Chapter 2.3 The Critical Period

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Chapter 2.3 The Critical Period

• Starter pg. 38, 2-5

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I. The First National Constitution

• Articles of Confederation
• 1. Nov. 15, 1777
• 2. Finally ratified March 1, 1781
• 3. A firm league of friendship
• 4. Each state retained
• a. Sovereignty
• b. Freedom
• c. Independence
• d. Power
• e. Jurisdiction

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5. Purpose of Articles

1. Common defense
2. Security of liberty
3. Mutual and general welfare

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6. Governmental Structure

• Only a congress
• Unicameral
• Each state 1 delegate
• 1.) chosen yearly
• 2.) States chose any way they wanted
• 3.) no regard to population or wealth for
  number of delegates
• No judicial or executive branches
• 1.) Committees of Congress

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7. Powers of Congress

1. War and peace
2. Send and receive ambassadors
3. Make treaties
4. Borrow money
5. Create monetary system
6. Create navy
7. Build army
8. Standardize weights and measures
9. Settle disputes among states

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8. State Obligations

1. Provide funds and troops to Congress
2. Treat citizens of other states fairly
3. Surrender fugitives
4. Allow open travel
5. Submit disputes with states to Congress

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9. Weakness

1. Congress had no power to tax
2. Congress could not regulate trade among states
3. No power to make state obey Articles

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II. The Critical Period, 1780s

• Revolutionary War ended October 19, 1781
• Articles began to fail
• 1. States became suspicious of each other
• 2. refused to support central government
• 3. Agreements with foreign governments
• 4. organized own militaries
• 5. taxed each others goods
• 6. some banned trade

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The meeting at Mount Vernon and Annapolis

• March 1785
• 1. Meeting of MD VA
• 2. Arranged by G. Washington
• 3. Moved to his home
• 4. called for meeting of all delegates

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• Sept. 11, 1785
• 1. 5 of 13 Representatives attended
• Mid February 1787
• 1. 7 States had named delegates
• a. DE e. NC
• b. GA f. PA
• c. NH g. VA
• d. NJ
• Feb. 21, 1787
• 1. Called upon other states to appoint
  delegates
• May 1787
• 1. Philadelphia
• 2. Became Constitutional Convention