“Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom,
and independence, and every power,
jurisdiction, and right…”
CREATING A GOVERNMENT
The Articles of
Confederation
Only Pennsylvania and Georgia allowed non-landowners to vote
THE GOAL
- Avoid tyranny
- Create a republic (voters elect representatives)
- Have strict voting rights (only about 6%)
- Establish a federal (national) government
“By uniting we stand, by dividing we fall.”
Why did our founders want strict voting rights?
Why did our founders want a republic?
THE DISAGREEMENTS
This debate continued even AFTER the Articles of Confederation, which is
why our Congress is divided into the House of Representatives (population)
and the Senate (equal representation)
1. Type of Republic
- Equal representation v. Representation by population
2. Control of the Northwest Territory
- Who gets what land?
3. Amount of power
- Federal (National) government v. State government
TYPE OF REPUBLIC
Equal Representation
Representation by Population
Every state, regardless of population,
receives 1 vote
States with a higher population receive
more votes
1. As a group, share which of the following is your favorite junk food
- Candy
- Cookies
- Chips
- Cake
- Soda
2. Tally the votes
3. Now, as a group, pick one of the items as your group’s favorite
EQUAL REPRESENTATION
Each state had ONE vote!
What do you think the consequences of this decision were?
This meant that the 50,000 people living in Delaware
had an equal say in the Federal government as the 750,000
people living in Virginia
How did the Northwest Ordinance encourage growth?
THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
The Northwest Ordinance: outlined how the Northwest Territory would be governed
 The government would sell the land
 5,000 people  Self-government (assembly)
 60,000 people  Statehood
What benefits do you see in this plan?
What flaw do you see in this plan?
FEDERALISM
Since the founding fathers feared tyranny, which part of the government do you
think they would make more powerful?
Federalism: The division of power between a Federal (National) government and
State governments
Fear of tyranny led to a weak Federal (National)
government and overly powerful State governments
AMOUNT OF POWER
The Confederation Congress (the legislative body) could…
1.
Conduct foreign/Native American affairs
2.
Declare war
3.
Give/borrow money
4.
Control Western territories
5.
Run the postal service
6.
Pass laws (only with a 9/13 vote)
AMOUNT OF POWER
These decisions needed to be made by each individual state
The Confederation Congress (the legislative body) could NOT…
1.
Create an executive branch (president)
2.
Create national/federal courts
3.
Enforce national laws
4.
Collect (levy) taxes
5.
Print money
6.
Change/amend the Articles of Confederation (unless EVERY state agreed…)
7.
Conduct interstate or foreign trade
How did the federal government make money?
QUICK WRITE
1.
Looking at all of the things Congress couldn’t do, what problems do you think the
country might run into?
It took four years to convince all thirteen states to sign the document
RATIFICATION
The Articles of Confederation were
ratified (approved) in 1781
“Each state retains its sovereignty,
freedom, and independence, and every
power, jurisdiction, and right, which is not
by this Confederation expressly
delegated to the United States, in
Congress assembled.”
They owed other countries that had given them money during the war
PROBLEMS
They owed soldiers who fought in the Continental Army
1. The Revolutionary War created debt and Congress had no way of paying it off
2. Great Britain refused to leave its military forts in the Northwest Territory
3. Great Britain and Spain blocked American access to the Caribbean
4. Spain refused American access to the Mississippi River
5. Spain and Congress fought over ownership of Florida
Voters didn’t reelect the governor in the next election, showing
the citizens support of Shays
SHAYS’ REBELLION
Wait… an argument in Massachusetts over taxes…
This sounds awfully familiar…
A domino effect…
1. Massachusetts overtaxed its people
2. Farmers were unable to pay their debt were arrested
3. Daniel Shays led a revolt to shut down the local courts and free prisoners
4. The governor of Massachusetts organized a military force and stopped the
rebellion
The Federal government was so poor, Massachusetts had to raise up its own military to stop the revolt
SHAYS REBELLION
“I have been obliged (required) to pay and nobody will pay me. I have lost a great
deal by this man and that man… and the great men are going to get all we have,
and I think it is time for us to rise and put a stop to it.”
ACTIVITY: THE STRENGTHS AND WEAKNESSES OF
THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION