1. Articles of Confederation and the
Critical Period 1783-1789

2. Articles of Confederation
• First plan for the government of the NEW United
States of America.
• During 2nd Continental Congress, all 13 states
voted for the articles in March 1781
• The 13 states were afraid of a strong central
government

3. Articles of Confederation
• Congress was in charge of Federal Government
• Federal = National = Central Government  in
charge of all states
• Each state had one vote

4. POWERS of the Government according
to the Articles of Confederation:
1.
Congress can declare war
and make peace
2.
Congress can create and
keep an Army and a Navy
3.
Congress can print money
4.
Congress can set up a
postal service
5.
Congress can organize new
lands in the West.
6.
Congress can deal with
Indian issues

5. Land Ordinance of 1785
o New Land from
the Treaty of
Paris 1783 was
divided into
townships that
were 6 Square
miles.
o One of the
sections would
be set aside to
support public
schools

6. Northwest Ordinance of 1787
o Land was divided into
smaller territories with
a governor
o NO SLAVERY
ALLOWED!
o When population
reached 60,000, the
territory could apply
to be a state.
o Settlers in the
territories had same
rights as American
citizens

7. Who should have more power?
National Government vs. State Government
National
VS
State
• States were afraid that if the national
government had too much power
it
would be like having a King
• States argued with each other over land
and money.

8. Weak Federal (Central) Government
o Congress (Legislative Branch)
A. Congress has only ONE house (part) and
laws are difficult to pass
B. Congress CANNOT collect taxes
C. Congress CANNOT organize trade
among the states or interfere with
problems between the states.
D. Congress was responsible to the
states, not the people.
o No Federal Court System (Judicial Branch) to
settle disputes among the states.
o No President (Executive Branch) to enforce
laws.

9. Money Issues and DEBT
1. No U.S. Dollar
2. Each state had its own
money and used foreign
money as well
New York $$
3. Merchants would only
accept $$ from their own
state, causing other money
to become worthless
4. U.S. was unable to pay its
debts
• Money owed to European
countries
• Money owed to
Continental Soldiers

10. Domestic (at home) Problems
1.
9 of the 13 states had to
approve a law before it
could go into effect
2.
13 out of 13 had to
approve for a law to be
amended (or changed)
3.
States acted like
individual countries and
almost never agreed on
anything

11. Summary
Which Principles of
Government are present in
the Articles of
Confederation?