Articles of Confederation What is a Confederation A

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Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

What is a Confederation? • A confederation is an association of sovereign member states,

What is a Confederation? • A confederation is an association of sovereign member states, that by treaty have delegated certain of their competences to common institutions, in order to coordinate their policies in a number of areas

Why were the Articles Created • Declared independence and needed a system to govern

Why were the Articles Created • Declared independence and needed a system to govern themselves • Think… How would you design your new government after defeating a colonial power?

American Thoughts of England

American Thoughts of England

Fears Addressed by Articles • Fear of creating a powerful national government • Thus,

Fears Addressed by Articles • Fear of creating a powerful national government • Thus, they created weak national government • No executive or judicial branches • Confederation Congress

Continued • States had majority of power and become like small countries • Influence

Continued • States had majority of power and become like small countries • Influence by classical republican gov’t- small communities

Fears Addressed by Articles • Fear that states would dominate others in national govt

Fears Addressed by Articles • Fear that states would dominate others in national govt • Larger more populous states may have more influence Congress • Solution- 1 state one vote

Does this make sense? According the articles, large states and small states have equal

Does this make sense? According the articles, large states and small states have equal representation in Congress

Weaknesses of the Articles • Confederation Congress had no authority over people or states

Weaknesses of the Articles • Confederation Congress had no authority over people or states • States decided laws

Weaknesses • Congress could not collect taxes from people or states • Congress could

Weaknesses • Congress could not collect taxes from people or states • Congress could not regulate trade • Unfair representation- small/large states have some # of votes • Fear of faction rule in states

Weaknesses • Each state had own money • What problems would this cause?

Weaknesses • Each state had own money • What problems would this cause?

conclusion • 1787, power in congress needed to change • People thought the Confederation

conclusion • 1787, power in congress needed to change • People thought the Confederation would never last • Possible wars