Scribd
Upload
1K views13 pages

Articles of Confederation and The Critical Period 1783-1789

The Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States, gave most powers to the individual states rather than a strong central government. This led to several critical problems in the 1780s including disputes between states, the inability of Congress to collect taxes or regulate trade, and the national government's failure to pay its debts. Growing domestic issues and economic difficulties exposed the weaknesses of the Articles and prompted calls for reforms to strengthen the federal government, eventually leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Uploaded by

api-289233402
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
1K views13 pages

Articles of Confederation and The Critical Period 1783-1789

The Articles of Confederation, the first governing document of the United States, gave most powers to the individual states rather than a strong central government. This led to several critical problems in the 1780s including disputes between states, the inability of Congress to collect taxes or regulate trade, and the national government's failure to pay its debts. Growing domestic issues and economic difficulties exposed the weaknesses of the Articles and prompted calls for reforms to strengthen the federal government, eventually leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution to replace the Articles of Confederation.

Uploaded by

api-289233402
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPTX, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
You are on page 1/ 13

Articles of Confederation

and the Critical Period


1783-1789

Learning Goals:
Universal Idea
When conditions
change, people
and plans have to
change as well in
order to adapt.

Essential Question:
What conditions
changed in the new
United States of
America led to
removing the
Articles of
Confederations and
the writing of the
United States
Constitution?

Articles of Confederation
First plan for the government of the NEW
United States of America.
During 2nd Continental Congress, all 13 states
voted for the articles in March 1781
The 13 states were afraid of a strong central
government

Articles of Confederation
Congress was in charge of Federal Government
Federal = National = Central Government in
charge of all states
Each state had one vote

POWERS of the Government according


to the Articles of Confederation:
1.

Congress can declare war


and make peace

2.

Congress can create and


keep an Army and a Navy

3.

Congress can print


money

4.

Congress can set up a


postal service

5.

Congress can organize


new lands in the West.

6.

Congress can deal with


Indian issues

Land Ordinance of 1785


o New Land from
the Treaty of
Paris 1783 was
divided into
townships that
were 6 Square
miles.
o One of the
sections would
be set aside to
support public
schools

Northwest Ordinance of 1787


o Land was divided into
smaller territories with
a governor
o NO SLAVERY
ALLOWED!
o When population
reached 60,000, the
territory could apply to
be a state.
o Settlers in the
territories had same
rights as American
citizens

Weaknesses of the Articles


of Confederation

Who should have more power?


National Government vs. State Government

National

VS

State

States were afraid that if the national government had too much power it would be like having a King
States argued with each other over land and money.

Weak Federal (Central) Government


o Congress (Legislative Branch)
A. Congress has only ONE house (part)
and laws are difficult to pass
B. Congress CANNOT collect taxes
C. Congress CANNOT organize trade
among the states or interfere with
problems between the states.
D. Congress was responsible to the states,
not the people.
o No Federal Court System (Judicial Branch)
to settle disputes among the states.
o No President (Executive Branch) to enforce
laws.

Money Issues and DEBT


1.No U.S. Dollar

2.Each state had its own money

and used foreign money as


well
3.Merchants would only accept

$$ from their own state,


causing other money to
New York $$
$
Georgia

uth
So

r o li
a
C

$
a$

Ma
s

sa
c

become worthless
hu
se

Vir
gi

n ia

4.U.S. was unable to pay its


tts

$$

$$

debts
Money owed to European
countries
Money owed to Continental
Soldiers

Domestic (at home) Problems


1. 9 of the 13 states had to
approve a law before it
could go into effect
2. 13 out of 13 had to
approve for a law to be
amended (or changed)
3. States acted like
individual countries and
almost never agreed on
anything

Learning Goals:
Universal Idea
When conditions
become difficult,
people and plans
have to change as
well in order to
adapt.

Essential Question:
What conditions in
the new United
States of America
led to the Articles
of Confederations
becoming weak
and unable to
keep the country
together?

You might also like