Articles of Confederation

1
Articles of Confederation

• A temporary solution?

2
Reason for the Articles

• Needed some way to coordinate the war effort.
• Protecting state rights.
• British oppression still fresh in minds of
  colonial people.

3
Drafting of the Articles

• Written in a way that prevented central
  government from encroaching on state rights.
  (States above Federal)
• Drafted in 1777
• Ratified by all 13 states in 1781.
• Designed as a quick fix to the urgent problem of
  war.

4
Strengths of Articles

• Provided a unified Central government.
• Addressed Problem of Western expansion.
• Maintained Armed Forces
• Issued continuous currency
• Conduct foreign affairs for the state as a whole.

5
Weaknesses of the Confederation

• Hard to make laws
• 9/13 majority required
• Unable to regulate trade between states
• Relied on States to supply troops
• Could not impose taxes
• Could not enforce laws.

6
Weaknesses of the Confederation

• Extremely hard to amend.
• Lacked executive branch
• No national court system.
• One state, one vote.
• Still not a united country
• Only a firm league of friendship

7
Results in Constitutional Convention
8
1787 meeting in Philadelphia

• State delegates meet in small room to discuss the
  future of the nation and draft a new
  constitution.
• Debated Topics
• State representation, slavery, westward
  expansion, strong state v. strong federal.

9
A Few ways the Constitution fixed problems with
Articles of Conf.

• Three Branch system
• Able to impose taxes
• Maintain army through drafts
• Country united under the title of United States
  of America
• Federal govt given authority above states.
• Its a democracy.

10
Class Activity

• Create a Skit that details the Articles of
  Confederation. Teacher will place you in groups
  of 4.
• Requirements
• 1.) Analyze the purpose of the Articles and how
  they came about. (why they were needed)
• 2.) Show the positives (good) of the Articles and
  how they demonstrate the fears of big government
  that many colonist had.
• 3.) Show the negatives (bad) of the Articles and
  why they were eventually replaced by a more
  powerful Constitution.
• 4.) What were some key things that changed under
  the constitution?