Created by Mr. Steve Hauprich for acceleration and remediation of US History students
The Articles of Confederation
The transitional Constitution of the
13 United States of America
The 2nd Continental Congress
declared US independence
in 1776
13 Independent States were
writing their own Constitutions
with legislatures, governors,
and independent court systems.
In 1777 The Continental Congress
drafted a national constitution
without a court system or
an executive branch…
The Articles of Confederation
Article by Article # I – XIII …
it would provide a
weak central government…
loose union of states…
alliance of states…
league of states…
CONFEDERATION
Article 2 . Each State retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence,
and every power, jurisdiction and right …
Preamble
Article I - Style
Article II - States Rights
Article III - Mutual defense
Article IV - Laws of other states to be abided; extradition
Article V - The Legislature
Article VI - Rights denied the States
Article VII - Appointment of military officers
Article VIII - United States to pay for defense; taxes
Article IX - Rights granted the Federal Government
Article X - Committee of States
Article XI - Canada may join the United States
Article XII - Assumption of debt
Article XIII - Articles are Supreme Law, amendment
The Articles of Confederation
would help the 13 States
cooperate to win
Independence…
but were not intended to impose
national laws upon
independent states
This was a “revolutionary” document
which reflected a distrust
for strong central government…
independence of states and citizens
would best be served by
less government…
…more liberty!
In 1781 The Articles of Confederation
were finally ratified by the
13 United States of America.
Although the Articles of Confederation
were limited in their power over
States and Citizens…
significant accomplishments
deserve acknowledgement
•securing alliances with France, Holland, Spain, and Russia
•1783 Treaty of Paris…territories to the Mississippi River
•Land Ordinance of 1785 and 1787 Northwest Ordinance
Historians assert that the USA needed
the alliance with France
(the French Navy and Army)
to achieve the victory
at Yorktown in 1781.
The 1783 Treaty of Paris
gave the fledgling USA
immense territorial possessions
The 13 states had
competing territorial
claims to these lands in the
west…
…a national solution
was needed
The new territories would be carved
into new states = to the original 13
…they would have their own constitutions
…they could make their own laws
These new states would provide
order and security for Americans
to prosper in these new
frontier lands…
…north of the Ohio River
there would be no slavery
in the territories and
new states
Each territory and new state would provide for
towns, school districts, road construction,
and militias for their defense.
The 1780’s were critical years in
the early history of the USA
A new NATION was established on
the principles of liberty
January 16, 1786 the State of Virginia
declares it will stay out of
religious matters
entirely
The 13 United States had
established a framework
for orderly growth and expansion…
a REPUBLIC without a monarch
___1. The Articles of Confederation created a
1 republic with a chief executive
2 strong central government
3 government with legislative and judicial branches
4 league of free and independent states
___2. Which governmental problem occurred under the Articles of
Confederation?
1 Congress constantly overrode the President's vetoes.
2 The Supreme Court issued a series of unenforceable decisions.
3 The states frequently did not cooperate with each other.
4 The President often ignored the advice of his Cabinet.
___3. Which statement best describes governmental power under the Articles
of Confederation?
(1) Power was shared equally by the central government and the
states.
(2) A balance of power existed between the three branches of the
central government.
(3) A strong chief executive headed a unified central government.
(4) The states had much greater power than the central government.
___4. The lack of a national executive and judiciary under the Articles of
Confederation suggests that the founders of the American republic
(1) risked tyranny for the sake of effective national government
(2) copied the British constitution
(3) prized national unity above the sovereignty of the states
(4) feared a strong central government
____5. The United States Constitution would later correct a weakness of
the Articles of Confederation by
(1) creating three branches of government
(2) giving greater power to state governments
(3) providing a clear definition of states’ rights
(4) granting the right to vote to all white males
___6. The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 was important because it
(1) ensured universal suffrage for all males
(2) extended slavery north of the Ohio River
(3) provided a process for admission of new states to the Union
(4) established reservations for Native American Indians
___7. What was an important accomplishment of the central government under
the Articles of Confederation?
(1) elimination of debts from the Revolutionary War
(2) removal of all British troops from North America
(3) formation of a national policy relating to Native American Indians
(4) development of guidelines for the admission of new states into the Union
___8. A republican form of government is described as one in which
(1) there is a two-party system
(2) representatives are elected by the people
(3) elected officials have limited terms
(4) government power is limited by checks and balances