From the Articles of Confederation to
The Constitution:
U.S. History
Changes in Government
• During the Revolution the Second
Continental Congress asked the
colonies to establish new State
Constitutions.
• Most defined Executive Power,
discussed voting rights, and created
the separation of church and state.
• Most had a bill of rights.
• Look at the list of grievances in the
Declaration of Independence
• What rights do you think were
included in these new bill of rights?
The Republic of America
• Republic: A form of Government in which the
leaders get the power to rule from the citizens.
• Who was very influential in the republican
idea that citizens allow themselves to be ruled
so that their property is protected?
• What are other examples of Republican
thought in America?
Articles of Confederation:
• Central Government: unify the colonies
• The states were not willing to give up their own
powers to a central government.
• Why would the colonies be intimidated by the
thought of having a strong central government?
• Plan for a “perpetual union” the Articles of
Confederation were adopted on Nov. 15, 1777.
Provisions of the Articles:
• The Articles created a loose
confederation of independent
states that gave limited powers
to a central government.
• The government would consist
of a single house of Congress,
where each state would get one
vote.
• Small states vs. Big States.
Provisions of the Articles
• Congress had the power to set up a postal
department, to raise armed forces, and to control
the development of the western territories.
• The central government could also estimate the
costs of the government and request donations
from the states.
Provisions of the Articles:
• With the consent of nine of
the thirteen states, Congress
could also coin, borrow, or
appropriate money as well as
declare war and enter into
treaties -and alliances with
foreign nations.
• Do you see anything that
could lead to problems for
the new Government?
The Problem of Land:
• The states with claims of
frontier land wanted to control
as much land as they could.
• The states with no frontier
claims wanted the government
to sell the territories so that all
states would profit.
• The states finally agree to give
control of all western lands to
the federal government.
• These lands will now be
divided and sold.
Other Problems of the Articles
• Congress was denied the power to levy taxes.
• Any amendment to the articles required the
unanimous approval of all 13 states.
• The weak central government had an inability to
regulate trade
• The government could not pay off the debts from the
revolution; including paying soldiers who had fought
in the war.
Shays’ Rebellion:
• In 1786, the Massachusetts legislature placed
a tax on land.
• Unable to make money off his crops, Shays
was angry because farms were being shut
down and auctioned off.
• The former Revolutionary Captain Daniel
Shays leads 1,200 farmers to seize the
federal arsenal.
• The rebellion was put down but it raised
questions about how well the Articles could
deal with civil issues, and people began to
call for more central power.
+
Articles
-
Government is in place to
allow us to win the war
No power to tax
A weak Government
holds the very fragile
country together.
Gives the government
many important powers
Coining money causes
inflation
Leads to the Constitution
Very inactive government
Central Government is
too weak
Questions to Answer:
• Why do you think the
colonists wanted
independence?
• Why did the Articles
of Confederation have
to be abandoned?
• Why did Shays’
Rebellion scare people
so badly?
Leaders of the Constitutional Convention