Aim: To Argue whether or not the Articles of Confederation were a Success or Failure?

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Aim To Argue whether or not the Articles of
Confederation were a Success or Failure?

• Do Now Complete the document on the next slide
  in complete sentences in your notebook.

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Do Now

• The Continental Congress adopted the Articles
  of Confederation, the first constitution of the
  United States, on November 15, 1777. However,
  ratification of the Articles of Confederation by
  all thirteen states did not occur until March 1,
  1781. The Articles created a loose confederation
  of sovereign states and a weak central
  government, leaving most of the power with the
  state governments. The need for a stronger
  Federal government soon became apparent and
  eventually led to the Constitutional Convention
  in 1787. The present United States Constitution
  replaced the Articles of Confederation on March
  4, 1789.
• loc.gov
• Questions
• Four Significant facts about the Articles of
  Confederation are

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Creating the Constitution
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The Articles of Confederation

• During the Revolution, the new United States
  needed a functioning government
• Modeled after colonial governments
• States would retain sovereignty (freedom)
• Founders were fearful of concentrated power due
  to past experience with the British

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A Limited Government

• Articles established a firm league of
  friendship among the states
• Bills were passed on nine of thirteen votes
• Amending the Articles took unanimous consent of
  the states

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Structure of Government

• Unicameral (single house) legislative body
• Each state had one vote regardless of population
  size
• Congress given sole authority to govern the
  country
• An executive committee oversaw government when
  Congress was not in session
• Congress would establish temporary courts to hear
  disputes among the states

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Powers Granted to Government under the Articles
of Confederation

• Declare war and make peace
• Make treaties with foreign countries
• Establish an army and navy
• Appoint high-ranking military officials
• Requisition, print, and borrow money
• Establish weights and measures
• Hear disputes among the states related to trade
  or boundaries

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Powers Denied to Government

• No power to raise funds for an army or navy
• No power to tax, impose tariffs, or collect
  duties
• No executive branch to enforce laws
• No power to control trade among the states
• No power to force states to honor obligations
• No power to regulate the value of currency

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Accomplishments of the Articles of Confederation

• Administered the seven-year war effort
• Negotiated the Treaty of Paris with Britain in
  1783
• Established the Northwest Ordinance of 1787
• Made plans for governing the unsettled Western
  Territories.

Map of the land settled in the Northwest
Ordinance of 1787
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Problems Facing the New Nation

• Trade with foreign nations
• Financing the nation
• Foreign relations
• Interstate relations

A 1783 cartoon satirizing relations between
Britain and America
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Problems Facing the New Nation You Decide

• Trade with foreign nations
• Financing the nation
• Foreign relations
• Interstate relations

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Problems with Trade

• U.S. no longer the favorite trading partner of
  Great Britain
• U.S. exports to British ports had to be on
  British ships
• Many U.S.-produced goods were barred from British
  ports
• Britain sent vast amounts of cheap goods to U.S.
• Potential Remedy
• Establish a tariff on British goods
• Weakness in Articles of Confederation preventing
  this solution

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Essential Questions / Enduring Understandings

• During what time period did the Articles of
  Confederation exist?
• What are the main defining characteristics of the
  Articles of Confederation?
• What are the Articles of Confederations
  strengths and weaknesses?
• How would you rate the overall effectiveness of
  the Articles of Confederation?
• What major characteristics of the Articles of
  Confederation resulted in its demise and inspired
  the framers to create the Constitution?
• Argue whether or not the Articles of
  Confederation were a success or failure? What is
  your rational or reasoning. Be specific.

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• Critics of the Articles of Confederation argued
  that it
• (1) imposed unfair taxes on the states
• (2) used a draft to raise a national army
• (3) provided a strong system of federal courts
• (4) placed too much power in the hands of the
  states

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• The primary purpose of the Articles of
• Confederation was to
• (1) provide revenues for the national government
• (2) establish the basic framework of the national
  government
• (3) give the national government the power to
  regulate interstate commerce
• (4) guarantee a bill of rights to protect
  citizens from the national government