Weaknesses and Strength of Articles of Confederation

1. Chapter 5 Section
1

2. Objective: To
examine the
weaknesses of the
Articles of
Confederation.
United States of America
Articles of
Confederation

3. •Republic
•Citizens rule through their
elected representative

4. Articles of Confederation
•Alliances of independent states
• Articles of Confederation, "Each
state retains its sovereignty, freedom
and independence, and every Power,
Jurisdiction and right, which is not
by this confederation expressly
delegated to the United States, in
Congress assembled."

5. Powers of the Article
•Declare War
•Make peace
•Raise an army
•Power to coin money
•Sign treaties
•Borrow money

6. • No President or Chief
Executive
•Effect: No effective way to
coordinate the work of the
government
Figurehead:
John Hanson of Maryland
Weaknesses of the Article
"Why should I trade one tyrant 3000
miles away for 3000 tyrants one
mile away? An elected legislature
can trample a man's rights as easily
as a King can."

7. Weaknesses of the
Article • Cannot tax therefore could
not raise revenue
• Effect: Led to- debt
(unable to pay)
• Effect: Congress had to
beg money from states.
• Cannot regulate trade
• Effect: Congress
had no control over
trade between states

8. •No National currency (each state has
their own money)

9. • No National Court.
Supreme Court
- Effect: Cannot solve
disputes among states
Weaknesses of the Article

10. •Need 9 states to
approve laws
•Effect: Difficult to
enact laws
•All 13 states need
approval to change the
Articles
Weaknesses of the Article

11. Organizing the
land
•All unclaimed
land was
placed under
the
government to
be organized,
settled and
raise revenue

12. • to surveyed
the land into
squares 6
miles on each
side.
(townships)
Land
Ordinance
of 1785
• Each town was
divided into 36 smaller
sections, 640 acres
each. (the cost was a
minimum of $1 per
acre)

13. • population of
60,000 = statehood.
Northwest
Ordinance (1787)
• population up to
5,000 = self governing
• Slavery was outlawed.
5,000
60,000

14. John Baptist De Coigne
• Kaskaskia chief, was among a group of Indians from the
Northwest Territory who met with leaders of the US
government in 1793. He expressed the Native American
view of the westward expansion of white settlers during the
previous ten years.
• “Order your people to be just. They are always trying to get our lands. They
come on our lands, they hunt on them; kill our game and kill us. Keep them on
one side of the line, and us on the other. Listen, to what we say, and protect
the nations of the Wabash and the Mississippi in their lands

15. Shays’ Rebellion 1786
• Farmer’s income
decreased while taxes
increased.
• Farmers who
could not pay their
debts had their
farms taken away
by the courts.
Massachusetts farmer Daniel
Shays and his supporters occupy a
Massachusetts courthouse.

16. • Shays led a group
of farmers in an
attempt to capture a
federal arsenal.
Men Fighting
During Shays'
Rebellion
• The U.S., without
an organized army,
was powerless.
Massachusetts
militia was formed
to stop the
rebellion

17. • Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that the
U.S. needed a NEW, STRONGER
GOVERNMENT.
• The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced!

18. Homework: Four columns
• Chapter 5 Section 1
• Create Four Columns
• Use Terms/ names, events, Weaknesses, Strength
• Write a description, synonyms, definition
• Write a complete sentence
• Draw an image

19. Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7
There could be no
stronger evidence of
the want of energy in
our governments than
these disorders.
-- George Washington-- George Washington

20. Chapter 5 Section 1
1. Representation: By
population or by
State?
Pg 134
2. Supreme Power:
Can it be divided?
Pg 135 first
paragraph (top)
3. Western Lands:
Who gets them?
B.
1. What was the new nation’s major financial problem? Page 136
2. Why was the national government unable to solve its financial
problems?
3. Why didn’t congress amend the Articles so it could impose a tariff?
4. Why do you suppose the central government under the Articles
were given limited powers?
A.

21. Quiz # 6 (Articles )
1. Law that turn a territory into a state after 60,000
population
2. Terms for citizens rule through their elected
representative
3. Alliances of independent states
4. The event where the farmers revolt due to increase
of taxes
5. Law that surveyed into 6 miles turning them into
township
6-7 Name two weaknesses of the Articles
8-9 Name two powers of the Articles
10. To whom does all the unclaimed land goes to?

