The Articles of Confederation established a weak national government with a unicameral Congress where each state had one vote and a veto. States had most of the power and participation was voluntary. The government could not tax, regulate trade, or raise military forces. This led to failures like Shays' Rebellion and economic problems until the Constitution replaced it.

1. The Articles of Confederation

2. Articles of Confederation
• Second Continental
Congress proposed for
adoption 1777
• Approved 1781
• Fearful of a strong
central Govt.
• Formed a confederation
of states, each had a
separate government John Dickenson-Author of A o C

3. Emphasis on decentralized
government
• States possessed the power
–veto
–voluntary participation

4. • Specific elements of the Articles of
Confederation
– Single chamber national Congress-unicameral
–each state had one vote
– no executive branch
– no judicial branch
–Congress had no power to tax or regulate
commerce
• Provided for a weak national government

5. Failure and Ineffectiveness
• Government was too decentralized to deal with
major problems
– Could not raise military to put down Shay’s rebellion

6. Shays’ Rebellion
• Economic conditions for farmers in Massachusetts
were bad, because of taxes
• Shays, a Soldier in the Revolutionary war, was not
paid.
• 1786 a group of 100+ farmers lead by Daniel Shays
decided to close down the courts in Massachusetts,
so the courts could not close their farms
• They decided to take control of an arsenal in
Springfield
• The rebellion was defeated, but it sent a shockwave
across the country

7. Economic Failure
• Could request funds from states
• Could not tax unless every state approved
• Could not regulate interstate/overseas
commerce (trade)
• Provided for no common currency
• 7 different currencies

8. Successes of the Articles of Confederation
• Passage of Land
Ordinance of 1785
– Established unit of
settlement for
townships
– 6 square miles, divided
into 36-640 acres each,
one would be a source
of income for schools

9. Passage of Northwest Ordinance of
1787
– Steps for admission of new states
• 3 stages
• during settlement years-Congress appoints territorial
governors and judges
• when reaches 5,000 adult males-write temporary
constitution-and elect representatives
• when it reaches 60,000 write state constitution-
Congress approves for statehood
– Forbid slavery in NW territory-states could decided later

10. States
Can Veto
Voluntary
participation
Each
Elects
One
Member
One-
Chamber
Congres
s
Cannot Tax
Unless Each
State Agrees

11. One-
Chamber
Congres
s
Creates
Executive
Committees
Foreign,
Military,
Indian Affairs
(Including Making of
War and Peace)
Disputes
Between
States
Financial
Matters
(Borrowing and
Issuing of Currency)