The Articles of Confederation

US History

Learning Target

• I will analyze problems faced under the Articles of Confederation and identify how they were fixed under the new Constitution.

I. New Political Ideas

A. Republic1. American leaders decided that their new

government would be a republic2. Republic

A. A form of government where power resides with a body of citizens entitled to vote.

I. New Political Ideas

B. New State Constitutions1. Several states created individual constitutions

creating government2. Many attached a Bill of Rights to their

constitutions.A. Virginia Declaration of Rights – individual rights of

citizens

II. Articles of Confederation

A. Achievements1. Patriot leaders realized that a national

government was necessary to hold together state governments was needed.

2. In November of 1777, the Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation

II. Articles of Confederation

A. Achievements3. Confederation Congress

A. Each state would select delegation to the Confederation Congress

B. A single house legislature

II. Articles of Confederation

A. Achievements4. Western Policies

A. Land Ordinance of 1785 - a scheme of dividing land into sections in order to sell at auction.

B. Northwest Ordinance 1787 – provided a basis for governing western lands and organizing them into states.

II. Articles of Confederation

B. Weaknesses1. Could not regulate trade

A. This led to high taxes from individual states

2. Could not impose national taxesA. Could not help those who were struggling

economically.B. Couldn’t develop a national currency

3. Problems with diplomacy A. Struggled to enforce policies created by Treaty of Paris

II. Articles of Confederation

C. Shay’s Rebellion1. Massachusetts raised taxes and poor farmers 2. Led by Daniel Shay’s a group of farmers attacked

a federal arsenal. 3. Led people to push for a stronger central

government.