Jumpstart 11/13
• Pick up your folder, the Articles of
Confederation notes, and a highlighter.
• Please be in your seat and quiet when the bell
rings.
• You will also need a pencil.
Podcast Videos
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QQtJNK5_
8Uk PAP
• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KGG9af
W7XY OL
Video Summary
By its formal adoption in 1781, the Articles of
Confederation were already a political disaster.
Many people refer to the Articles as the original
constitution, but this is incorrect. It created a weak
central government and strong state governments
with states as independent, sovereign nations.
Among its weaknesses were only one branch of
government, 13 different currencies, no power to
tax, and Shay’s Rebellion. This is why they decided
to replace the Articles.
Welcome to the 2nd Continental
Congress! Summer 1776
1. You MUST have your journal, folder, and a
pen/pencil today.
2. On Level:
A. Get out the bag containing today’s Video
Stepping Stones
B. Lay them face up on your desks
C. Preview them with your partner so that you
know what to listen for when we begin
Jump Start. . . Let’s imagine . . .
• Our class has been stranded on a small island
without any adults or hope of being rescued!
• With a small group (4-5), you will form an organized
government that will run the island.
• Answer the following questions in your journal:
1. Who will be the leader of the island? How will you
choose the leader?
2. Do you need to defend your land? If so, how will
you get the $$ to pay the soldiers?
3. How will you make sure everyone is treated fairly?
4. How will disputes(arguments) be settled?
5. Will you make laws? How will you do this?
It’s Summer of 1776 . . .
We’re in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
We’ve formed an army.
We’ve chosen a leader.
We’ve declared our Independence.
Now comes the complicated part. Many Americans have
a deep distrust of government. They don’t want a repeat
of powerful governors and unfair laws.
Members of the 2nd Continental Congress had the task of
creating this new government . . . . In the middle of the
Revolutionary War.
Articles of Confederation
• In 1777, the first form of American government
was created: the Articles of Confederation.
• This government created a very loose alliance of
13 independent states.
• From the start, there were many flaws
(weaknesses) of the Articles of Confederation
government.
Articles of Confederation
• After the war, each state
created their own
government
• Each made a republiccitizens chose
representatives
• Also discussed how to
form the national
government
– Saw how they had to
unite to win the war
Articles of Confederation
• Adopted by Congress in 1781
– 1st National
Constitution/Government
• State governments were
stronger than the national
government
• Feared putting too much power
in a small group’s hands
– Reflects the experiences they had
under a monarchy
Strengths of the Articles of
Confederation
• Congress had the power to:
– Declare war and peace
– Print money
– Negotiate treaties
• The Treaty of Paris 1783 was negotiated and
signed
• The Land (1785) & Northwest (1787)
Ordinances were passed
Settling Western Lands
• Passed laws on how to divide
and govern the land:
– The Land Ordinance of 1785divided the land using a grid
system to establish 6 mile blocks
– The Northwest Ordinance 1787described how to govern the land
• 5,000 free males who own 50 acres
can start an elected assembly
• Population of 60,000 could apply for
statehood
Weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation
• Congress DID NOT have the power to:
– Raise taxes
• Could not pay off war debt
– Regulate foreign or state trade
– Enforce laws
• Laws had to be approved by 9 of the 13 states
– Difficult to get such a large majority
• Changes to the Articles had to be approved by ALL
13 states
Jumpstart 11/14
• Pick up your folder, Unit 3 vocabulary list #1,
and the “Hand/Fist” handout for today.
• You will need RED, BLUE, BROWN, YELLOW
and GREEN colored pencils for today. Please
make sure you have those.
• If you are missing one or more colors, you can
get those from the basket at the back of the
room. The pencil sharpener is there as well!
REMINDER – Journal Check!
• Your journal check is Monday!
• Remember, to get a 100 (or as close as
possible):
– All items must be in the order listed in the Table of
Contents.
– All items must be in the brads of the folder.
