Lesson Starter
So Colonist, ya gotcha yourself a
country……..NOW WHAT?!
 You are a delegate to the 2nd Continental
Congress
 Work with a desk partner to create one
law that you would propose to govern
your brand new country.
Why were the Articles of Confederation
so weak?
What we didn’t like about
the British. . .
• Taxation without
representation
• Large central government
(monarchy) had all the power
• States always had to listen to
the king
• All power was in the King’s
hands.
• King could change the
rules/laws any time
So the Articles of
Confederation…
• Federal government could not
tax
• States didn’t have to follow
laws and treaties.
• States had their own laws and
didn’t have to follow any other
states’ laws
• No executive branch or
national court system.
• Any amendment required all
13 states
What’s the Problem?
• Federal government could not tax; very difficult to
raise money.
• States didn’t have to follow laws and treaties.
• Each State had its own laws.
• No executive branch or national court system.
• Any amendment required all 13 states, so very
difficult to modify.
https://www.khanacademy.org/humanities/ushistory/road-to-revolution/creating-a-nation/v/the-articlesof-confederation
Textbook Read
Who has the power?
Taxation
States
Who has the power?
Military Defense
National
Who has the power?
Make Treaties
National
Who has the power?
Enforce Laws
States
Who has the power?
Amend the Articles
States
Who has the power?
Create Courts
States
Who has the power?
Provide $ for Military
States
Who has the power?
Appoint Representatives
States
Who has the power?
Settle Disputes between
the States
National
Inflation
A general increase in prices
and fall in the purchasing
value of money. (money
rapidly loses its value)
The government
Borrowed $
It printed more
money
It couldn't repay $
because it couldn’t
collect taxes