articles of confederation and the critical period 1783 1789
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Articles of Confederation and the Critical Period 1783-1789
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
• Congress was in charge of Federal Government
• Federal = National = Central Government in
charge of all states
• Each state had one vote
Articles of Confederation
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
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
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
Who should have more power?
• 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.
National Government vs. State Government
VS
NationalState
Weak Federal (Central) Governmento 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.
Money Issues and DEBT1. No U.S. Dollar
2. Each state had its own
money and used foreign
money as well
3. Merchants would only accept
$$ from their own state,
causing other money to
become worthless
4. U.S. was unable to pay its
debts
• Money owed to European
countries
• Money owed to Continental
Soldiers
Massachusetts $$Virginia $$
New York $$
Georgia $$
South Carolina $$
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
Summary
Which Principles of Government are present in the Articles of Confederation?