= 1 British Pound
= 1 Canadian Dollar
= 1 Spanish piece of eight
= 1 French Franc
2 piece of Eight = 1 British Pound
3 French Francs = 1 British Pound
4 Canadian Dollars = 1 British Pound
Candy = 3 British Pounds
Chap 2.3 Articles of Confederation
Established “a firm league of friendship”
among the States.
Proposed - 1776; Ratified by all 13 States - 1781
Allowed States to
National Government
Keep:
to take care of
Sovereignty
Common Defense
Freedom
Secure Liberties
Independence
Provide for the
All
Powers
not
General Welfare
granted to National
Government
Structure of
The Articles of Confederation
Legislature - Unicameral Congress (1 body)
Each state had only 1 vote
No Executive Branch
– Duties handled by Congress
No Judicial Branch
– Duties handled by Congress
Critical Period – 1780’s
Central Government cannot act – “Firm League of
Friendship” has no “teeth” to enforce anything
Weaknesses of
The Articles of Confederation
Political
 Only 1 Vote per State
Economic
 No Power to Tax –
 Regardless of size
only borrow and beg
 No Executive to
 No Uniform
enforce Acts of
Currency
Congress
 No Power to Regulate
 No Federal Court
Commerce
System (Judiciary)
 Interstate
 Amendment only with
 Foreign
approval of all 13
States (unanimous)
Consequences of the Weaknesses
Fighting Among States
Taxing other State’s Trade
Banning other State’s Trade
States Not Supporting New Central Government
Economic Chaos
Public and Private Debts Not Paid
Catalyst of Revision of the Articles
Shay’s Rebellion
Massachusetts farmers revolting to keep courts
from foreclosing on farms
Chap 2.4 Creating the Constitution
Met in Philadelphia May 25, 1787
George Washington Elected president of the
convention
Worked in Secret
Framers new generation of American politics
Changing Direction
Original goal improve the Articles of Confederation
May 30, 5 days after starting, adopted resolution to
create a new government.
Compromise Needed to Create the Constitution
Compromise important part of government
13 States very different in geography and economic
situations
Wide differences of opinion among delegates, but
Delegates agreed on basic fundamental issues
Need of new national government, federal in
nature
Concepts of Popular Sovereignty, Limited
Government, Separation of Powers, Checks and
Balances