ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION Americas First Attempt at Democracy

ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION America’s First Attempt at Democracy

Warm-up 1. What did the Proclamation of 1763 do? 2. Why was the Battle of Lexington and Concord important, and in which modern state did it happen? Not in your notes (use your prior knowledge): 3. What does the word confederation mean? 4. What does the word federal mean?

Essential Questions How did America’s pre-independence relationship with England influence the structure of the first national government? 2. What weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation led to the effort to draft a new constitution? 1.

During the Constitutional Era, Americans made two attempts to establish a workable government based on republican principles. Our first government, the Articles of Confederation failed! • Articles of Con. FAILderation What does republican mean in this context? Remember direct democracy vs. representative democracy?

American political leaders, fearful of a powerful central government like England’s, created the Articles of Confederation, a limited government adopted at the end of the Revolutionary War.

Our First Attempt at a Government: The Articles of Confederation • The Articles of Confederation was the first written constitution of the United States. • American leaders were fearful of a powerful government • They had seen their liberties taken by a strong English king • The first government was designed to be weak to prevent “tyranny” • Most power would belong to the states Signing the Declaration of Independence proved that Americans were opposed to a powerful government

The Articles of Confederation was WEAK! 1. No power to tax or regulate commerce 2. No ability to create common currency 3. Each state had one vote regardless of size / how many people lived in it 4. No executive or judicial branch 5. Weak and nearpowerless national government • Shared too much power with states

U. S. in 1790 “What a victory for our enemy to find we can not govern ourselves” • The U. S. territory was too big to govern with a weak government • The economy was in terrible shape • Small border fights were occurring between some states • There was no standard currency • There was a sense of urgency that we make some changes before it was too late

Fixing the Articles of Confederation Write out on a sheet of paper what you would change or leave the same about the Articles of Confederation if it existed today. Consider the following questions while writing: • Does the revision solve the problem? • Does the revision create a new set of problems?

Blog Topic Thomas Jefferson once said, "The Government that governs best, governs least - or not at all. " How does that principle apply to the Articles of Confederation? How do you feel about the power of the government (does it need to be strong or weak, what should it do, etc. )? In at least 6 sentences, write your opinions on the topic.