The Articles of Confederation

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The Articles of Confederation

• 1777-1789

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Structure of The Articles of Confederation

• The National Government
• Unicameral (single chamber) Congress
• No Executive Branch or President
• No Federal Courts, Congress settled problems
  between states.
• Each state had one vote in the Unicameral
  Congress.

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• Each States congresses controlled who
  represented the state. Not the voters.
• The Unicameral Congress only had power expressly
  given by the Articles. (mainly lawmaking)
• All other powers were held by the states.

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Success of the Articles

• Established the policy for lands west of the
  Appalachians.
• Land Ordinance 1785 set up a system for
  surveying dividing public territory (into
  squares!)

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• Northwest Ordinance 1787 territories would be
  able to establish statehood in the future.
• Population needed to reach 60,000
• Required public education be set up
• Slavery prohibited (guess who proposed this!?)
• Northwest Territory Ohio, Michigan, Wisconsin,
  Illinois, Indiana

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Weaknesses of the Articles

• Congress could not enact and collect taxes.
• Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign
  trade.
• Congress had no control over the printing of
  money caused massive inflation!
• Regardless of population, each state had only one
  vote in Congress.

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• Articles could be amended only if ALL
• states approved.
• Could only request troops from states to maintain
  army.
• There were 13 separate states that
• lacked national unity.
• Dis-United States

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• Shays' Rebellion- angry farmers take weapons and
  burned down banks that held record of their debt.
  
• What can Massachusetts do?

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• Wellthat didnt work.
• Annapolis Convention (1786) was called to discuss
  fixing Articles.
• All states were invited, only 5 sent delegates.
  Problem?
• Try again! -- this time in Philadelphia
• Constitutional Convention (1787)