Articles of Confederation
1-Why did the Founders believe a
national government was needed?
• Unify the states
• conduct the war
• control trade
• manage conflicts among the states.
2-Who proposed a national government to
the Continental Congress?
• Richard Henry Lee (VA); June 7, 1776
3-List and explain 2 problems the
Founders had to deal with when
contemplating a national government?
• The people’s fear of a strong national
government.
• The fear that some states would have more
power in the national government than other
states.
4-Summarize the section “How did the Articles
Organize the National Government?”
 The Founders all agreed that the states needed a
central government. Their solution to the fears of
a strong national government was to create a weak
one.
 The national government under the Articles of
Confederation was simply a legislature [congress]
 There were no executive or judicial branches.
4-Summarize the section “How did the Articles
Organize the National Government?”
• The states were afraid that Congress might be
able to control them. So they made sure that
Congress was weak and its powers limited.
• The Articles left most of the powers of
government with the states.
• The national government had little power over
the states and their citizens.
• Every action taken by Congress had to be with
the consent, approval and cooperation of the
states.
4-Summarize the section “How did the Articles
Organize the National Government?”
 To solve the problem of representation, the
Articles gave each state one vote in Congress.
 The more populous states did not have more
than one vote.
 The Articles also provided that on important
matters, such as declaring war, 9 states would
have to agree. This way, the seven less
populated states could not outvote the six larger
states.
5-List and explain the strengths
of the Articles of Confederation.
• It successfully waged the war for independence
against Great Britain.
• It negotiated the Treaty of Paris which ended
the war.
• It provided that each state recognize the laws of
other states.
• It passed the Northwest Ordinance of 1787.
6-Define: “extradited.”
• Sent back to the state in which they committed
their crime.
7-Explain why the “power to tax”
proved so difficult under the AOC
 The Power to Tax: Congress was not given the power to
tax people directly. When Congress needed money to run
the government, it had to ask the states for it. The states
would then either contribute money or refuse to give the
central government anything at all. As a result, the central
government could not pay its debts and was often close to
bankruptcy.
7-Explain why the “power regulate
commerce” proved so difficult under the
AOC
 The
Power to Regulate Commerce: As a result,
there were many economic quarrels between the
states. New York taxed ships that entered its
harbor from other states. Products from one state
were heavily taxed when transported to another
state. Such quarrels made it nearly impossible for
Americans to do business within their own country.
Congress was just as ineffective in regulating
foreign commerce.
8-Define “interstate commerce”
• Trade between the states:
• Trade between PA and
Virginia
9-What do you think “intrastate
commerce” means?
• Trade within a state:
• Trade between Philadelphia
and Harrisburg
10-List and explain the consequences of five
weaknesses (in addition to taxing and
commerce) of the Articles of Confederation.
• Weakness: Each state was allowed to print its own
money. Congress could not regulate the value of this
money.
• Consequence Money from one state was not always accepted in
another. Money was becoming worthless
• Weakness: There was no federal court system provided
for.
• Consequence Congress could not settle disputes between states
unless both sides submitted the dispute to Congress.
10-List and explain the consequences of five
weaknesses (in addition to taxing and
commerce) of the Articles of Confederation.
• Weakness: Congress could ask, but not force, states
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to send troops for national use.
Consequence States often refused this request. Congress did not
have the power to force England live up to the terms of the Treaty
of Paris
Weakness: 9/13 states had to agree to an important
bill before it could become law.
Consequence Congress had a difficult time passing legislation for
the country.
Weakness: All thirteen states had to agree to any
amendments to the Articles.
Consequence Amendments to the Articles never passed.