ANALYZING THE
ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
What are the Articles of
Confederation?

It was our nation’s first
Constitution that created our first
national government.

The Articles were adopted in
1777.

Final approval by the states
occurred in 1781.
What are the 2 problems that the
Founders faced when writing the Articles
of Confederation?



PROBLEM #1
People feared a strong national
government.
Felt that the king had taken away
people’s rights.
Citizens felt that people should be
close to the government so that
people controlled it and it did not
take away their rights.
Organization of the Articles of
Confederation.


SOLUTION #1
They created a weak government
with limited power and just one
branch called Congress.
Most of the powers of government
were with the states. The national
government had little power over the
states.
What are the 2 problems that the
Founders faced when writing the Articles
of Confederation?

PROBLEM #2
They feared that some states would have
more power in a national government than
other states.

Would each state have one vote?

Would states with greater population or
wealth have more votes than the other
states?
Organization of the Articles of
Confederation.


SOLUTION #2
Each state was given one vote in
Congress no matter size or
population.
On important matters, like declaring
war, nine states would have to
agree.
STRENGTHS OF THE ARTICLES
OF CONFEDERATION

It successfully waged the war for
independence against Great Britain.

It negotiated the Treaty of Paris to
end the American Revolution.
STRENGTHS OF THE ARTICLES
OF CONFEDERATION

It provided that each state recognize
the laws of the other states.

It passed the Northwest Ordinance of
1787 which allowed the northwestern
lands the right to organize their own
governments. Once this was done
they could be admitted as a new state
with the same rights as the other
colonies.
WEAKNESSES OF THE
ARTICLES OF CONFEDRATION

Congress had no money and it did
not have the power to raise money.

Congress had no power over the
state governments or their citizens.

Congress could not make the states
live up to trade agreements with other
nations.
WEAKNESSES OF THE
ARTICLES OF CONFEDRATION
• Congress had no power to regulate
trade among the states.
• Citizens thought that their property
rights were threatened.
SHAYS’ REBELLION





The national government was unable to
put down the rebellion.
People were asking how the country could
exist if it could not contain law and order.
States were invited to meet and discuss
the issues. Only 5 showed up so not
much could be done.
The final decision was to have a
convention in Philadelphia to revise the
Articles of Confederation.
This meeting led to the writing of the
Constitution.
TICKET OUT THE DOOR

List the 2 problems that founders
faced when writing the Articles of
Confederation and their solutions.

List 2 strengths of the Articles of
Confederation.

List 2 weaknesses of the Articles
of Confederation.