23. Chapter 5 Section 2-3

24. The need for a Stronger
Government
• After five days of meeting, delegates gave up amending the
Articles and decided to a form a new government
The Constitutional
Convention

25. The Founding Fathers
•Led to the creation of The Constitution
The need for a Stronger
Government

26. Issue # 1: Representation in
Congress
Base on population or equal votes

27. • New Jersey Plan
– One house
(unicameral)
– equal vote (one per
state)
Issue # 1: Representation in
Congress

28. • New Jersey Plan
– One house
(unicameral)
– equal vote (one per
state)
• Virginia Plan
– Two house
(bicameral)
– Representation base
on population
Issue # 1: Representation in
Congress

29. • Virginia Plan
– Two house
(bicameral)
– Representation base
on population
• New Jersey Plan
– One house
(unicameral)
– equal vote (one per
state)

30. The Great Compromise
– Senate
• Each state = two senators
– House of
Representative
• Representative base on
population
• Congress = two house

31. • For
every 5
slaves,
they will
be
counted
as 3
people
Three-Fifths
Compromise
Issues # 2:
Slavery

32. I. Popular Sovereignty
•The people hold the ultimate authority/power
Issues # 3: Power of the Government

33. II. Federalism
•The division of power between State and
National Governments

34. III. Separation of Powers

35. •Executive
branch -carries
out/enforce
the laws
Judicial
branch
-interprets
the laws
• Legislative
branch –
makes/pass
the laws
III. Separation of Powers
• Senate and House of
Representatives
• Appropriate Money
• Establish Post Offices and Roads
• Regulate Interstate Commerce and
Transportation
• Declare War
• The President
• Chief Executive
• Chief of State
• Chief Legislator
• Commander in Chief
• Supreme Court and other
Courts
• Preserve and protect the
rights of people

36. EXECUTIVE
Can be
impeach (to
try or accuse)
JUDICIAL
Declare laws
unconstitutional
LEGISLATIVE
President can
veto ( to
reject) laws
• To prevent abuse of power
IV. Checks and Balance

37. Legislative
Checks
• Override president’s veto
• Ratify treaties
• Confirm executive appointments
• Impeach federal officers and judges
• Create and dissolve lower federal courts
• Confirm appropriation of money
• Declare war
• Declare executive acts unconstitutional
• Declare laws unconstitutional
• Declare acts of Congress unconstitutional
• The Supreme Court holds the final check
• Appointed for life
• Propose laws to Congress
• Veto laws made by Congress
• Negotiate foreign treaties
• Appoint federal judges
• Grant pardons to federal
offenders
• Appropriate money
EXECUTIVE BRANCH
LEGISLATIVE BRANCH
JUDICIAL BRANCH
Congress makes or pass law
President carries or enforce the law
Supreme Court interprets the law

38. Power (Page 143) Which Branch has the power How is the power being
checked
1. Pass Bill LEGISLATIVE Executive can veto bill/ Judicial can declare
it unconstitutional
2. Veto Bills
3. Sign Treaties
4. Appropriate funding
5. Appoint federal judges
6. Impeachment of federal
officials
N/A
7. Confirm appointments of
Executive
N/A
8. Declare laws
unconstitutional
N/A
9. Override Presidential veto N/A
10. Appoint judges
11. Approved funding N/A
12. Pardon convicts N/A

39. Power
(Page 143)
Which Branch Has the
Power?
How is the Power being
checked?
(Could be more than one)
1. Pass bills. LEGISLATIVE BRANCH Judicial declare law
unconstitutional/Executive can veto
2. Veto bills.
3. Sign treaties
4. Can pardon people
5. Impeachment of federal officials
6. Confirm the appointment of
presidential appointments
7. Declare laws unconstitutional
8. Override Presidential Vetoes
9. Appoint judges
10. Appropriate money
11. Approve funding

40. Legislative
Checks
• Override president’s veto
• Ratify treaties
• Confirm executive appointments
• Impeach federal officers and judges
• Create and dissolve lower federal
courts
• Confirm appropriation of money
• Declare executive acts
unconstitutional
• Declare laws unconstitutional
• Declare acts of Congress
unconstitutional
• The Supreme Court holds the final
check
Judicial Checks
• Propose laws to Congress
• Veto laws made by Congress
• Negotiate foreign treaties
• Appoint federal judges
• Grant pardons to federal
offenders
• Appropriate money
Executive
Branch