10/8/2014-10/9/2014 Class Notes (4th Period)
Articles of Confederation
Overview:
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Written in 1776
Finished in 1777
Ratified in 1781
Provided a temporary government during and immediately after the Rev. War
Specific Notes:
1) Language used in the Articles of Confederation:
 Article 1: “confederacy”—the states are united, but not ONE
 Article 1: “united” –sounds like the states will be friends
 Article 2: “Confederation” if the congress doesn’t say or make rules the states take
control on their own.
 Article 2: “retain”—states KEEP their rights, unless it’s EXPLICITLY stated
 Article 3: “league of friendship” they protect and defend one another
 Article 4: “ingress”- act of going in or entering
 Article 4: “magistrates” –a civil officer charged with the administration of the law
 Article 6: “prohibited” not allowed
 Article 7: “needed”- troops only when necessary
2) Powers given to the central government under the Articles:
 Article 6: power to approve treaties and war with foreign countries
 Article 8, Article 12: Congress controls money
 Article 11: Canada can join, otherwise you need 9/13 to decide
 Article 13: States have to obey the rules
 Article 9: Peace and war decisions
 Article 9: Central gov’t settles arguments among states (e.g. borders)
 Article 9: Congress coins money (states can’t have their own money)
 Article 9: Congress can appoint officers/committees as needed
 Article 9: President will be for one year only
 Article 9: Congress can make a navy and an army
 Article 9: Only white people count
3) Powers given to the states under the Articles:
 Article 1: states have power—it’s a confederation (alliance) of individual states
 Article 2: If the congress doesn’t say or make rules, the states take control on their
own.
 Article 4:allowed in and out of states
 Article 5: power to have representatives for your state when having nation meetings
 Article 6:Can trade but only with permission from central government
 Article 6: If you’re invaded, you can engage in war before asking Congress
 Article 7: power to appoint officers when needed
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Article 10: You need 9/13 states to get anything passed
Article 13: States have to agree if we change the rules
Analysis:
STRENGTHS:
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States are nominally (in name only) united
Congress makes treaties and can declare war
All states are represented in Congress
Congress makes money (each state doesn’t have its own)
It’s a republic, not a monarchy
WEAKNESSES:
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Need 9/13 states to approve anything
President only serves one year
Executive is weak
“Confederacy” is weak—just a “League of friends”
Only white people are counted in terms of population
States keep too much power
Congress is too weak
No system of national courts
10/8/2014 Notes (8th Period)
Articles of Confederation
Overview:




Written in 1776
Finished in 1777
Ratified in 1781
Provided a temporary government during and immediately after the Rev. War
Specific Notes:
1) Language used in the Articles of Confederation:









Article 1: “confederacy” –alliance, partnership of states—this shows that the states
are together, but not entirely united?
Article 1: “United States”—not one country?
Article 2: “sovereignty”—quality or state of being
Article 3: “league of friendship” –states are friends
Article 4: “impositions and restrictions”- there will be laws and taxes
Article 5: “Legislature and delegates”- implies the new government will not be a
monarchy
Article 6: Everything needs to be approved by congress.
Article 8: “defrayed” –to pay for. States within the country agree to pay off debts
caused by war. A certain time frame and payments are made by the
government
Article 11: “equal footing” – Being able to join the US and the choices they make, do
they have ALL of the same rights as us w/ out being questioned or second guessed?
2) Powers given to the central government under the Articles:
 Article 4-: there will be taxes and restrictions
 Article 5:- there will be a congress with delegates from each state
 Article 6: Basically everything needs to be approved by congress (war and treaties)
 Article 8: central government (Congress) decides about $/debts
 Article 9: Congress decides on war/peace
 Article 9: Congress makes treaties
 Article 9: Congress settles disputes among the states
 Article 9: Congress makes money (states can’t make their own money)
 Article 9: Congress decides on land issues/borders
 Article 9: Congress appoints other officers as necessary
 Article 9: President serves for one year only
 Article 9: Only Congress can borrow $
 Article 9: Congress makes an army/navy
 Article 9: Only white people count as people
 Article 11: - Powers given to the central government is, they have the right to give
permission to outside countries to join the US.
 Article 12: Central governments are responsible for paying the debts of the war, even
after the Articles of Confederation.
 Article 13: states have to follow the rules
 Article 13: Central government has the right to confirm alterations
3) Powers given to the states under the Articles:
 Article 1: States have power, because it’s part of the name of the country
 Article 2: Any powers that are not given to congress are given to the states.
 Article 3: If any state is attacked, the other states will help
 Article 4: there will be someone (an officer) in charge of the state there will be court
proceeding
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Article 5: all states will be represented
Article 10: states are in power (only 9 have to attend)
Article 13: States power is to accept all decisions and questions of the US congress,
every state has to confirm alterations
Analysis:
STRENGTHS:
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



States are nominally (in name only) united
Congress makes treaties and can declare war
All states are represented in Congress
Congress makes money (each state doesn’t have its own)
It’s a republic, not a monarchy
WEAKNESSES:








Need 9/13 states to approve anything
President only serves one year
Executive is weak
“Confederacy” is weak—just a “League of friends”
Only white people are counted in terms of population
States keep too much power
Congress is too weak
No system of national courts