UNIT TWO:LESSON EIGHTWhat were the Articles of Confederation, and why did some Founders want to change them?

Vocabulary

1) Define the terms 2) Use each term in a sentence to show your

understanding. (Underline the vocabulary word)

Antifederalists Ex Post Facto Proportional Representation

Articles of Confederation Federal SystemRatification

Bill of Attainder Federalists Separated Powers

Bill of Rights Great Compromise Shared Powers

Constitutional Convention Majority TyrannySupremacy Clause

Electoral College Necessary & Proper Clause Tariff

How and Why the Articles of Confederation were created

The United States needed a federal government plan, a written constitution

A Union or “CONFEDERATION” was necessary to manage economic and political issues

The Founders wrote the “ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION which would form a political organization between sovereign states to give a central government powers to deal with specific purposes

Problems with the Articles of Confederation

Fear of a strong central government To the people, their state was their country and all

eligible voters could have a voice in their government

Their government was close enough that most citizens could participate in government activities

Most agreed, though, that to win the war, they needed a central government, but they feared it would be too powerful

People believed their government should be close to them

Their solution was to “create a firm league of friendship” rather than a central government

“Each state retains its sovereignty, freedoms, and independence and every power, jurisdiction and right, which is not expressly delegated to the United States.”

Congress was created Article VI listed things that states could not do

Send and receive ambassadors to foreign nations Lay imposts or duties Maintain military forces beyond what Congress approves

Article IX listed things that Congress could do Sole and exclusive right of determining on peace and war Directing military forces Conduct foreign policy Determines the union’s expenses

Congress Has no authority over any person in any state Cannot collect taxes from states or their people directly. It

can only request money from the states Has no power to regulate trade between states

Problems with the Articles of Confederation

Fear that some states would dominate others in the central government

3 Issues pitted one state against another Representatives and Voting In Congress

? 1 vote each state ? Based on Population ? Based on Wealth ?

Apportionment of War Expenses ? Based on Wealth ? Based on Population ?

Free/Slave Population Territorial Claim

5 states had fixed western borders others wanted “sea to sea” borders Would Congress be in charge of “new territories?”

Problems with the Articles of Confederation

Solutions to these problems emerged Article V gave each state 1 vote regardless of

population Congress had to have 9 states agree on

important matters like declaring war or admitting new states

The formula for requesting funds was based on the amount of land (settled, improved upon) which proved difficult to measure

Achievements of theArticles of Confederation

Won the Revolutionary War Created Executive Departments of Finance,

Foreign Relations, and Military Affairs Precursor to the cabinet departments of treasury, state and

war Establish the first federal courts

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Defined the Northwest territory and created a plan for its

government NW Territory encompassed lands that would become Ohio,

Michigan, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin and parts of Minnesota Laid out the process by which a territory would become a state Guaranteed new states would be equal to existing states Slavery would be forever prohibited from the new territories New states had to provide for education by setting aside lands

that could be sold to fund schools

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

The creation of a national government with VERY limited power reflected American’s fear of a strong central government (power that is not given cannot be abused)

Congress had no power to tax Congress could make agreements with foreign

powers but had not power to make states honor those agreements

Congress had no power to regulate trade between states

Congress had no power to make laws directly regulating the behavior of citizens

Localists v Cosmopolitans State legislatures TOO democratic (majority rules over

minority rights) Saw this as another form of tyranny

Attempts made to solve problems

Founders recognized problems and moved to amend the Articles to give the national government more powers of enforcement and taxation

Base taxation on population rather than land value (5 slaves = 3 citizens)

Any changes required OK from every state Some Founders looked outside national government for

solutions A special meeting/convention held to discuss changes

(Annapolis Convention) Only 5 showed – meeting rescheduled for Philadelphia Delegates were authorized to propose amendments not

develop an entirely new constitution

Shays’ Rebellion Several hundred farmers faced financial hardship for many

reasons Some lost their farms, home and were sent to prison Discontent grew, many gathered to prevent the courts from

selling the property “Penny Auctions” Shay and followers captured an arsenal, the governor called

out troops to stop the rebellion. Quickly put down rebellion

The event scared many – land owners and government alike

The event spurred the Founder to push to create a stronger national government

Shays’ Rebellion Resulted in

Support for Change

Positive Economic Consequences

Negative Economic Consequences

* Trade restrictions ended, leading to the development of a successful merchant marine and trade industry

* America lost its favored position as a trade partner of Great Britain and its protection by the British Navy

* Americans gained the right to expand westward across the Appalachian Mountains

* Agricultural prices fell and unemployment rose

* Westward expansion attracted new immigrants and stimulated economic growth, particularly for small independent farmers

* Westward expansion led to expensive wars with Native Americans

The Revolutionary War had both positive and negative economic consequences in America

Three Plans Posters

In groups of 3-4, you will use your books to find out what was in each of the 3 plans considered at the Constitutional Convention. On the poster paper, create a visual that shows the key points of each plan

Virginia Plan p. 71

New Jersey Plan p. 75

Great Compromise (Connecticut Compromise) p.

76

Review Questions

Why did the Articles of Confederation create only a legislative branch of the government? How did the A of C deal with the fears that some states would dominate others?

What were some of the achievements of the A of C? What were some of the weaknesses?

What was Shays’ Rebellion? Why did it occur? What was its historical importance?

What were the positive and negative consequences of a limited national government?