Lesson #9: The Articles of Confederation (Government)

a legitimate government

The Declaration of Independence did NOT create ____________

• 13 former colonies are now states

  • Need a government if they are to become the United States of America

• Only two choices exist in 1781

  • Choice A: Unitary System

  • Choice B: Confederation

first national government

unitary system, confederation

The two choices of government in 1781 were a _________ and a ________.

unitary system

• Strong central government that delegates power to the weaker state governments

  • Power flows down

    • States can only do things the central government allows them to do

down

In a Unitary system, the power flows ____

confederation system

• Weak central government receives delegated power from the stronger state government

  • Power flows up

    • Central government can only do things the state government allows them to do

up

In a Confederation System, the power flows _____

because this is the system Great Britain had (just fought a war to get rid of this)

Why did the Founders not choose a unitary system?

Articles of Confederation

• First Constitution of the United States

  • 1781-1789

• Created a national unicameral Congress

  • Had a single legislative chamber

    • Representation equal for all states

    • Each state had one vote on all issues

• No executive listed to enforce laws passed

  • Obeying the law was voluntary

• No judiciary identified to interpret laws passed

  • No way to settle disputes

• 9 out of 13 states required to approve or pass all laws

  • Also known as a “super majority”

• 13 out of 13 states required to amend (change) the _____ (Very Difficult)

  • The ____________ were never amended

9 (out of 13 (super majority))

How many states were required to approve or pass all laws according to the Articles of Confederation?

13 (out of 13)

How many states were required to amend the Articles?

1. To make peace & wage war

2. To make treaties & alliances

3. To coin money

4. To borrow money

5. To regulate trade with the Indians

6. To establish a postal system

6 powers granted to the central government by the Articles of Confederation

1. Fear of a Strong Central government
   

2. Abuses by Britain in the Colonial Days

Why was Congress denied certain powers?

• The power to levy (issue & collect) taxes

• The power to regulate interstate trade

• The power & authority to enforce its provisions on the 13 states

The lack of these three powers makes the six powers granted by the 13 states useless!

3 powers Congress was denied

• Developed a plan for settling the Western Lands

  • Included a plan for admitting new states into the Union

    • Only source of revenue ($$) for the new government

• Establishment of a Postal System

  • Same principles of delivering mail anywhere regardless of cost

    • Essential to a democracy prior to radio & Television

Successes of the Articles

1. Unable to quell (put an end to) domestic unrest

   • State border disputes & tariff disputes

2. Poor relations with other countries

   • Unable to attract foreign aid or investment

3. Could not control state issued money

   • 14 different kinds of currency existed!

4. Could not pay off the national debt

   • Could not even pay off the interest

   • Considered a very serious problem in the late 1700’s

4 major failures of the Articles

• These 4 problems hurt rich people the most

  • They have the political power to do something about it

• George Washington suggested a convention to meet in annapolis in Fall of 1786

  • Purpose was to discuss ways to revise the Articles in order to strengthen the National Government

    • Not well received; only 5 states showed up

• Agreed to try again the following Spring

  • 12 of 13 states showed up

    • Meeting took place in Philadelphia in May of 1787

Consequences of the Failures

• Massachusetts farmers about to lose their farms to foreclosure

  • Arm themselves & shut down the Massachusetts court system

• National & State government powerless to stop it

  • Convinces most people of the need for a stronger national government

Shay’s Rebellion

John Locke

• English philosopher and physician

  • Born in 1632

  • Died in 1704

• Wrote the book Two Treatises on Government in 1690

  • It contains the philosophy of natural rights

developed concept of natural rights (life, liberty, and property)

How did John Locke influence the American Revolution?

Baron Montesquieu

• A Frenchman living in exile in Great Britain

• 1689-1755 wrote the book Spirit of Laws in 1748

• Wrote to praise the English system of government

• Compares the English with others after 1689.

• Philosophy of separation of powers

• Legislative makes laws

• Executive enforces laws

• Judicial interprets laws

How did Baron Montesquieu influence the American Revolution?