The Articles of
Confederation
An alliance of the 13
states into a new
country.
Planning a New Government
• Americans rejected
•
British rule and
culture.
Americans needed
new political
organizations at
both the state and
national levels.
Planning a New Government
• In 1776, the Second Continental
•
Congress appointed a committee to
write a plan for a new national
government.
This committee was known as the
Confederation Committee.
What are the Articles of
Confederation?
• The Articles of
Confederation
were America’s
first formal plan
for a central,
national
government.
Planning a New Government
• “Articles” – sections of a treaty, a
•
contract, or a constitution (plan of
government)
“Confederation” – an alliance of states
or countries for a common purpose
– MacMillan School Dictionary 2, (1990)
What did the Articles of
Confederation say?
• The relationship between the states
was to be “a firm league of
friendship.”
• Each state would retain “its
sovereignty, freedom, and
independence.”
Watch this video clip about
the Articles of
Confederation.
Working with a
partner, read
the information
sheets and fill in
the Rights and
Responsibilities
Chart.
Structure of Government
• The new United States of America had
•
•
•
•
only one “branch” of government.
Congress had the sole authority to
govern the United States of America.
Each state could send 2 to 7 delegates
The Congress had a “president” who
managed meetings for a one-year term
There was NO national court system
Things Congress Could do
• The new national government was called
•
the “Confederation Congress.”
Congress had the authority to:
1. conduct foreign affairs (diplomacy)
2. maintain a military force (army +
navy)for the defense of the nation
3. declare war and make peace
Things Congress Could do
• The new national government was called
•
the “Confederation Congress.”
Congress had the authority to:
4. borrow money (from states, private
citizens + other countries)
5. issue currency (paper money +
coins)
Things Congress Could do
• The new national government was called
•
the “Confederation Congress.”
Congress had the authority to:
6. pass laws (9/13 states must agree)
7. manage western lands and make
treaties with Native Americans
8. establish a postal system for
communication
Things Congress Could NOT do
• Congress could not:
1. stop states from printing their own
money
2. regulate interstate and international
trade deals
3. impose taxes on the states or the
people of the USA
4. draft men into the army or navy
Things Congress Could NOT do
• Congress could not:
5. force states to send men into the
army or navy
6. create a president or king to control
the whole government
7. solve disputes between the states
8. force the states to obey the laws…
Things States Could do
• Each state could send a delegation to the
•
new Congress but had only one vote.
Each state had the authority to:
1. conduct trade w/states + countries
2. maintain a state militia
3. place taxes on people of that state
4. enforce/ignore laws of the Congress
5. anything not prohibited by Congress
Adopting The Articles
• The Continental Congress agreed to the
•
•
•
Articles in November 1777 and became
the “Confederation Congress.”
Each state had to vote individually to
adopt the Articles.
Articles were adopted in March 1781.
Articles stayed in effect about 9 years.
One Obvious Problem…
• The “United States”
•
•
was fighting a war
with Great Britain.
Congress could not
draft men into the
military.
Congress could not
tax the people or
states to raise money.
One Unforeseen Problem…
• States began to claim
•
•
land west of the
Appalachian Mtns.
Some states claimed
the same land…
mini-mercantilism
Created tension
between some states.
Articles Need an Overhaul
• Within a few years it was obvious that
the Articles had serious problems:
1. Congress had (very) limited power
2. every national law needed 9 votes to
pass (75%)
3. every change to the Articles needed
13 votes to pass (100%)
4. Congress had no money and was in
debt ($75 million)
Achievements of the Articles
• Despite its weaknesses, the Congress and
the Articles did accomplish three things:
1. They contributed to the
military victory over
the British, securing
Independence for the
United States of America.
Achievements of the Articles
2. They organized a
system to develop
new states in the
land west of the
Appalachian
Mountains.
Achievements of the Articles
3. They established
rules for an
official USA flag.
The Articles of
Confederation
An alliance of the 13
states into a new
country.