America’s
First
Attempt at
Government
Albany Plan of Union
• Ben Franklin created and it was
modeled after the Iroquois
Confederacy
• united colony in NY
• Not approved, 1st attempt to unite
colonies
• used as model for our basic federal
laws
What group created the
Articles of Confed.?
• Continental
Congress
When were the Articles to
go into effect?
• March 1, 1781
(before the end of
the Revolution)
How were members of
Congress chosen?
• by their state legislatures
How many reps per state?
• 2 to 7
How many votes per
state?
• ONE
Did the Articles set up a
strong national govt.?
• NO
How did the states view
themselves after the
Revolution?
• Sovereign
• Free and
independent from
one another
– Ex: Nullification &
John C. Calhoun = a
legal way for a
state to void a fed.
law
Why did the states NOT
want a strong national govt.?
• strong loyalties to own states
• did not want to give up freedoms
• fought to free themselves from
strong federal government
What powers did Congress
NOT have, under the
Articles?
•
•
•
•
•
No courts
No power to tax
No army
No trade regulations
No executive branch
What things did states do
that caused problems, during
the Articles?
•
•
•
•
Printed its own money$$$
Had their own armies and navies
Taxed each other’s goods
Refused to obey Congress’ laws
Why did Hamilton call for
a convention in
Philadelphia?
• To discuss amending (fixing) the
Articles of Confederation
What was Shay’s
Rebellion?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3ImIEcsTEVo
• Farmers rose up against the state govt.
of Massachusetts because they could
not pay their debts.
– Punishment for not paying debt: JAIL
– Rebellion put down
• Sent a “wake up call” – shows the
Articles needed to be changed.
• Fed. govt needed to be stronger to
avoid future rebellions
SUMMARY
QUIZ TIME
• 1. Which founding father created
the Albany Plan of Union?
–
–
–
–
A. Thomas Jefferson
B. Alexander Hamilton
C. Ben Franklin
D. John Adams
• 2. When did the Articles of
Confederation go into effect?
– A. Before the end of the Revolution
– B. After the Revolution was won
• 3. Which level of government did the
Articles of Confederation give the
most power to?
– A. State (Localized)
– B. Federal (National)
• 4. Which framer called for a
Convention in Philadelphia to fix the
Articles of Confederation?
–
–
–
–
A. Thomas Jefferson
B. Alexander Hamilton
C. Ben Franklin
D. John Adams
• 5. Which group of people followed
Shay in rebellion against penalties
imposed on them by the state of
Massachusetts’ war debt?
–
–
–
–
A. Politicians
B. Lawyers
C. Farmers
D. Doctors