3. Values
• Fear of Oppression: After their experience
with King George III, Americans were reluctant
to grant much economic power, or authority
of any sort, to the central government
• Saw themselves as independent republics
• In a republic the people are responsible for
the virtue of the state – social contract,
popular sovereignity
5. Articles of Confederation
• The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of
Confederation in November 1777. However,
ratification of the Articles of Confederation by all
thirteen states did not occur until March 1, 1781.
• Articles existed between 1781-1788
• The rules gave each state 1 vote through a
representative
• Big decisions required nine votes
• Changing Articles required ALL 13 votes
6. Articles of Confederation
• Congress could ask the states for men
(soldiers) and money
• Congress would settle disputes between
states
• Congress could make war and peace
• Congress would regulate Indian Affairs
• Congress would negotiate with foreign
countries
8. Articles of Confederation
Values of
1776
Political Articles of Economic
Problems Confederation Problems
9. Political Problems
• 1783-1786
– Making formal peace with the Indians
– Disagreements on power of congress on western
boundaries of the states
• Shays Rebellion in 1786 stopped by state
militia
• Security against foreign powers
10. Economic Problems
• Debt
– Congress could not pay down the mounting public debt (France,
War Bonds)
– Worthless national currency. No gold or silver to issue coins
– Congress could not control inflation
• Tariff
– Federal government had little power but the states were
empowered to act independently as sovereign bodies
– Congress could not curb the flow of state-issued paper money
• Tax
– Congress had no power to tax
– Congress was helpless to tax trade
11. Articles of Confederation
Values of
1776
Political Articles of Economic
Problems Confederation Problems
Strengths Weakness
And Successes and Failures
12. Strength/Successes
• Government successfully waged a war for
independence against the British
• The Northwest Ordinance of 1787
– three stages: territories, non-voting delegates to
Congress, apply for statehood. Territories organize
their own government
– no slavery allowed but did have fugitive slave law
• Government established the Departments of
Foreign Affairs, War, Marine, and Treasury
13. Weakness/Failures
• Federal government had no means to provide for
Americans’ defense and security – no national army or navy
• Congress could not raise money to pay off debt or operate
properly
• Each state operated like a separate country with own
currency
• No true Executive or Judicial branch
• Congress was unable to regulate interstate and foreign
commerce
14. Quick Review
• What years were the Articles of Confederation
in force?
• Name one weakness of the Articles?
• Name one success of the Articles?
• What event(s) provoked the leaders to hold a
convention that rewrote the Articles?