Aim: To Argue whether or not the Articles of Confederation

were a Success or Failure?

Do Now: Complete the document on the next slide in complete sentences

in your notebook.

Do Now

“The Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States, on November 15, 1777. However, ratification of the Articles of Confederation by all thirteen states did not occur until March 1, 1781. The Articles created a loose confederation of sovereign states and a weak central government, leaving most of the power with the state governments. The need for a stronger Federal government soon became apparent and eventually led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787. The present United States Constitution replaced the Articles of Confederation on March 4, 1789.”

~ loc.gov

Questions:

Four Significant facts about the Articles of Confederation are:

2

Creating the Constitution

4

The Articles of Confederation

• During the Revolution, the new United States needed a functioning government

• Modeled after colonial governments

• States would retain sovereignty (freedom)

• Founders were fearful of concentrated power due to past experience with the British

5

A Limited Government

• Articles established a “firm league of friendship” among the states

• Bills were passed on nine of thirteen votes

• Amending the Articles took unanimous consent of the states

6

Structure of Government• Unicameral (single house)

legislative body

• Each state had one vote regardless of population size

• Congress given sole authority to govern the country

• An executive committee oversaw government when Congress was not in session

• Congress would establish temporary courts to hear disputes among the states

7

Powers Granted to Government under the Articles of

Confederation• Declare war and make peace

• Make treaties with foreign countries

• Establish an army and navy

• Appoint high-ranking military officials

• Requisition, print, and borrow money

• Establish weights and measures

• Hear disputes among the states related to trade or boundaries

8

Powers Denied to Government

• No power to raise funds for an army or navy

• No power to tax, impose tariffs, or collect duties

• No executive branch to enforce laws

• No power to control trade among the states

• No power to force states to honor obligations

• No power to regulate the value of currency

9

Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation

• Administered the seven-year war effort

• Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain in 1783

• Established the Northwest Ordinance of 1787– Made plans for

governing the unsettled Western Territories.

Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787

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Problems Facing the New Nation

• Trade with foreign nations

• Financing the nation

• Foreign relations

• Interstate relations

A 1783 cartoon satirizing relations between Britain and America

11

Problems Facing the New Nation: You Decide

• Trade with foreign nations

• Financing the nation

• Foreign relations

• Interstate relations

12

Problems with Trade

• U.S. no longer the favorite trading partner of Great Britain

– U.S. exports to British ports had to be on British ships

– Many U.S.-produced goods were barred from British ports

– Britain sent vast amounts of cheap goods to U.S.

• Potential Remedy

– Establish a tariff on British goods

• Weakness in Articles of Confederation preventing this solution

Essential Questions / Enduring Understandings:

1. During what time period did the Articles of Confederation exist?

2. What are the main defining characteristics of the Articles of

Confederation?

3. What are the Articles of Confederation’s strengths and weaknesses?

4. How would you rate the overall effectiveness of the Articles of

Confederation?

5. What major characteristics of the Articles of Confederation resulted in its

demise and inspired the framers to create the Constitution?

6. Argue whether or not the Articles of Confederation were a success or

failure? What is your rational or reasoning. Be specific.

Critics of the Articles of Confederation argued that it

(1) imposed unfair taxes on the states

(2) used a draft to raise a national army

(3) provided a strong system of federal courts

(4) placed too much power in the hands of the states

The primary purpose of the Articles of

Confederation was to

(1) provide revenues for the national government

(2) establish the basic framework of the national government

(3) give the national government the power to regulate interstate commerce

(4) guarantee a bill of rights to protect citizens from the national government