Articles of Confederation Why were the Articles of

Articles of Confederation Why were the Articles of Confederation too weak to govern the nation?

States Write Constitutions • May, 1776 – Congress asks states to organize governments • By 1880 all states have a state constitution ( a plan of government)

Limits on power • States limit the power of the governor – fear giving too much power to one person • Divide power between governor and legislature; most set up bicameral (two-house legislatures) to divide the work of government • All states had a republican form of gov’t • In a republic, people choose representatives to govern them

• White males who were at least 21, owned a certain amount of property, or paid a certain amount of taxes could vote • Some states allowed free African American males to vote • State legislatures became most powerful branch of government

New Republic • People agree national government should be a republic – a government in which citizens rule through elected representatives • People disagreed on the powers the national government should have

Articles of Confederation • Using pages 178 – 179 Create a foldable showing the powers of the National Government under the Articles of Confederation and the weaknesses of the Articles

Confederation Government Achievements • Negotiated peace treaty with Great Britain • Expanded foreign trade • Helped settle and govern western lands

Summary • Why did most states limit the power of their governors and divide their legislatures into two bodies? • How might the limited powers of the Articles of Confederation affect Congress as the nation developed? Activity Suggestions: Illustrate what bicameral means, illustrate the idea of a republic government, create a comic strip showing a weakness of the Articles of Confederation