– Any additional items (not listed on the Table of
Contents) should not be thrown away, but kept in
the folder pockets. They may be needed for next
six weeks’ folder check.
Articles of Confederation =
America’s 1st National Constitution
“A loose alliance of 13 independent states”
Afraid of giving too much power to the
Central/National Government
(memories of the King) – it gave too
much power to the STATES.
Why are the Articles of Confederation Weak?
2014
Title Your Sheet:
Articles of Confederation =
America’s 1st National Government
“A loose alliance of 13 independent states”
PINKY FINGER (WEAKEST)
1.Above the pinky finger-Write “weak central
government.”
2.Inside the pinky finger-Write “ No president
to carry out laws & no courts to settle
arguments = only 1 branch!
3. Color it Yellow to represent the weakest or
smallest finger.
Under the Articles of Confederation . . . The
Federal (Central) Government was
WEAK
Could I please have
$10,000?
Central
Government
RING FINGER
(You need $$$ to get married)
1.Above the ring finger-Write “no
money”
2.In the ring finger-Write “ Government
could not levy (pass) taxes.”
3. Color it Green to represent money.
MIDDLE FINGER
(It’s in the Middle)
1.Above the middle finger-Write
“border disputes”
2.In the middle finger-Write “Border
disputes over western lands.”
3. Color it Brown to represent land.
Congress
did not
have the
power to
settle
border
disputes
between
the new
states
INDEX FINGER (POINTER)
(Shaking your finger when you disagree)
1.Above the index finger-Write “quarreling
states”
2.In the index finger-Write “States argue
over tariffs. All have different currencies.
Who decides?”
3. Color it Red for Anger.
Remember: No
court system
under the
Articles!
Articles of Confederation = gave way
more power to the states
FEDERAL
Government
STATE
Government
THUMB
(thumbs down)
1.Above the thumb-Write “no respect”
2.In the thumb-Write “Foreign nations did
not respect the new US. 13 States = 13 sets
of rules”
3. Color it Blue for Sadness.
What if we wanted to CHANGE
something/AMEND the Articles? How
would we do it?
AMENDMENT = CHANGE
ALL 13 states have
to agree…
VERY Difficult to
get a total
majority
Inside the watch, write
“Required all 13 states to make
changes (amend) – nearly
impossible!”
Required all
13
states
To make changes (amend)
Nearly impossible!
Hold your hand up.
With your finger (careful on the
middle one . . . ) show me
which finger is represented by
each of the following cartoons.
Ready?
AND MONEY!
Now we
will focus
on the
wrist & fist
Land Ordinance - 1785
Northwest Ordinance
1787
On the LEFT side (by the wrist) write:
Land Ordinance – 1785
“How to DIVIDE it - Geographically”
• Divide into townships = 6 square
miles; 36 lots
• Lot 16 = for Public Education
• Government sold lots to bring in $$
On the RIGHT side (by the wrist) write:
Northwest Ordinance – 1787
“How to GOVERN it - Politically”
• 60,000 people= could apply for statehood
• New states entered on “equal footing”
with other states
• Guaranteed freedom of religion & trial by
jury
• Slavery Forbidden
• Set pattern for orderly growth of US.
1. Write Shay’s
Rebellion in the fist.
Write underneath:
“Revolt by
Farmers”
2. Shay’s Rebellion
scared the founding
fathers and made us
realize . . . This
Constitution is too
weak!! Time to do
something different!
Shay’s
Rebellion
Revolt by
Farmers
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YOR9O9m
UObE
Stop at 4:30
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1pbJHH9F
9-Q
Shay’s Rebellion – Shmoop 3 min
1.Do you think we should have a king? Why or why
not? Who should be the leader?
2.Do we want each state to have its own
government?
3.Should we have one set of rules for us all?
4.What individual rights do you think every citizen
should have?
5.Should the government be able to tax?
6.Who gets to vote?
7.Will every state have the same
money system?
8.Will we trade with other countries?
9.If we want to change something, how
would we do it?