The Articles of Confederation

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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789
Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a
Confederation plan of government? Why Did the
Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to
be replaced by the US 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.
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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789

• The Articles had 2 major achievements
• Bringing the Revolutionary War to a successful
  conclusion
• North West Ordinance (plan for governing the
  western lands)

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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to
Declare War Establish an Army/Navy
No Power to Draft Soldiers
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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to
Make Peace Sign Treaties
No Power to Enforce Treaties
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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to
No Power to Collect Taxes from the States
Borrow Money
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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to
Organize a Post Office
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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to
No Chief Executive
No national court system
No Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce
No National Currency
Difficult to Pass laws (2/3 vote)
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The Articles of Confederation
Americas 1st Constitution 1781-1789
Strengths
Weaknesses
Congress was given the power to
Difficult to Amend (unanimous vote needed to
change the articles)
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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

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Conclusion
Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a
Confederation plan of government?
They feared that a strong central government
would create tyranny, and stamp out the peoples
natural God given rights.
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Conclusion
Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles
needed to be replaced by the US Constitution?
The nation needed to function as ONE united
country not 13 small unorganized
nations. Shays rebellion proved the need to
strengthen the government.
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Reasons for Shays Rebellion

• Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they
  have no money because they were not paid during
  the war
• Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war
  too. And seek to get money from the farmers debts
  

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Shayss Rebellion

• Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass
  legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws
• The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and
  close courts that are hearing cases against
  farmers

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Shayss Rebellion

• The Mass militia is called out to stop it
• Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who support
  their stance and will close courthouses and
  demand financial help from the Congress
• Shayss Rebellion will prompt national leaders to
  create a stonger central government