1. Do-Now Now that you’ve had a look at the components of the actual Articles of Confederation, recall last week’s “Continental Congress” and the task you faced: What major problems did you face in your groups? In retrospect, would your document have successfully held together the new nation? Protected it? Why or why not? Tuesday, December 2 nd Agenda Do Now Homework Discussion Notes on the Articles of Confederation  Constitution Homework Read Chapter 5, Section 1 Answer reading comprehension questions #1-5 on page 149

2. The Articles of Confederation

3. Explain the difficulties that the continental congress had in accomplishing tasks by majority consent… (Think of your own continental congress experiences)

4. Introduction This was the Colonies’ first attempt to establish a national government… Written in 1776-1777 during the American Revolution by the Second Continental Congress Enforced from March 1, 1781 to June 21, 1788 Later replaced by the current U.S. Constitution

5. A Slow Start Original proposal written by John Dickinson Called for a strong central government –Altered greatly by the states before ratification Three years passed before all states approved (fighting over western land claims)

6. A Stated Purpose Protection of the new nation General Welfare of the people

7. Governmental Structure under the Articles Confederation of States - Each state had one vote in congress Regardless of population or number of representatives –Individual State Court System Voted on nearly all of congress’s decisions - National government - Single house of Congress - Had control over armed forces and western territories - Could request financial donations from states; could NOT levy taxes

8. Governmental Structure (cont.) Making Changes Passing laws required 9 of 13 states’ consent Amending the Articles required approval from congress and unanimous approval from the states *power resided in states

10. Weaknesses of the Government Central Government had no power over states –Couldn’t enforce taxation –Couldn’t regulate trade within US or with foreign nations Difficult to make laws or amendments No national leadership

11. Accomplishments of the Articles Established a central government and a method for law making. Northwest Ordinances –Created a source of Income for congress –Established system for the addition of new states

12. Disagreement over Articles: ABANDON Country in economic depression Govt. lacks power to do anything States disputed over borders and tariffs on imported goods KEEP Economy began to recover and stabilize by 1786 Process established by the Northwest ordinance States unwilling to surrender freedoms

13. The Constitutional Convention Representatives from 12 states met in Philadelphia in 1787 to REVISE the Articles –All changes had to be approved by congress and the states before taking effect –Resulted in the present-day constitution after throwing out Articles

14. Addressing the Articles’ Flaws ARTICLES V. Unanimous state consent for amendments Single house- 2-7 reps per state No separate executive branch- president of congress had limited powers States levy taxes; congress makes requisitions CONSTITUTION ¾ states approval needed 2 houses- upper with set number of reps per state and lower based on population Separate executive branch established Federal government can levy taxes

15. Quickie Role Play 5 volunteers needed to recreate the scenes in the following BRIEF comic strip on the Articles of Confederation –1 “Narrator” –4 “Framers” Simply position yourselves to mimic the characters on the scene and read the quotes associated with each