TAKE OUT YOUR INB

• Turn to the page after the notes from yesterday about the Articles of Confederation

• Title the page: “A. of C. – Strengths and Weaknesses”

Article of ConfederationStrengths and Weaknesses

The first Constitution of the United

States

Instructions

• Make an outline of your hand on the assigned page in you INB, but turn it sideways as shown

• Make an outline of your fist

• Draw a chain on the wrist of the fist

The Hand represents the WeaknessesShade the fingers

Pinky-Weak fingerWeak Central government

• No Chief Executive• No National Court System• No Power to Draft Soldiers• No Power to Control Interstate

Commerce• No Power to Enforce Treaties• No Power to Collect Taxes from the

States

The Hand represents the WeaknessesShade the fingers

Ring Finger - Money$27 million National Debt• Federal government had

power to Borrow Money • No power to Collect

Taxes from the States• No national currency

The Hand represents the WeaknessesShade the fingers

Middle FingerBorder Disputes

• No National Court System to settle border and land disputes

• No Judicial Branch

The Hand represents the WeaknessesShade the fingers

Pointer FingerStates pointing Blame

• States did not work together as a country

• Difficult to Pass Laws (2/3 vote)

• Difficult to Amend (Unanimous Vote Needed to Change Articles)

The Hand represents the WeaknessesShade the fingers

Thumb FingerNo Respect

• Power to declare war & establish an army and navy but can’t draft soldiers

• Power to sign treaties but cannot enforce them

Chain Represents Strengths Northwest Land OrdinanceProvided regulations and guidelines for the Northwest Territory to be divided into additional states such as Illinois, Ohio, Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota Slavery was outlawedFreedom of religion & trial by jury was guaranteed 60,000 men in an area, they could apply for

statehood

Fist represents the Exposure of the A.O.C. Weaknesses

Shays Rebellion• Massachusetts farmers fell into debt and their

property was seized as payment or they were jailed

• Farmers asked the state for debt relief, state refused so, led by Daniel Shays, they rebelled

• Shays’ 1500 men marched on a federal court house ready to attack and shut down operations

• Although the militia finally put down the mob, the rebellion exposed how weak the Articles of Confederation really were