5.1 Articles of Confederation
MAIN IDEA
Americans adopted the Articles of
Confederation but find the new
government too weak to solve the
nation’s problems.
WHY IT MATTERS NOW
The weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation led to the writing of
the Constitution.
CA Standards
• 8.2.2 Analyze the Articles of Confederation and
the Constitution and the success of each in
implementing the ideals of the Declaration of the
Independence.
• 8.3.1 Analyze the principles and concepts
codified in state constitution between 1777 and
1781 that created the context out of which
American political institutions and ideas
developed.
• 8.3.2 Explain how the ordinances of 1785 and
1787 privatized national resources and
transferred federally owned lands into private
holdings, townships, and states.
• 8.3.5 Know the significance of
domestic resistance movement and
ways in which the central government
responded to such movement (e.g.,
Shay’s Rebellion, the Whiskey
Rebellion).
• 8.9.3 Describe the significance of the
Northwest Ordinance in education
and in the banning of slavery in the
new states north of the Ohio River.
Daily Guided Questions DGQs
1. Why did many states’ new
constitutions include a bill of rights?
2. What were the strengths and
weakness of the government under
the Articles of Confederation?
3. How did Shay’s Rebellion prove the
weakness of the government under
the Articles of Confederation?
Colonies to States
• Self-governing
-allegiance to
their colony.
-continues when
they become
states.
State Constitutions
• Constitution, a document stating
the rules under which a
government will operate.
• Limits the power of leaders.
• Guarantee specific rights; stress
liberty, not equality.
-Only white males can vote;
sometimes have to own property.
Protecting Rights
• Virginia Bill of Rights
-Protected freedoms/individual rights
-Religion
-Press
-Limits on Arrest
-Limits searches
-Trial by Jury
-No cruel or unusual punishments
Reflect and Share
• Take a minute to answer the first
DGQ.
• Then share the answer with your
partner.
• Add/Change your answer.
1. Why did many states’ new
constitutions include a bill of
rights?
Primary Source pg. 618
• Turn to pg. 618.
• Read Thomas Jefferson, Virginia
Statute for Religious Freedom.
• Answer the three questions at the
end.
• For the third questions go to page
114.
Answers
1. “Civil rights have no
dependence on our religious
opinions…” it shouldn’t affect it.
2. Freedom to worship is a right
that no government can take
away.
3. The First Amendment allows for
freedom of religion.
Articles of Confederation, 1777
• Alliance between the thirteen colonies
-Help win the war and create treaty.
• Placed limits on government to
prevent abuses of power
-No executive branch (No President)
-No judicial branch (No Supreme Court)
-No central government or national
unity, separate states
-Each state had one vote, regardless of
pop.
Limited Central Government
• Dealing with foreign nations and Native
Americans.
-Declare war, but couldn’t raise an army.
• Congress couldn’t enact or collect taxes,
states only.
-Couldn’t regulate trade.
-Had to borrow money from the states.
• Articles could be amended only if all states
approve them
-Nine out of thirteen states could pass
important laws
-Couldn’t enforce the laws it passed.
Reflect and Share
• Take a minute to answer the
second DGQ.
• Then share the answer with your
partner.
• Add/Change your answer.
2. What were the strengths and
weakness of the government under
the Articles of Confederation?
Western Lands
• States had to give up claims to
western territories.
• Land Ordinance of 1785
-Creates plan for surveying and
selling western lands.
-Set up townships
-Sections for schools
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
• Plan for creating
territories and
statehood.
-Set up basic rights.
-Banned slavery.
-Set up basic
government.
-pop. 60,000 could
apply for statehood.
National Problems
• Lack of unity.
• Economic depression
• Huge war debt.
-Domestic and foreign.
• Creditors favor high taxes.
-Farmers lose land and livestock.
• Currency, more or less?
Foreign Relations Problems
• Don’t pay debts to
British merchants.
-British won’t leave forts
on Great Lakes.
• 1784, Spain close
Mississippi river.
-Westerners can’t ship
crops east.
• Congress unable to
resolve problems.
Shay’s Rebellion
• Proved weakness of
A.o.Confederation.
• 1786-1787, Daniel
Shay organizes
farmers.
-Farmers are losing
farms.
• G. Washington calls for
a stronger national
government.
Reflect and Share
• Take a minute to answer the third
DGQ.
• Then share the answer with your
partner.
• Add/Change your answer.
3. How did Shay’s Rebellion prove
the weakness of the government
under the Articles of
WHAT/WHY IMPORTANT/AS A RESULT
• Define the following vocabulary
words using the What/Why
Important/ As A Result format.
1.Constitution
2.Bill of Rights
3.Executive
Study Guide pg. 36
• Copy and complete the above
study guide.
• Use your notes and textbook
pages 78-85 to complete it.