articles of confederation
DESCRIPTION
Articles of ConfederationTRANSCRIPT
ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION
Articles of Confederation• First U.S. Constitution. Ratified
(approved) during American Revolution.
• A loose association of states.
Confederation Congress• Would be the central National
government.
• It was a law making body where each state had 1 vote.
• Decisions required 9 of the 13 states to vote yes.
Powers of the Confederation Congress
• Because of the experiences with the British government, the new government was formed with limited powers.
Powers of the Confederation Congress
• Make treaties with other countries and Indians.
• Could ask (not require) states for money.
• Make (print) money.
Treaty of Paris
Powers of the Confederation Congress
• Could settle disputes between states.
• Could ask for (not require) soldiers from the states.
Powers Denied To The Government
• No executive branch.
• No court system.
Powers Denied Congress
• Could not prevent states from issuing its own money.
• Could not raise taxes
Northwest Ordinance of 1787• Created an orderly system to admit new
states.
• Created the Northwest Territory.
Problems Under The Articles of Confederation
Foreign Relations-
• France: Wanted loans repaid.
• Britain: Closed ports to U.S. ships.
• Spain: Closed the lower Mississippi River to U.S. Shipping.
Problems Under The Articles of Confederation
Economic Unrest-
• Shay’s Rebellion: Protest by farmers over losing property because they got no help from the government.
• Congress had no way of dealing with this.
• Showed the Articles were not working and that a stronger government was needed.
Convention of 1787
• In 1787, Congress called for a convention to revise (update) the Articles of Confederation.
• Once the convention started, the Articles of Confederation were thrown out and an new constitution was written.