UNIT TWO:
LESSON EIGHT
What were the Articles of Confederation, and why
did some Founders want to change them?
Vocabulary
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1) Define the terms
2) Use each term in a sentence to show your
understanding. (Underline the vocabulary word)
Antifederalists
Ex Post Facto
Proportional Representation
Articles of Confederation
Federal System
Ratification
Bill of Attainder
Federalists
Separated Powers
Bill of Rights
Great Compromise
Shared Powers
Constitutional Convention
Majority Tyranny
Supremacy Clause
Electoral College
Necessary & Proper Clause Tariff
How and Why the Articles of
Confederation were created
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The United States needed a federal government
plan, a written constitution
A Union or “CONFEDERATION” was necessary to
manage economic and political issues
The Founders wrote the “ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION which would form a political
organization between sovereign states to give a
central government powers to deal with specific
purposes
Problems with the
Articles of Confederation

Fear of a strong central government
 To
the people, their state was their country and all eligible voters
could have a voice in their government
 Their government was close enough that most citizens could
participate in government activities
 Most agreed, though, that to win the war, they needed a central
government, but they feared it would be too powerful
 People believed their government should be close to them
 Their solution was to “create a firm league of friendship” rather
than a central government
 “Each state retains its sovereignty, freedoms, and independence
and every power, jurisdiction and right, which is not expressly
delegated to the United States.”
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Congress was created
 Article
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 Article
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VI listed things that states could not do
Send and receive ambassadors to foreign nations
Lay imposts or duties
Maintain military forces beyond what Congress approves
IX listed things that Congress could do
Sole and exclusive right of determining on peace and war
Directing military forces
Conduct foreign policy
Determines the union’s expenses
 Congress
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Has no authority over any person in any state
Cannot collect taxes from states or their people directly. It can only
request money from the states
Has no power to regulate trade between states
Problems with the
Articles of Confederation
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Fear that some states would dominate others in the
central government
3 Issues pitted one state against another
 Representatives
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? 1 vote each state ? Based on Population ? Based on Wealth ?
 Apportionment
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of War Expenses
? Based on Wealth ? Based on Population ? Free/Slave Population
 Territorial
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and Voting In Congress
Claim
5 states had fixed western borders
others wanted “sea to sea” borders
Would Congress be in charge of “new territories?”
Problems with the
Articles of Confederation

Solutions to these problems emerged
 Article
V gave each state 1 vote regardless of population
 Congress had to have 9 states agree on important matters
like declaring war or admitting new states
 The formula for requesting funds was based on the amount
of land (settled, improved upon) which proved difficult to
measure
Achievements of the
Articles of Confederation
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Won the Revolutionary War
Created Executive Departments of Finance, Foreign Relations,
and Military Affairs
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Precursor to the cabinet departments of treasury, state and war
Establish the first federal courts
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
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Defined the Northwest territory and created a plan for its government
NW Territory encompassed lands that would become Ohio, Michigan, Indiana,
Illinois, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota
Laid out the process by which a territory would become a state
Guaranteed new states would be equal to existing states
Slavery would be forever prohibited from the new territories
New states had to provide for education by setting aside lands that could be sold
to fund schools
Weaknesses of the
Articles of Confederation
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The creation of a national government with VERY limited power
reflected American’s fear of a strong central government
(power that is not given cannot be abused)
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Congress had no power to tax
Congress could make agreements with foreign powers but had
not power to make states honor those agreements
Congress had no power to regulate trade between states
Congress had no power to make laws directly regulating the
behavior of citizens
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Localists v Cosmopolitans
State legislatures TOO democratic (majority rules over minority rights)
Saw this as another form of tyranny
Attempts made to solve problems
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Founders recognized problems and moved to amend the
Articles to give the national government more powers of
enforcement and taxation
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Base taxation on population rather than land value (5 slaves = 3 citizens)
Any changes required OK from every state
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Some Founders looked outside national government for solutions
A special meeting/convention held to discuss changes (Annapolis Convention)
Only 5 showed – meeting rescheduled for Philadelphia
Delegates were authorized to propose amendments not develop an entirely
new constitution
Shays’ Rebellion
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Several hundred farmers faced financial hardship for many reasons
Some lost their farms, home and were sent to prison
Discontent grew, many gathered to prevent the courts from selling the
property “Penny Auctions”
Shay and followers captured an arsenal, the governor called out
troops to stop the rebellion. Quickly put down rebellion
The event scared many – land owners and government alike
The event spurred the Founder to push to create a stronger national
government
Shays’ Rebellion Resulted in
Support for Change
The Revolutionary War had both positive and
negative economic consequences in America
Positive Economic Consequences
Negative Economic
Consequences
* Trade restrictions ended, leading to the
development of a successful merchant marine
and trade industry
* America lost its favored position as a trade
partner of Great Britain and its protection by
the British Navy
* Americans gained the right to expand
westward across the Appalachian Mountains
* Agricultural prices fell and unemployment
rose
* Westward expansion attracted new
immigrants and stimulated economic growth,
particularly for small independent farmers
* Westward expansion led to expensive wars
with Native Americans
Three Plans Posters

In groups of 3-4, you will use your books to find out what was
in each of the 3 plans considered at the Constitutional
Convention. On the poster paper, create a visual that shows
the key points of each plan
 Virginia
 New
Plan
p. 71
Jersey Plan
 Great
p. 75
Compromise (Connecticut Compromise)
p. 76
Review Questions
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Why did the Articles of Confederation create only a legislative
branch of the government? How did the A of C deal with the fears
that some states would dominate others?
What were some of the achievements of the A of C? What were
some of the weaknesses?
What was Shays’ Rebellion? Why did it occur? What was its
historical importance?
What were the positive and negative consequences of a limited
national government?