1776 Document Time line 1607 Document Time line

1776

Document Time line 1607

Document Time line 1776 1607 1776

Document Time line 1776 1607 1776 1779

The Articles of Confederation

May, 1776 The Second Continental Congress had been meeting, planning what to do after King George’s refusal of the Olive Branch Proposal. Arguments were very heated about whether or not to declare independence from England. The Committee of Five had been asked to write a document listing their reasons for separating from England.

Notice to the “States” • In May, 1776, the Continental Congress asked the states to organize their governments and to write a constitution for their own state. • What is a constitution? • A formal plan of government.

Limiting Power The memory of tyrannical King was fresh. Americans did not want to give any state government too much power! Their new constitutions reflected this great desire in their state constitutions.

But WHAT would they do about a national government?

Now what? ? We need a government to make rules and run the war against Mother England! My government is in my colony, Maryland! Mine is in New York! We are fighting to get away a strong central government, not start a new one! But we must work together!!

Second Continental Congress set up a committee Committee wrote the “Articles of Confederation, ” 15 articles that set up a “firm league of friendship. ” • Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom and independence.

Article 1 Article 4

After a lot of debate, blahblah November, 1777 We’re just friends, right? Congress adopts Penn. Delaware A confederation is a collection of independent states that can SUGGEST rules to each other, but not force individual citizens to do anything I don’t belong to you! NY

The Articles of Confederation • Unicameral legislature – one house

The Articles of Confederation • Unicameral legislature – one house • One vote per state

The Articles of Confederation • Unicameral legislature – one house • One vote per state • No power to collect taxes

The Articles of Confederation • • Unicameral legislature – one house One vote per state No power to collect taxes No power to ENFORCE any laws

The Articles of Confederation • • • Unicameral legislature – one house One vote per state No power to collect taxes No power to ENFORCE any laws It took a unanimous vote to change Articles

The Articles of Confederation • • • Unicameral legislature – one house One vote per state No power to collect taxes No power to ENFORCE any laws Unanimous vote to change Articles They could issue currency

The Articles of Confederation • • Unicameral legislature – one house One vote per state No power to collect taxes No power to ENFORCE any laws Unanimous vote to change Articles Issue currency Ratified on March 1, 1781

The Articles of Confederation OOPS – there were problems! • • Unicameral legislature – one house One vote per state No power to collect taxes No power to ENFORCE any laws Unanimous vote to change Articles Issue currency Ratified on March 1, 1781

The Confederation Government 1781 -1789 • The Articles were too weak, and America was having new problems.

Good things. . . • Even though the Articles of Confederation were weak, what do you think were some of the good things that happened because of the Articles?

Make your own document!! • Title: The Articles of Confederation

Make your own document!! • Title: The Articles of Confederation • Date ratified: 1781 • Who wrote the Articles? The 2 nd Continental Congress

• Why was it written? To unify the newly created states without giving any one state too much power. Why was it important? It was the FIRST form of government for our new nation.

• What fundamental principle did it have? – Consent of the governed – Representative government – Limited government

Document Time line (Copy this chart with the title in your social studies book) 1776 1607 1776 1779 1781