APUSH CHAPTER 9

đź“ś Articles of Confederation

🔹 Overview

  • First U.S. government framework (1781–1789)

  • Written during the Revolutionary War.

  • Gave most power to state governments; central government was very weak.

🔹 Structure

  • Unicameral legislature (no executive or judiciary)

  • Each state = 1 vote, regardless of size/population

  • No power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws

  • Required unanimous consent (13/13 states) to amend

🔹 Causes for Its Creation

  • Fear of strong central authority (reaction to British monarchy)

  • Desire to protect state sovereignty

  • Needed unity to fight Britain during the war

🔹 Effects/Weaknesses

Weakness

Example

Effect

No power to tax

Congress had to ask states for money

National government was broke

No national army

Shay’s Rebellion (1786)

Government couldn’t stop uprisings

No control over trade

States had tariffs against each other

Economic chaos

Unanimous amendments

Impossible to change laws

Gridlock & inefficiency

No executive branch

No one to enforce laws

Weak leadership

🔹 Why It Failed

  • Couldn’t respond to economic crises (like inflation, trade disputes)

  • Shay’s Rebellion showed the government’s inability to maintain order

  • Lack of unity among states

  • Led to calls for a stronger central government

đź“– The U.S. Constitution (1787)

🔹 Overview

  • Replaced the Articles of Confederation

  • Created a federal system: power shared between national and state governments

  • Established three branches: Legislative, Executive, Judicial

  • Stronger central government but with checks and balances

🔹 Causes for Its Creation

  • Failure of Articles to handle:

    • National defense

    • Economy

    • Law enforcement

  • Response to Shay’s Rebellion

  • Desire for unity and long-term stability

🔹 Key Features

Feature

Impact

3 Branches of Government

Prevents tyranny (checks and balances)

Power to tax & regulate trade

Stronger economy

Bicameral Legislature (House & Senate)

Compromise between big & small states

Elastic Clause

Allows adaptability over time

Separation of Powers

Limits concentration of power

🔹 Effects

  • Stronger, more stable national government

  • Ability to enforce laws and defend the country

  • Created a lasting foundation for U.S. governance

âš– Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists (Ratification Debate)

🔹 Federalists

  • Supported the Constitution

  • Wanted a strong central government

  • Believed it would fix the weaknesses of the Articles

  • Key Figures: Alexander Hamilton, James Madison, John Jay

  • Wrote the Federalist Papers to gain support

🔹 Anti-Federalists

  • Opposed the Constitution

  • Feared a powerful central government (like Britain)

  • Wanted protections for individual rights

  • Key Figures: Patrick Henry, George Mason

  • Demanded a Bill of Rights

🔹 Causes of Debate

  • Fear of tyranny vs. fear of disorder

  • Lack of a Bill of Rights

  • Concerns over too much federal power

🔹 Effects

  • Compromise: Constitution ratified in 1788

  • Bill of Rights added in 1791 to protect civil liberties

  • Created the two-party system over time (Federalists vs. Democratic-Republicans)

🆚 Compare & Contrast: Articles vs. Constitution

Feature

Articles of Confederation

U.S. Constitution

Branches of Gov.

1 (Legislative only)

3 (Legislative, Executive, Judicial)

Power to Tax

No

Yes

Power to Regulate Trade

No

Yes

Amendment Process

Unanimous

2/3 Congress + 3/4 States

Representation

1 vote per state

House by population; Senate 2 per state

Executive Branch

None

President

Judicial Branch

None

Supreme Court and lower courts

Military Power

State militias

National military

🧠 Quick Review Questions

  1. Why did the Articles of Confederation fail?
    → Weak central government, couldn't tax or enforce laws, led to economic and political instability.

  2. What caused the Constitution to be written?
    → Failures of the Articles, economic problems, and uprisings like Shay’s Rebellion.

  3. What were the effects of the Constitution?
    → Stronger government, balance of powers, lasting federal structure.

  4. What caused the Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist debate?
    → Fear of tyranny vs. fear of disorder, lack of Bill of Rights, concern over central power.

  5. How was the ratification conflict resolved?
    → Bill of Rights was added as a compromise.