Lesson 1: Articles of Confederation
OBJECTIVE: Students will learn how the Articles of Confederation created a weak central government and a loose alliance of independent states.
KEY WORDS: constitution: a document that sets out laws, principles,
organization, and processes for government alliance: agreement between nations to aid and protect
each other bill of rights: list of freedoms that the government
promises to protect Articles of Confederation: first American constitution in
1777
The States Write Constitutions
States wrote constitutions for 2 reasons
Virginia’s constitution included a bill of rights
Several other states followed Virginia’s lead
STATE GOVERNMENTS
The Articles of Confederation
Delegates at Continental Congress believed colonies needed to be united by a national govt
States feared a large and powerful central government
PROCESSING: Why would states be fearful of a controlling, central government that had the power to tell them what to do and how to do it?
Continental Congress approved first American constitution (Articles of Confederation) in 1777 after MUCH DEBATE
Power of Congress
Each state sent 1 delegate to Congress = 1 vote per state
NO PRESIDENT to execute laws
NO POLICE/MILITARY to enforce the laws
NO SYSTEM OF COURTS to settle conflicts between states
PROCESSING: In looking at these 3 limitations, what is a potential problem with this system?
Weaknesses of the Confederation
Conflicts between states
Money problems
Virginia State Currency
Maryland State Currency
Northwest Ordinance
1787: set up government for Northwest Territory (Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Illinois, & Wisconsin)
Provided an example of a good way to admit new states to the nation
One of the only successes that stemmed from the Articles
Map of Northwest Territory, 1787
QuickTime™ and a decompressor
are needed to see this picture.
Shays’ Rebellion
Daniel Shays and 1,000 other farmers stormed courthouses in Massachusetts in a revolt against the mistreatment of the farmers
Constitutional Convention is Called
Congress realized the Articles were not successful
Constitutional Convention was called in Philadelphia in May 1787 to create a stronger, more structured constitution
HOMEWORK: Report out on this question:
“If you were attending the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia, what two goals would you have? Why are they important to you (as an American)? “