The Articles of Confederation

The Articles: powers to Congress1. make war and peace (sending/receiving

ambassadors and making treaties), 2. raise an army and navy (build a navy and

raising an army by asking the states for troops),

3. print money (set up a money system, fix uniform standards of weights and measures), and

4. set up a postal system.

Major weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation:

• No chief executive to enforce the laws

• No national court system• Could not collect taxes from individuals• No National Currency• No standing army

Failure of the AoC• Shay’s Rebellion (1787) a group

of Massachusetts farmers, lead by Daniel Shay, protested the rising taxes on land. They attacked a federal court house. – The revolt convinced many people

that the U.S. needed a stronger central government to prevent violence and disorder.

Solutions• To fix some of the problems with the AoC a

Constitutional Convention was called. At the convention the delegates threw out the AoC and created a new document called the Constitution.

– Constitution: a written plan of government• A document that outlines the powers and limitations

of government

– Bicameral: a legislature with two houses

The Articles of

Confederation

Vs. The

Constitution

Constitution:

• Provides a written framework for government.

• A plan or instruction manual of powers and restrictions for government

• Limits or restricts certain powers

Articles of Confederation

• The national government had no chief executive to carry out laws made by congress

• The President heads the executive branch of the government

• President enforces the laws.

Constitution

Articles of ConfederationNo national

courtsState courts

had jurisdiction within their state

Both national and state courts exist.

Depending on the case, some cases fall under state jurisdiction and others under federal.

Constitution

Articles of Confederation

Congress did not have the power to tax

Congress is given the power to tax

Constitution

Articles of ConfederationThere was no

national currency

Each state coined its own money

Common national currency

Only the national government has the power to make money

Constitution

Great or Connecticut CompromiseTopic: Representation in Congress

Large States:

• Virginia Plan• Large states

wanted representation by population

Small States:

• New Jersey Plan• Small states

wanted equal representation

The Great Compromise

•Bicameral legislature •equal representation =

–Senate (2 per state)•proportional representation =

–House (population)

(3/5 Compromise) Three/Fifths Compromise: Population

South• Southern states

wanted slaves to count in population counts– They were more

dependent on slavery.

North• Northern states

did not want slaves to count– They were less

dependent on slavery

3/5ths Compromise

• For the purposes of representation, five slaves would be counted as 3 free people

Commerce and Slave Trade Compromise

Opposing Sides Southern States Vs. Northern States

Each Side’s Position South: no taxes on tobacco exports, Congress not to interfere with slave tradeNorth: wanted the Constitution to be signed

Compromise Congress could not tax exports from any state or interfere with the slave trade for 20 years.

THINK:

• Which of the compromises would you say is most important to our government today?