Creating the Constitution
The Articles of Confederation
• During the Revolution, the
new United States needed a
functioning government
• Modeled after colonial
governments
• States would retain
sovereignty
• Founders were fearful of
concentrated power due to
past experience with the
British
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A Limited Government
• Ratified in 1781
• Articles established a “firm
league of friendship” among
the states
• Bills were passed on nine of
thirteen votes
• Amending the Articles took
unanimous consent of the
states
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Structure of Government
• Unicameral (single house)
legislative body
• Each state had one vote
regardless of population size
• Congress given sole
authority to govern the
country
• An executive committee
oversaw government when
Congress was not in session
• Congress would establish
temporary courts to hear
disputes among the states
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Powers Granted to Government
under the Articles of Confederation
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Declare war and make peace
Make treaties with foreign countries
Establish an army and navy
Appoint high-ranking military officials
Requisition, print, and borrow money
Establish weights and measures
Hear disputes among the states related to trade or boundaries
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Powers Denied to Government
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No power to raise funds for an army or navy
No power to tax, impose tariffs, or collect duties
No executive branch to enforce laws
No power to control trade among the states
No power to force states to honor obligations
No power to regulate the value of currency
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Accomplishments of the Articles
of Confederation
• Negotiated the Treaty of
Paris with Britain in 1783
• Established the Northwest
Ordinance of 1787
Map of the land settled in the
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
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Why were the Articles of Confederation
so weak?
What we didn’t like about
the British. . .
• Taxation without
representation
• Large central government
(monarchy) had all the power
• States always had to listen to
the king
• All power was in the King’s
hands.
• King could change the
rules/laws any time
So the Articles of
Confederation…
• Federal government could not
tax
• States didn’t have to follow
laws and treaties.
• States had their own laws and
didn’t have to follow any other
states’ laws
• No executive branch or
national court system.
• Any amendment required all
13 states
What’s the Problem?
• Federal government could not tax; very difficult to
raise money.
• States didn’t have to follow laws and treaties.
• Each State had its own laws.
• No executive branch or national court system.
• Any amendment required all 13 states, so very
difficult to modify.
Gain a grasp of the general provisions outlined by the Articles of
Confederation. What changes could you suggest to solve the basic problems
facing the national government created by the document? Consider the
government's inability to tax, to regulate commerce, to enforce laws, or to
amend problems in the Articles.
Imagine you are representing a state at the Annapolis Convention, which
was called in 1786 to revise the Articles. Craft a brief, one-to-twoparagraph amendment to solve one or more of the Articles' problems. Use
the following outline to shape your proposed amendment.
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Problem in the Articles of Confederation
Proposed amendment
How it will fix the problem