The document provides an overview of the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States adopted in 1777. It established a weak central government with limited powers and a loose alliance of independent states. Key limitations included that each state had one equal vote in Congress, there was no president or national courts to enforce laws, and no national military to resolve conflicts between states. This structure proved problematic and led to conflicts between states, financial problems, and rebellions like Shays' Rebellion, demonstrating the need for a stronger national government, which led to the calling of the Constitutional Convention in 1787.

1. Lesson 1: Articles of Confederation
 OBJECTIVE:
Students will learn how the Articles of Confederation created
a weak central government and a loose alliance of
independent states.
 KEY WORDS:
 constitution: a document that sets out laws, principles,
organization, and processes for government
 alliance: agreement between nations to aid and protect
each other
 bill of rights: list of freedoms that the government
promises to protect
 Articles of Confederation: first American constitution in
1777

2. The States Write Constitutions
 States wrote constitutions
for 2 reasons
 Virginia’s constitution
included a bill of rights

3.  Several other states followed Virginia’s lead
 STATE GOVERNMENTS

4. The Articles of Confederation
 Delegates at Continental Congress believed
colonies needed to be united by a national govt
 States feared a large and powerful central
government
PROCESSING: Why would states be fearful of
a controlling, central government that had
the power to tell them what to do and how to
do it?

5.  Continental Congress
approved first American
constitution (Articles of
Confederation) in 1777
after MUCH DEBATE

6. Power of Congress
 Each state sent 1 delegate to Congress = 1 vote
per state

7.  NO PRESIDENT to execute laws
 NO POLICE/MILITARY to enforce the laws
 NO SYSTEM OF COURTS to settle conflicts
between states
PROCESSING: In looking at these 3
limitations, what is a potential problem with
this system?

8. Weaknesses of the Confederation
 Conflicts between states
 Money problems

9. Virginia State Currency

10. Maryland State Currency

11. Northwest Ordinance
 1787: set up government for Northwest Territory
(Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, & Wisconsin)
 Provided an example of a good way to admit
new states to the nation
 One of the only successes that stemmed from
the Articles

12. Map of Northwest Territory, 1787
QuickTime™ and a
decompressor
are needed to see this picture.

13. Shays’ Rebellion
 Daniel Shays and
1,000 other farmers
stormed courthouses
in Massachusetts in
a revolt against the
mistreatment of the
farmers

14. Constitutional Convention is Called
 Congress realized the Articles were not successful
 Constitutional Convention was called in Philadelphia in
May 1787 to create a stronger, more structured
constitution
 HOMEWORK: Report out on this question:
“If you were attending the Constitutional Convention in
Philadelphia, what two goals would you have? Why
are they important to you (as an American)? “