The Articles of Confederation

The Articles of ConfederationHow the first attempt at creating a national government failed

1The Treaty of ParisAs the winners of the Revolution, the Americans gained a great deal :They were now independentThe country extended all the way to the MississippiThe U.S. could fish further out into the AtlanticThe British would return slaves

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What river was the western most boundary of the United States after the war was over?3Economic Changes After the WarFree EnterpriseBecause the Americans hated the Mercantile system they created the free enterprise system. Businesses would be owned by individuals and prices controlled by competition. Governments only role in business was to make sure they operated fairly.

No more working just for the benefit of the Mother Country4New State Governments are CreatedAmericans were afraid of powerful central governments. So, each state created republics. In a republic the citizens vote for representatives. Many states added a Bill of Rights to protect citizens from their state governments tyranny (corruption). Why do you think governments were created in each of the thirteen states?Think about John Lockes reasons for having a government5The Massachusetts ConstitutionThe Constitution of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts is the fundamental governing document of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, one of the 50 individual state governments that make up the United States of America. It was drafted by John Adams, Samuel Adams, and James Bowdoin The Massachusetts Constitution was the model for the Constitution of the United States of America, drafted seven years later.6The first part consists of thirty articles, the first of which states: Article I. All men are born free and equal, and have certain natural, essential, and unalienable rights; among which may be reckoned the right of enjoying and defending their lives and liberties; that of acquiring, possessing, and protecting property; in fine, that of seeking and obtaining their safety and happiness.The Massachusetts ConstitutionWhat is an article?What parts of this article are similar to the freedoms we have in our Constitution today?7The Articles of ConfederationWhile the states were setting up their governments, Americans also discussed what type of national government should be created. The Continental Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation. In it each state would have one vote and the new lands stretching out to the Mississippi River were to be controlled by the national government.

Open up to page 206 in your Creating America textbook and complete the chart8The Articles of ConfederationStates' PowersNational PowersSet TaxesWage warOne vote per stateSign treatiesEnforce lawsMake peaceControl all western landsIssue moneyMail lettersI believe the _______________ had more power because9The Northwest TerritoryTwo of the important laws passed under the Articles of Confederation were the Northwest Ordinance and the Land Ordinance of 1785. These laws described how the new territories would be governed and how an area could apply for statehood. 10Northwest OrdinanceWhen there were 5,000 free males in an area, men who owned 50 acres of land or more could elect an assembly. When the area grew to 60,000 the assembly could ask the area to be entered into the Union as a new state. First the area had to outlaw slavery, guarantee freedom of religion and trial by jury before becoming a state. This ordinance created a pattern for the orderly growth of the United States.

List the provision of the Northwest Ordinance:

Fill in the missing step to becoming a state as set out by the Land ordinance of 178511

What current States grew out of the Northwest Territory?The Land Ordinance of 178512The Weaknesses of The Articles of Confederation

After reading about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation can you tell why they failed to effectively govern the new United States?

Give two examples from the chart that you believe would make it difficult create new laws and create a strong military?

Why would the states decide to create a weak national government to run the country? What were they afraid of?13Shays RebellionMany states faced economic problems. People had little money and taxes were high. If a farmer couldnt pay his taxes the state would sell his farm. If that didnt pay the debt he could be put in jail. Daniel Shays, a Revolutionary soldier and other farmers asked the State of Massachusetts to help out by making the debt laws less strict, The state refused to help them.Upon hearing about the uprising Thomas Jefferson said The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrantsWhat do you think he was trying to say and who were the tyrants he was talking about?

14Shays RebellionDaniel Shays led 1,500 men in a march on a federal arsenal, A place to store weapons. The arsenal was defended by 900 state militia men. The militia men quickly defeated Shays men. People all over the 13 states sided with the farmers. Leaders of the states realized that this small uprising could soon lead to a bigger uprising and another war. The states however had all the power and the national government couldnt tell them what to do. Something had to change before it became to late.

What do you think needs to happen to stop the States from abusing the soldiers?

15Quiz TimeTake out one lined piece f paperPut your complete heading on the topWrite out the question and write out your answer choice along with the letter of your choice

See example:1. Who was the first President of the United StatesB, George WashingtonQuick Quiz1. Which document included all the provisions above.Established a process for applying for statehoodReligious freedom guaranteedTrial by jury guaranteedBanned SlaveryA. The Articles of ConfederationB. The Mayflower Compact C. The Declaration of IndependenceD. The Northwest Ordinance172. Which of the following was a weakness of the Articles' of Confederation?A. They were easy to changeB. The federal (National) government was too powerful.C. The federal government could not regulate tradeD. The Federal government increased taxes too quickly

183. This list summarizes the limitations of the National government under the-A. Mayflower CompactB. The U.S. ConstitutionC. The Articles of ConfederationD. The Declaration of Independence

The National Government wasnt able to:Stop disputes between the states,Raise taxes to pay soldiers salaries,Enforce laws

194. Under the Articles of Confederation the States could-A. Wage warB. Issue MoneyC. Sign treaties with foreign nationsD. Enforce national laws

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5. Which area of the map represents how far the United States spread west after the Revolution?A. 1B. 2C. 3D. 4

1234216. Shays rebellion showed that-A. The states were willing to help the farmersB. The states wanted goldC. The national government needed to be strongerD. The states needed to have more power

227. Which of the following is the best reason for making the Articles of Confederation a weak form of government?The President was taxing too muchThe citizens were worried about tyrannyThe states were too powerfulThe Citizens were worried about invasion238. What did the North West Ordinance create?

A system for creating new lawsA system for creating new statesA method for ending slaveryA method for creating new townships

249. What did the Land Ordinance of 1785 create?

a. A system for creating new statesb. A system for creating new laws c. A method for ending slavery d. A method for creating new townships

25Which of these states is not in the Northwest Territory?MichiganOhioIdahoIndiana26Things to know1. The articles were weak2. States had all the powers3. The national government could not control the states or trade between the states.4. The N.W. O. makes New States5. The L.O. Makes new Towns6. Shays rebellion showed we needed a stronger central government.