Chapter 2
Section 3
**1st Constitution
of the United
States**
• Approved by Congress on November 15, 1777.
• Established a “firm league of friendship” btwn the states.
• The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and
a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the
state governments. (CONFEDERATE GOVERNMENT)
• Did not go into effect immediately, needed to be ratified (Formal
approval) by each of the 13 states.
• MD was last to ratify on March 1, 1781  Date the Articles
became effective.
• The need for a stronger Federal government soon became
apparent and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention in
1787.
• Congress was the sole body created – unicameral.
• Each state had only one vote in Congress, regardless of pop.
• No executive or judicial branch.
• These functions were handled by Congress.
• Each year Congress would choose a member to be president.
• Would be a presiding officer and not president of the US.
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Make war and peace
Send and receive ambassadors
Make treaties
Borrow money from States
Set up a money system
Establish post offices
Maintain an army and navy
• Had to ask states for troops
• Fix uniform standards of weights and measures
• Settle disputes among the states
• By agreeing to the Articles the states pledged to obey the
Articles and acts of Congress.
• Promised to:
States promised to do these things for “Nation”
• Provide funds and troops requested by Congress.
• Treat citizens of other states fairly.
• Give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial
proceedings of every other state.
• Surrender fugitives from justice to one another.
• Settle disputes in Congress.
• Open travel and trade among the States.
• States retained powers not explicitly given to Congress.
• States were responsible for protecting life and property and
promoting “the safety and happiness of the people.”
• Articles were inadequate
• Congress did not have the power:
• To tax
• Could only borrow and ask the States for funds.
• Debts hadn’t been paid from Revolution.
• States did not meet the financial requests made by Congress.
• To regulate trade between States.
• To make the States obey the Articles or the laws it made.
• Congress could only exercise it’s powers if 9 of the 13 states
consented (70%).
• Articles could only be changed with the consent of all 13 states.
• Not easily changed...
• Did Not Establish an Executive Branch or a National Court
• No unity in policy!
• Laws were interpreted differently!
• Revolutionary war ended in 1781; victory confirmed with the Treaty
of Paris in 1783.
• States bickered and refused to support the new central government
and even made their own agreements with foreign governments.
• “We are one nation today and 13 tomorrow. Who will treat with us on such
terms?”  George Washington
• States taxed each other’s goods and banned some trade; Printed
own $$
• Economic chaos spread; Debts went unpaid; Violence broke out
• Shay’s Rebellion (MA) (https://youtu.be/1pbJHH9F9-Q)
• Small farmers began to lose their land and possession b/c of a lack of
payment on taxes.
• 1786  Daniel Shays led an armed uprising that forced state judges to close
their courts.
• Later he attacked a federal arsenal in MA.
• B/c of Rebellion, MA passed laws to ease burden of debtors.
• Those most threatened by economic and political instability –
large property owners, merchants, traders, and other creditors
– wanted to create a stronger, more effective gov’t.
• Mount Vernon Conference (1785)
• MD and VA took the first steps for change; They came together at Mount
Vernon (GW’s home) to resolve conflicts over commerce and navigation.
• Successful  Encouraged other states to join on a federal plan for
regulating commerce.
• Constitutional Convention (1787)
• Meeting in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation.
• Soon this became a meeting to create an entirely new kind of
government for the USA.
• Power would derive from a constitution.