The document summarizes key weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation: 1) The federal government could not tax and had no power to enforce laws, which made it very difficult to raise money or ensure states followed agreements. 2) States had their own laws and were not required to follow federal laws or treaties, which prevented unified national action and discouraged interstate commerce. 3) There was no executive branch or national court system, so the government could not defend borders or enforce laws.

1. Articles of
Confederation

2. 2
Why were the Articles of Confederation so
weak?
AoC writers disliked… So under the AoC…
Taxation without
representation
The federal government
could not tax
A large central government
that had absolute power
States didn’t have to follow
federal laws and treaties
Having to follow British
legislation
States had their own laws
and didn’t have to follow
other states’ laws
Lots of power was in the
king’s hands
No executive branch or
national court system
The king could change
laws at any time
Any amendment required
all 13 states’ approval

3. 3
What was the Problem?
• Since the federal government could not
tax, it was very difficult to raise money
• Since states didn’t have to follow laws and
treaties, the federal government had no
assurance that individual states would
follow them
• Each state had its own laws, which made it
difficult for the country to act in a united
way. Congress couldn’t pay back debts
from the revolution and couldn’t get states
to work together to encourage commerce.

4. 4
What was the Problem?
• Since there was no executive branch, the
government could not defend its borders.
• Since there was no executive branch and
national court system, the government
could not enforce its laws
• Any amendment required all 13 states’
approval, so the AoC was very difficult to
modify

5. 5
After the Readings
Sourcing
•Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Do you think he
wanted to see America form a strong central government? Why or why not?
Contextualization
•According to Jefferson, have the colonies been peaceful or chaotic? Support
your answer with evidence from the document.
•Jefferson thinks the people at the Constitutional Convention are overreacting
to Shays’ Rebellion. What does he worry they might do as they write the new
Constitution? (Note: this answer is not in the document; you need to think).
Close Reading
•What does Jefferson mean when he says, “The tree of liberty must be
refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants?”
Corroboration
•How does this document challenge or expand the information you read in the
textbook?

6. 5
After the Readings
Sourcing
•Thomas Jefferson wrote the Declaration of Independence. Do you think he
wanted to see America form a strong central government? Why or why not?
Contextualization
•According to Jefferson, have the colonies been peaceful or chaotic? Support
your answer with evidence from the document.
•Jefferson thinks the people at the Constitutional Convention are overreacting
to Shays’ Rebellion. What does he worry they might do as they write the new
Constitution? (Note: this answer is not in the document; you need to think).
Close Reading
•What does Jefferson mean when he says, “The tree of liberty must be
refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants?”
Corroboration
•How does this document challenge or expand the information you read in the
textbook?