The Articles of Confederation America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

The first system of government designed by the Founding Fathers was a Confederation. Under a Confederate

system, the National or Central Government is given only a few powers, while most of the power is reserved for

the States.

Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan of

government?

Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution?

The Articles of Confederation America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

The Articles had 2 major achievements:

1)Bringing the Revolutionary War to a successful conclusion

2) North West Ordinance (plan for governing the western lands)

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

Declare War &Establish an Army/Navy

No Power to Draft Soldiers

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

Make Peace & Sign Treaties

No Power to Enforce Treaties

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

Borrow Money No Power to Collect Taxes

from the States

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

Organize a Post Office

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

No Chief Executive

No national court system

No Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce

No National Currency

Difficult to Pass laws (2/3 vote)

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

America’s 1st Constitution 1781-1789

Difficult to Amend

(unanimous vote needed to change the

articles)

The Articles of Confederation

• Congress given the power to:

• Declare War• Make Peace• Sign Treaties• Borrow Money • Establish an Army &

Navy• Organize a Post

Office

• 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• Difficult to Pass Laws (2/3 vote)• No National Currency• Difficult to Amend • (Unanimous Vote Needed to

Change Articles)

Conclusion

They feared that a strong central government would create tyranny, and stamp out the peoples natural

God given rights.

Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan

of government?

ConclusionWhy Did the Founding Fathers

believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution?

The nation needed to function as ONE united country & not 13 small

unorganized nations.Shay’s rebellion proved the need

to strengthen the government.

Northwest Ordinance

• Created the Northwest territory

• Important because:

• Set up system for how new states could enter the Union

• Banned slavery

Land Ordinances

• The Northwest Land Ordinance, 1787, established for –dividing the land into territories

–Electing an assembly–Admission of new states

Land Ordinances

• Sections of land were reserved for churches, with some sold for a minister’s salary

• Sect. 16 was set aside for schools

• 2-3 were set aside to sell for revenue

• Land with water was more valuable