How revolutionary was the revolutionary war African Americans

How revolutionary was the revolutionary war? African Americans Women Poorer White Men

Why did the Articles of Confederation ultimately fail? How did the founders learn from the articles when they created the constitution?

The Articles of Confederation • During the Revolution, the new United States needed a functioning government • Modeled after colonial governments • States would retain sovereignty • Founders were fearful of concentrated power due to past experience with the British 3

Articles of Confederation • • Group 1 – Articles I – IV Group 2 – Articles V – VI Group 3 – Articles VII – IX (end of Par. 1) Group 4 – Article IX (Par. 2 & 3) Group 5 – Article IX (Par. 4 & 5) Group 6 – Article IX (Par. 6 & 7) Group 7 – Articles X – XIII 4

1) How was the Government limited? 2) Is their a unicameral or bicameral legislative body? Is it a strength or weakness? 3) How were votes distributed among states?

1) How was the Government limited?

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 7

2) Is their a unicameral or bicameral legislative body? Is it a strength or weakness? 3) How were votes distributed among states?

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 9

Where do you see Enlightenment influence? What Enlightenment ideas do they ignore?

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 Map of the land settled in the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 11

Potential Weaknesses

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 13