Chapter 2Origins of American Government

Section 3The Articles of Confederation

A “Firm League of Friendship”

The Articles of Confederation were approved by the Second Continental Congress and drafted in 1777.

The Articles of Confederation was our first constitution

• Constitution- sets the rules for government.

The Articles created “a firm league of friendship” among the 13 states. (Not a nation or government)

Federalism- Colonies had bad experience with central government, so they go extreme and make it really weak

They established a confederation, or a loose connection of states with no central power or federal government.

Under the Articles, the states retained their independence and sovereignty and could better attend to their citizens’ needs.

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Your Turn

1. What were the founders trying to avoid by creating a confederation, rather than a government with a strong central leadership?

2. What are the possible downsides to the “firm league of friendship” that was created?

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Powers of the National Government (Articles of Con.) Decide matters of war

and peace

Send and receive ambassadors

Enter into treaties

Borrow money

Coin or create money

Establish post offices

Build a navy

Raise an army by asking states for troops

Fix uniform standards of weights and measures

Settle disputes among the states

Equal rights for those traveling

What powers are missing from this list?

Negative Results of the Articles of Confederation

Conducting business with other countries and among states became difficult and economic instability began.

Newly independent states damaged their own economies by:

• redistributing private property in the name of equality.

• passing laws that reduced private debt.

• printing their own currency.

A fear of popular tyranny developed. (Popular tyranny is a political situation in which the people have too much power.)

National government could not force the states to obey its laws and notices for taxation were ignored because they could not be enforced.

Daniel Shays led farmers in a rebellion against foreclosures; this protest became known as Shays’s Rebellion.

Other Problems

The central government was unable to repel the encroachments of the British on the borders set by the Treaty of Paris, because the states would not pay the requested taxes. Revenue had to come from states.

States put tariffs on each other though they were not supposed to.

One vote per state (regardless of size)

Passing law required 9 out of 13 vote- Super majority

Changes to the Articles required a unanimous vote

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