ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

US Constitution Unit

OBJECTIVE

Examine the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

WHY DID THE ARTICLES OF CONFED. FAIL?

#1 Currency Issues The U.S. did not have a common currency

People carried money from the federal government, state governments, and foreign governments

Merchants stopped accepting money from outside of their own state, causing money to become worthless This caused INFLATION

WHY DID THE ARTICLES OF CONFED. FAIL?

#2 Debt Congress did not have the power to tax people and depended on money from the states U.S. was unable to pay its debts Ex: U.S. owed money to France, Holland, and Spain for loans made

during the Revolution Ex: U.S. had not paid many of its veterans

WHY DID THE ARTICLES OF CONFED. FAIL?

#3 International & Domestic Problems U.S. lacked military power to defend itself against Great Britain and Spain

States acted as individual countries and seldom agreed with one another Connecticut and Virginia

almost go to war over land disputes

WHY DID THE ARTICLES OF CONFED. FAIL?

#4 The Courts The federal government lacked a judicial system

WHY DID THE ARTICLES OF CONFED. FAIL?

#5 The President The nation did not have a chief executive

WHY DID THE ARTICLES OF CONFED. FAIL?

#6 The Legislature Congress had one house (unicameral)

Laws were difficult to pass, needing the approval of 9 states

Congress was responsible to the states, not to the people

Congress had no power to collect taxes, regulate trade, coin money, or establish a military.