Articles of Confederation

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)