This document provides an agenda and lesson plan for teaching students about the Articles of Confederation. It summarizes the key weaknesses of the Articles, including that it could not tax citizens, control commerce between states, or force states to follow laws. It discusses Shays' Rebellion as an example of how the weaknesses led to problems. Students are asked to consider how to fix the Articles and why the founding fathers needed to create a new government.

1. December 2, 2016
Agenda
Do Now!
Share Constitutions
Articles of Constitution Notes
Northwest Ordinance Map
Do Now!
Wha
t would you do if your constitution didn’t
work??
Objective: I can describe the strengths and
weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation.

2. Articles of
Confederation

3. Need for Government
Colonists needed a government after leaving Britain
Colonists wanted: (all things that they didn’t have under Britain)
◦ Self government= no King
◦ Limits to government power= states’ rights
◦ Protected rights for citizens

4. Colonial Governments
All colonies had their own government and constitution
◦ Often these constitutions left power to the people to elect representatives
Now they decided to make a national government
◦ Colonial governments could not decide on ways to interact with each other

5. Solution
Articles of Confederation- First government of the United States of America
◦ Passed during Revolution
◦ Weak connection of states with a Congress to make decisions; no executive (king)

6. Discussion
1. How did the colonies make decisions during the Revolutionary
War?
2. Why did the colonies choose to create a government like the
Articles of Confederation?
3. Predict some problems that could arise from the government they
created.

7. Successes under Articles
After the Revolution, the government was in the spotlight.
What would it do with all that new land it had
It created policies for new western lands
◦ Land Ordinance of 1785: Set up how the land would be divided
◦ Northwest Ordinance: established how lands (Northwest territory) could be sold (all money
going to government); prohibited slavery in the territory

8. December 5, 2016
Agenda
-Do Now!
-Finish guided notes
-Articles of Confederation
activity
-Exit Ticket
Quiz on Articles this Wednesday!!!
Do Now
Tell me about your weekend in one
sentence.

9. Weaknesses of the Articles
Due to the fear of repeating the errors with Britain, the government under the
Articles had serious issues
◦ Cannot tax the people=cannot make money
◦ Cannot control business (commerce) between states
◦ No executive (no president or king figure) or court system
◦ Cannot force states to follow laws (states have more power)
◦ Cannot make changes to government (if something wasn’t working, they needed everyone to
agree to change it)

10. Weakness Shows
The Articles were bound to fail due to their weakness
Question was what would cause the weakness to show
Shays Rebellion
◦ Farmer rebellion in Massachusetts
◦ Farmers upset they are in debt, losing land and government is not helping them
◦ Many owed money by government for service in military
Effects
◦ Rebellion eventually ended
◦ American leaders realize Articles are too weak to enforce laws/help the people

11. Reflection
How would you fix the Articles of
Confederation?

12. December 6, 2016
Agenda
Do Now!
Review Articles of Confederation
Kahoot!
Reminder: Quiz tomorrow! Your
homework will help you study for
your quiz :)
Do Now!
Why is it important for states and
the federal government to share
power?

13. December 8, 2016
Agenda
-Do Now!
-Constitutional Convention
Simulation
-Exit Ticket
Do Now
Why did the founding fathers need
to create a new form type of
government after the Articles of
Confederation??
Objective: