From the Articles Confederation to The Constitution:

1
From the Articles Confederation to The
Constitution

• U.S. History

2
Changes in Government

• During the Revolution the Second Continental
  Congress asked the colonies to establish new
  State Constitutions.
• Most defined Executive Power, discussed voting
  rights, and created the separation of church and
  state.
• Most had a bill of rights.
• Look at the list of grievances in the Declaration
  of Independence
• What rights do you think were included in these
  new bill of rights?

3
The Republic of America

• Republic A form of Government in which the
  leaders get the power to rule from the citizens.
• Who was very influential in the republican idea
  that citizens allow themselves to be ruled so
  that their property is protected?
• What are other examples of Republican thought in
  America?

4
Articles of Confederation

• Central Government unify the colonies
• The states were not willing to give up their own
  powers to a central government.
• Why would the colonies be intimidated by the
  thought of having a strong central government?
• Plan for a perpetual union the Articles of
  Confederation were adopted on Nov. 15, 1777.

5
Provisions of the Articles

• The Articles created a loose confederation of
  independent states that gave limited powers to a
  central government.
• The government would consist of a single house of
  Congress, where each state would get one vote.
• Small states vs. Big States.

6
Provisions of the Articles

• Congress had the power to set up a postal
  department, to raise armed forces, and to control
  the development of the western territories.
• The central government could also estimate the
  costs of the government and request donations
  from the states.

7
Provisions of the Articles

• With the consent of nine of the thirteen states,
  Congress could also coin, borrow, or appropriate
  money as well as declare war and enter into
  treaties -and alliances with foreign nations.
• Do you see anything that could lead to problems
  for the new Government?

8
The Problem of Land

• The states with claims of frontier land wanted to
  control as much land as they could.
• The states with no frontier claims wanted the
  government to sell the territories so that all
  states would profit.
• The states finally agree to give control of all
  western lands to the federal government.
• These lands will now be divided and sold.

9
Other Problems of the Articles

• Congress was denied the power to levy taxes.
• Any amendment to the articles required the
  unanimous approval of all 13 states.
• The weak central government had an inability to
  regulate trade
• The government could not pay off the debts from
  the revolution including paying soldiers who had
  fought in the war.

10
Shays Rebellion

• In 1786, the Massachusetts legislature placed a
  tax on land.
• Unable to make money off his crops, Shays was
  angry because farms were being shut down and
  auctioned off.
• The former Revolutionary Captain Daniel Shays
  leads 1,200 farmers to seize the federal arsenal.
• The rebellion was put down but it raised
  questions about how well the Articles could deal
  with civil issues, and people began to call for
  more central power.

11
Articles -
12
Questions to Answer

• Why do you think the colonists wanted
  independence?
• Why did the Articles of Confederation have to be
  abandoned?
• Why did Shays Rebellion scare people so badly?

13
Leaders of the Constitutional Convention