TAKE OUT YOUR INB
• Turn to the page after the notes from
yesterday about the Articles of
Confederation
• Title the page: “A. of C. – Strengths and
Weaknesses”
Article of Confederation
Strengths and Weaknesses
The first
Constitution
of the United
States
Instructions
• Make an outline of your
hand on the assigned
page in you INB, but
turn it sideways as
shown
• Make an outline of your
fist
• Draw a chain on the
wrist of the fist
The Hand represents the Weaknesses
Shade the fingers
•
•
•
•
•
•
Pinky-Weak finger
Weak Central government
No Chief Executive
No National Court System
No Power to Draft Soldiers
No Power to Control Interstate
Commerce
No Power to Enforce Treaties
No Power to Collect Taxes from the
States
The Hand represents the Weaknesses
Shade the fingers
Ring Finger - Money
$27 million National Debt
• Federal government had
power to Borrow Money
• No power to Collect
Taxes from the States
• No national currency
The Hand represents the Weaknesses
Shade the fingers
Middle Finger
Border Disputes
• No National Court
System to settle
border and land
disputes
• No Judicial Branch
The Hand represents the Weaknesses
Shade the fingers
Pointer Finger
States pointing Blame
• States did not work
together as a country
• Difficult to Pass Laws
(2/3 vote)
• Difficult to Amend
(Unanimous Vote
Needed to Change
Articles)
The Hand represents the Weaknesses
Shade the fingers
Thumb Finger
No Respect
• Power to declare
war & establish an
army and navy but
can’t draft soldiers
• Power to sign
treaties but cannot
enforce them
Chain Represents Strengths
Northwest Land Ordinance
 Provided regulations and guidelines
for the Northwest Territory to be divided
into additional states such as Illinois, Ohio,
Indiana, Michigan, Wisconsin and parts of
Minnesota
 Slavery was outlawed
 Freedom of religion & trial by jury was
guaranteed
 60,000 men in an area, they could apply for
statehood
Fist represents the Exposure of the
A.O.C. Weaknesses
Shays Rebellion
• Massachusetts farmers fell into debt and their
property was seized as payment or they were
jailed
• Farmers asked the state for debt relief, state
refused so, led by Daniel Shays, they rebelled
• Shays’ 1500 men marched on a federal court
house ready to attack and shut down operations
• Although the militia finally put down the mob,
the rebellion exposed how weak the Articles of
Confederation really were