Articles of
Confederation
New Country
 New Country, New Thoughts
The Articles of Confederation (1781) - the first central
government of the United States
Congress was a unicameral legislature with delegates, or
representatives, from each state.
- The main power of Congress involved foreign affairs.
- All 13 states had to agree on all amendments.
- 9 of the 13 states had to agree on all federal laws.
* Under the Articles of Confederation, the states had
more power than the federal government.
Examples: taxation and law enforcement
* The Articles of Confederation had a weak federal
government on purpose because they were afraid
of their experiences with the British monarchy and
Parliament.
United States of America
Articles of
Confederation
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
I. Currency Issues
• The United States did not have a common currency.
• Americans carried money from
the federal government, state
government, and foreign nations.
• Merchants stopped accepting money from outside of their
own state, causing a lot of money to become worthless.
• This caused an increase in inflation.
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
II. Debt
• Congress could not tax the people and depended on money
from the states.
• Therefore, the U.S. was unable to pay its debts!
Examples:
- The U.S. owed money to France, Holland, and Spain for
loans made during the Revolutionary War.
- The U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers!
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
III. International and Domestic Problems
• The U.S. lacked the
military power to defend
itself against Great Britain
and Spain.
• States acted as
individual countries and
seldom agreed.
Example:
- Connecticut and Virginia
almost went to war over
land claims!
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Courts (Judicial Branch)
• The nation lacked a
national court system.
Supreme Court
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
President (Executive Branch)
• The nation did not have a
President, or Chief Executive.
White House
Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
Congress (Legislative Branch)
• Congress had one house. (unicameral)
• Laws were difficult to pass, needing the
approval of nine states.
• Congress was responsible to the states, not
the people.
• Congress had no power to collect taxes,
regulate trade, coin money, or establish a
Capitol
Capitol Building
military.
Building
Shays’ Rebellion
• Farmer’s income
decreased while taxes
increased.
• Farmers who could not
pay their debts had their
farms taken away by the
courts.
Massachusetts farmer
Daniel Shays and his
supporters occupy a
Massachusetts courthouse.
• Therefore, in 1786, Daniel Shays led a group of farmers in
an attempt to capture a federal arsenal.
Men Fighting
During Shays'
Rebellion
• The U.S., without an organized army, was powerless.
Massachusetts sent a militia to stop the rebellion.
Shays Rebellion
 It happens like this....
• Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that the U.S.
needed a new, stronger government.
• The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced!
The 2nd Constitution Convention:
Lets try that again
Constitutional Convention
(Philadelphia, 1787)
- George Washington was elected president of the Convention.
Virginia Plan
- It called for a
bicameral
legislature, in
which the number
of representatives
in each house
would depend on
the population of
the state.
New Jersey Plan
- Both plans
called for a
strong
national
government
with 3
branches.
- It called for a
unicameral
legislature, in
which every state
received one vote.
Virginia Plan
- It called for a
bicameral legislature,
in which the number
of representatives in
each house would
depend on the
population of the
state.
New Jersey Plan
- Both plans
called for a
strong
national
government
with 3
branches.
- It called for a
unicameral
legislature, in
which every state
received one vote.
Great Compromise
• It provided for a bicameral Congress.
A. House of Representatives – each state is represented
according to its population (satisfied the VA Plan)
B. Senate – each state has 2 Senators (satisfied the NJ Plan)
* Both houses of Congress must pass every law.
Three-Fifths
Compromise
• In order to
determine the
population of
a state, only 3
out of every 5
slaves would
be counted.
Checks and Balances: The Balance of Power in the
US Government
Supreme Court
Executive Branch
Oh, yeah! I’m
the President!
It feels good
being the most
powerful
person in the
world!
Judicial Branch
Supreme Court
Hey, Mitch, does
this guy think that
the Executive
Branch
hasknow,
all the
I don’t
power?
John,
but I think
we ought to give
him a check that
he’ll never forget!
Legislative
Branch: Congress
Yes! It’s a part of our
responsibilities!
Ummm…was it
Okay. But
remember
necessary
to check
that
I’ve
got a few
me
that
hard?
checks of my own, and
I’m ready to use them!
Who else is going
to put a check on
your power?
Checks and Balances
Executive Branch /
President
Legislative Branch /
Congress
Schoolhouse Rock – “I’m Just a Bill”
Checks and Balances
Executive Branch /
President
Judicial Branch /
Courts
Checks and Balances
Judicial Branch /
Courts
Legislative Branch /
Congress