Articles of Confederation and the Critical Period 1783-1789

Universal Idea

When conditions change, people and plans have to change as well in order to adapt.

Essential Question:

What conditions changed in the new United States of America led to removing the Articles of Confederations and the writing of the United States Constitution?

Learning Goals:

Articles of Confederation

• First plan for the government of the NEW United

States of America.

• During 2nd Continental Congress, all 13 states

voted for the articles in March 1781

• The 13 states were afraid of a strong central

government

• Congress was in charge of Federal Government

• Federal = National = Central Government in

charge of all states

• Each state had one vote

Articles of Confederation

POWERS of the Government according

to the Articles of Confederation:

1. Congress can declare war

and make peace

2. Congress can create and

keep an Army and a Navy

3. Congress can print money

4. Congress can set up a

postal service

5. Congress can organize new

lands in the West.

6. Congress can deal with

Indian issues

Land Ordinance of 1785 o New Land from

the Treaty of

Paris 1783 was

divided into

townships that

were 6 Square

miles.

o One of the

sections would

be set aside to

support public

schools

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

o Land was divided into

smaller territories with

a governor

o NO SLAVERY

ALLOWED!

o When population

reached 60,000, the

territory could apply

to be a state.

o Settlers in the

territories had same

rights as American

citizens

Weaknesses of the Articles of

Confederation

Who should have more power?

• States were afraid that if the national

government had too much power it

would be like having a King

• States argued with each other over land

and money.

National Government vs. State Government

VSNationalState

Weak Federal (Central) Governmento Congress (Legislative Branch)

A. Congress has only ONE house (part) and

laws are difficult to pass

B. Congress CANNOT collect taxes

C. Congress CANNOT organize trade

among the states or interfere with

problems between the states.

D. Congress was responsible to the states,

not the people.

o No Federal Court System (Judicial Branch) to

settle disputes among the states.

o No President (Executive Branch) to enforce

laws.

Money Issues and DEBT1. No U.S. Dollar

2. Each state had its own

money and used foreign

money as well

3. Merchants would only

accept $$ from their own

state, causing other money

to become worthless

4. U.S. was unable to pay its

debts

• Money owed to European

countries

• Money owed to

Continental Soldiers

New York $$

Domestic (at home) Problems

1. 9 of the 13 states had to

approve a law before it

could go into effect

2. 13 out of 13 had to

approve for a law to be

amended (or changed)

3. States acted like

individual countries and

almost never agreed on

anything

Universal Idea

When conditions become difficult, people and plans have to change as well in order to adapt.

Essential Question:

What conditions in the new United States of America led to the Articles of Confederations becoming weak and unable to keep the country together?

Learning Goals: