Chapter Two: Origins of American Government

1
Chapter Two Origins of American Government

• Section Three
• The Critical Period

2
The Articles of Confederation

• Lees proposal called for a plan of
  confederation
• took 17 months to draft
• November 15, 1777 - Articles approved
• firm league of friendship
• did not go into effect until 1781

3
Governmental Structure

• Very simple
• Congress sole body created
• unicameral
• each State had one vote
• no executive or legislative branch
• Congress would choose a presiding officer each
  year

4
Powers of Congress

• make war and peace
• send and receive ambassadors
• make treaties
• build a navy
• fix uniform weights and measures

• borrow money
• set up money system
• establish post offices
• raise an army by asking States for troops
• settle disputes among States

5
State Obligations

• Obey Articles and acts of Congress
• Provide funds and troops
• Treat citizens of other States equally
• Give full faith and credit to acts of States
• Protect life and property of citizens
• Open trade/travel between States
• Offer disputes to Congress
• Surrender fugitives to other States

6
Weaknesses

• No power to tax
• Could not regulate trade between States
• Lacked power to make States obey Articles
• Needed 9/13 to exercise powers it had
• All 13 States must consent to any changes to the
  Articles
• hence, no amendments

7
The Critical Period - The 1780s

• Peace brought political and economic problems
  into focus
• 1786 - Shays Rebellion
• a need for a stronger government was very
  apparent
• Jan. 21, 1786 - Mount Vernon
• Sept. 11, 1786 - Annapolis