How was our nation’s
first constitution created
and why did it not work?
Lesson 11 Objectives
You should be able to explain why the
newly independent Americans created
their first national constitution and the
problems in government caused by it.
Lesson 11: Terms of
Importance
1.
2.
3.
national government – organizes leadership for the
entire country, trade among the States, relationships
among the States, and relations with foreign
countries.
Articles of Confederation – our nation’s first
constitution (1781-1787) that was written by a
committee led by John Dickinson of PA. It failed due
to many reasons but a weak national government
that had no power to enforce laws over the States
was the primary reason for its demise.
majority rule – more than half. A concept that is
controversial because when the majority pursue their
own self interest, it is at the cost of the minority;
therefore, if not regulated it just becomes another
form of tyranny.
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4. loyalists – people who were still loyal to the
king and England after the Revolutionary
War.
5. factions – a group of people who seek to
promote its own interest
6. Shays’ Rebellion – a dramatic rebellion in
MA, led by farmer and revolutionary veteran
Daniel Shays, that finally convinced many
people of the need for a stronger national
government. It convinced the leaders of the
States to call a meeting in Philadelphia
called the Constitutional Convention (1787).
The Creation of The Articles of
Confederation
1776 – 2nd Continental Congress appoints a
committee to be led by John Dickinson of PA
States argued for more than a year about what
type of central government would be created.
2 Major Fears Shaped the Articles
Fear of a national government that was too strong
Fear that some states would have more power than
others in the national government
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Fear 1: Overpowering National
Government
Once the war started versus Britain, it was like each state
was a separate nation with its own constitution and
government.
To the people at the time, their state was their country.
The Founders agreed that the nation needed a national
government.
They believed that most of the power should stay close to
home with the states because citizens could control it
better.
Many also feared a strong national government would
eventually lead to it taking rights from citizens.
The solution?
Create a weak national government
Fear 1: Overpowering National
Government
Weak National Government
The government created was unicameral.
No executive or judicial branch was created.
The Continental Congress had little power.
No power over any citizens
No power to collect taxes – it could only request money
from the states
Took at least 9 of 13 states to agree on a national law
for it to be approved (ex. war, money, etc…)
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Fear 2: Some state would dominate others
The Founders wanted to make sure the new
government could not threaten their state’s
interest.
They feared that more wealthy and populated
states would dominate the other states.
Solution?
All states would receive 1 vote in Congress regardless
of population or wealth.
Articles of Confederation
Approved in 1781 and served as our nation’s first
constitution until 1788.
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Problems caused by the
weaknesses
No money or power to get it
1.
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•
•
•
Congress had to rely on contributions from states to
operate.
No power to force states to live up to their promises.
States promised to give $10 million but only gave $1.5
million
Congress was forced to borrow money to pay for the
war.
Problem #2
2. No power of the state governments and their
citizens
No power to regulate the people’s behavior
Loyalists remained in the U.S. but Congress could
not protect their rights
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Problem #3
3. Unenforceable trade agreements
Congress had the power to make treaties and
trade agreements with other countries but no
power to force states to honor them.
Some Americans imported from other nations and
then refused to pay.
U.S. gets a bad name.
Problem #4
4. Unfair competition among the states
Some states forbid their citizens to sell or buy from
neighboring states.
State printed their own money and refused to
accept some of their neighbors currency.
Caused people to lose jobs and live in poverty
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Problem #5
5. Threats to citizens’ right to property
Factions formed in state legislatures
They passed laws that cancelled debts, took land
from loyalists and others.
Many began to argue that majority rule was
being used to benefit one class of people at
the expense of common welfare.
Shays’ Rebellion and seeds of change
Nov. 1786 – farmers led by Daniel Shays lead a
rebellion against banks and the MA government.
Why?
Factions were taking people’s property unfairly and
jailing them.
MA asked Congress for troops and help.
Congress was unable to help.
The rebellion was eventually put down after
several weeks.
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Seed of Change
Shays Rebellion caused state leaders to recognize
the weaknesses and the dangerous situation the
Articles caused.
It led them to call for a Constitutional Convention to
be held in Philadelphia, PA in the summer of 1787
to fix the problems caused by the Articles.
George Washington wrote to James Madison
concerning the rebellion, “ We are either a united
people or we are not. If the former, let us act as a
nation. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by
pretending to it.”
Lesson 11 Review
1.
2.
The Articles of Confederation showed its
writers’ fears of a strong national
government and left most important powers
to the states. What important powers were
denied the national government by the
Articles?
Why do you suppose the smaller states
were satisfied with the government set up
by the Articles?
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Lesson 11 Review
3. The Articles of Confederation demonstrated
a distrust of a strong national government.
Many people today share this attitude toward
national power. Do you believe it’s justified?
Why?
4. What are “factions”? Explain why they were
considered a problem for the American
government in the 1780s. What organized
groups exist today that the Founders would
call factions?
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