The Government The Government under the Articles of under the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

Accomplishments – Land Accomplishments – Land OrdinancesOrdinances

Western Land not governed by a state, Western Land not governed by a state, so what should they do?so what should they do?

Land Ordinance of 1785Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of 1787Northwest Ordinance of 1787

Political ProblemsPolitical Problems There were 13 separate states that lacked national unityThere were 13 separate states that lacked national unity

Each state had only one vote in Congress, regardless of Each state had only one vote in Congress, regardless of PopulationPopulation

Nine out of 13 states needed to agree to pass any lawNine out of 13 states needed to agree to pass any law

Articles could be amended only if Articles could be amended only if ALLALL states approved states approved

There was no executive branch to enforce laws of CongressThere was no executive branch to enforce laws of Congress

There was no national court system to settle legal disputesThere was no national court system to settle legal disputes

Economic ProblemsEconomic Problems

Huge wartime debtsHuge wartime debts

Congress could not enact and collect Congress could not enact and collect taxestaxes

Congress could not regulate interstate or Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign tradeforeign trade

Foreign ProblemsForeign Problems Hard time defending themselves, b/c central Hard time defending themselves, b/c central

gov. not strong and could not raise an army = gov. not strong and could not raise an army = insufficient power to deal with problems.insufficient power to deal with problems.

Britain still occupied forts by Great Lakes, since US Britain still occupied forts by Great Lakes, since US did not pay back debt or compensate loyalistsdid not pay back debt or compensate loyalists

Britain refused to negotiate tradeBritain refused to negotiate trade

Spain closed the Mississippi to US navigation, hurt Spain closed the Mississippi to US navigation, hurt Western farmersWestern farmers