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ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION• First Constitution of the
United States.
• Approved by Continental Congress in 1777.
• Established in the middle of the war for independence.
• Colonies needed a government that would allow them to be organized against Britain.
Articles of Confederation
• Created a federal government.
• One legislative branch with limited powers.
• A congress where each state had one vote.
National Government Powers
National Government Powers
• Declare War
National Government Powers
• Maintain the armed forces.
National Government Powers
• Make treaties with other countries.
National Government Powers
• Settle disputes between states.
National Government Powers
• Borrow money.
State Powers
State Powers
• Collect Taxes
State Powers
• Create court systems.
State Powers
• Enforce laws passed by Congress.
State Powers
• Collect taxes
• Create court systems
• Enforce laws passed by Congress.
National (Congress) Powers
• Declare war
• Maintain the army
• Make treaties
• Borrow money
• Settle disputes between states.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• Congress cannot collects taxes.
• Congress cannot enforce laws.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• Congress cannot control trade.
• Congress cannot enforce laws.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• No executive branch to force states to obey.
• No judicial branch to settle disputes.
Weaknesses –Articles of Confederation
• Required 9 out of 13 states to pass laws.
• All states needed to agree to amend the constitution.
The Articles of Confederation
• Weak central government
• Limited power
• No power to enforce laws
Problem: Territory• New territories
available for settlement.
• More than 120,000 people moved to new territories.
• States disputed the land.
The Ordinance of 1785• Law proposed by
Thomas Jefferson.
• Land would be sold and divided into towns.
• Each town would be divided into 36 sections of 640 acres.
The Northwest Ordinance• States would be
organized from Northwestern territories.
• Territory could apply to become state when it reached a population of 60,000.
• Territory must draft a constitution.
• Slavery would be outlawed.
Problem: Economy• Money had lost it’s value.
• Government was in debt with foreign countries and American citizens.
• Congress tried passing taxes without success.
• Economic depression.
Problem: Shay’s Rebellion• Farmers in Massachusetts
grew tired of the economic situation.
• A group of farmers under the leadership of Daniel Shays rose up in arms.
• Their farms where taken away when they couldn’t pay the state taxes.
Problem: Shay’s Rebellion• Shays led more than 1000
farmers against the government.
• The state militia confronted them.
• Many rebels died and others were hanged.
The union was falling apart.