THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

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THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
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WHAT IS IT?

• The Articles of Confedertion and Perpetual
  Union is the name of the first constitution of
  the U.S. The agreement was the law of the land
  from 1781 until 1789.

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WHEN DID THIS HAPPEN?

• It was drafted by the same Continental Congress
  that passed the Declaration of Independence.
• This document gave the original 13 colonies a set
  of rules.
• A WAY TO GOVERN THEMSELVES!

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• It was created during the Revolutionary War and
  reflects the founding fathers desire to avoid an
  overbearing central authority (like the king of
  England!)

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• The Articles of Confederation established a
  firm league of friendship among the 13 states,
  when finally adopted on March 1, 1781.

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WHAT WAS IT GOOD FOR?

• The Congress of the Confederation could declare
  war and peace, manage foreign affairs and the
  postal service, establish an army and navy,
  borrow money, determine the value of coin and
  issue bills.

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• This all sounds quite nice and powerful on paper.
• There was just one problem.
• IT DID NOT WORK!

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MAJOR PROBLEMS OF THE DOCUMENT WERE

• The states were powerful, while Congress was
  weak.
• There was no chief executive (president) or
  national judicial system (supreme court).

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MORE PROBLEMS?

• Congress could not regulate commerce or taxes.
• FACT George Washington had to go to Congress to
  beg for money to buy bullets, food, and clothes
  for our soldiers.

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• George Washington, Alexander Hamilton and other
  leaders were not satisfied with the Articles of
  Confederation. But any changes required the
  approval of all 13 states.

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PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS, PROBLEMS

• In 1876 at Annapolis, Maryland a convention meet
  to discuss commercial problems in the colonies,
  but only 5 of the 13 sent representatives.
• How disappointing!
• Something had to be done to help our struggling
  nation.

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• On Jan. 25, 1787 Danial Shay, a Mass. farmer and
  Revolutionary War veteran, lead a group of
  farmers on an attack of the federal arsenal in
  Springfield, Mass. This unsuccessful attempt
  resulted in 4 men dying, but attention had been
  drawn to the economic plight of the people.

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• The 13 states had to find a way to speak with one
  voice!

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HAD THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION DONE ANY GOOD
FOR OUR COUNTRY?

• YES! It had provided our young nation with
  experience in self-government under a written
  document. Its weaknesses only served to make
  our nation stronger.

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A HAPPY ENDING FOR ALL!

• Representatives from the thirteen colonies meet
  in Philadelphia in 1787 to address the nations
  problems. The Articles of Confederation were
  abandoned and the United States Constitution was
  written.