league of friendship among independent states.”

5. State Government -every state wrote its own constitution
-every state had different laws to follow…
-all had three branches
Each state had (3) branches:
legislative, executive, judicial
-guaranteed certain rights
Wanted to make sure citizens were given more rights than under their previous government

6. Need for Cooperation -Revolutionary War- this war was still going on…
-Strength of the British military
England banned us in the British West Indies where a lot of Americans traded ---
Couldn’t trade with them anymore
Was a large source of American economy. $$ 
-weakness of the colonial militias

9. National Government -would need a method of cooperation
-limited control would be given to a central government
**Colonists were scared to give power to a central (national) gov’t
So more power was given to STATES (reserved power)
-would not be able to control the 13 states
** NO national Executive or Judicial Branches.
-Articles of Confederation signed in **took 4 years to get approval

10. National Gov’t looked like this:
Confederation
National Gov’t looked like this:
-1 house legislature (unicameral)
-1 vote per state (to make it fair)
-9 of 13 required to pass laws (rigid law)
-controls the military
-power to make treaties (begin problems of who gets to decide things…)
***L branch can: declare war, make treaties w/other countries
-Land Ordinance 1785
-lands past the Appalachians were declared new territories (ready to settle)
-NW Ordinance 1787
-banned slavery in NW areas and set up process of adding additional states

12. Weaknesses Each state coined its own money
SC money was different than VA money
Made trading b/w states difficult…
National Governments could NOT:
-could not enforce laws
-could not tax
- NO executive branch
- NO national court system
- Each state / separate money
-could not regulate trade

14. Shay’s Rebellion: 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America
Future Problems
-taxation problems
National govt has no power to tax so each state decides on tax issues.
-Shay’s Rebellion
-Event that occurred when Massachusetts farmers revolted over high state taxes and caused people to realize the weakness of the government
**shay rhymes w/hay**
-trade barriers
-inability to pass laws (9/13 have to agree)
-lack of strong executive
This event made many colonists realize that a stronger national government would need to be created for them to stay independent…
Shay’s Rebellion: 10 Days that Unexpectedly Changed America

15. Articles of Confederation
Video Clips
Articles of Confederation
Shay’s Rebellion
Articles of Confederation for Dummies! Explained by Keith Hughes
Shay’s Rebellion Explained by Keith Hugh