1779
The British…are NOT coming!
• What were some of the complaints that led the
colonists to declare independence and also
war?
• What would the colonists fear as they began to
set up a new government?
• What decisions would the colonists have to
make about forming a new government out of
13 colonies, which until 1776, had basically
been running themselves independently?
Objective: To examine the
formation of the Articles of
Confederation
Objective: To examine the
weaknesses of the Articles
of Confederation.
• By 1780 – well before the end of the war –
each colony has drawn up a plan for their
state government and adopted a
constitution
• After the end of the war, the US has NO
central government!
– The first attempt at a constitution for the United
States was called the Articles of
Confederation.
• In force from March 1, 1781, until March 4, 1789,
when the present Constitution went into effect.
The Articles of Confederation (1781)
• Founding fathers fearful of establishing a
government that was too powerful…
– Result: super weak government that cannot
unify the states
But
depended
on states to
donate
troops…
NO $$$
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…what is 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
• No 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 was
unicameral…what does this
mean?
• Laws were difficult to pass,
needing the approval of nine
states…what’s the impact?
Capitol Building
• Congress was responsible to the
states, not the people.
• Congress had no power to collect taxes,
regulate trade, coin money, or establish a
military.
Shay’s Rebellion
1. Which two groups were at odds with one
another in Massachusetts before the rebellion
occurred?
2. Why were farmers in a particularly difficult
situation following the war? Give me 2
reasons.
3. What buildings did farmers throughout
Massachusetts march on?
4. How did Shays’ Rebellion illustrate the
weakness of the new government of the US?
Shay’s Rebellion
1.
Which two groups were at odds with one another in
Massachusetts before the rebellion occurred?
– Merchants/government officials & farmers
2.
Why were farmers in a particularly difficult situation following
the war? Give me 2 reasons.
– Returned home from war with no money; heavy taxation of
property leads to economic despair
3.
What buildings did farmers throughout Massachusetts march
on?
– Debtor’s courts
4.
How did Shays’ Rebellion illustrate the weakness of the
Articles of Confederation?
– Inability to raise an army to put down internal unrest
– Also shows the inability of the central government to raise tax
dollars to fund the government (e.g. an army)
Shays’ Rebellion
August 1786 – February 1787
• Nearly 2,000 debtor farmers in western
Massachusetts were threatened with
foreclosure of their mortgaged property
because the state raised property taxes
• Although the rebels were defeated by the
state militia, they were victorious at the
polls.
• Significance: The Articles of Confederation
are NOT working!
I know I look like a
character from the
Broadway musical Cats
(written and directed by
Andrew Lloyd Webber),
but I will mess your day
up!
After the Articles of Confederation
FAIL…
• How should power be distributed between
states and the federal government for a
successful democracy?
• Define federalism…
– “The division of governmental powers between the
national and state governments."
5 Characteristics of Federalism
1. Legal authority divided between state and national
government's
2. The states are subordinate to the national government
in certain areas (define subordinate)
3. Enables positive cooperation between state and
national governments
4. The U.S. Supreme Court serves as legal arbiter
(define arbiter)
5. Dual citizenship exists under federalism - you’re a
citizen of PA and the USA.
And it’s not even your birthday!
• What’s the difference between these two
pieces of cake?
1. Dual Federalism
• “Layer" cake federalism
– State & Nat’l government separate.
– Nat’l government has a limited set of
constitutional powers.
– Tension rather than cooperation
– 1790s – 1930s
• Think about the fight that occurred
before/during the Civil War
DUAL
FEDERALISM
Federal or National
Government…located
where?
State & Local
Government…located
where?
2. Cooperative Federalism
• “Marble" cake federalism
• National, state, and local governments
interact cooperatively to solve common
problems,
• Make policies separately, but equally
COOPERATIVE
FEDERALISM
Federal or National
Government…located
where?
State & Local
Government…located
where?
And Now What???
• Count off by 5s
• Each group will receive an
envelop; do not open it until
I tell you!
• When I tell you…BEGIN!
• Describe the game you
devised.
• How you feel as you played.?
The Significance?
• In May of 1787, outstanding citizens from 12
states gathered in Philadelphia. They
planned to be there only a little while. They
had come to improve the Articles of
Confederation and try to create more unity
and cooperation among the states. Rhode
Island sent no representatives. How did
those men feel that May?
– Today, you used 12 paper clips. They
represent the patriots who came from the 12
states. The die represents luck and each day
that rolled around from May 25 to
September 17.
The Constitutional Convention
• You will each assume the identity of one of the 55
delegates at the Constitutional Convention
1. In class you will read the document “A More Perfect
Union” and answer the questions that follow.
2. You will also read your delegate’s biography and
create a Name Plate for Wednesday