The Articles of Confederation 1781 1789 n n

The Articles of Confederation (1781 -1789) n n Approved by the states in 1781 – Congress could: n Declare war n Raise an army n Sign treaties Established a weak national gov’t Most of the power lay with the states The Articles established a government that: – Had only a legislative branch – Reps sent from each state – 1 state 1 vote = all states are equal

Achievements n n Negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783 Passage of Land Ordinance of 1785 and Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – Process for how a territory becomes a state – Helps to settle and organize new territory to Miss. R.

Problems n Articles could not: – Tax = had to ask states for money – Each state received only one vote – Passage of laws must receive 9 of 13 votes – All states had to ratify changes to the Articles – No National Currency – No president to lead the nation – No judicial branch

Economic Problems n America had borrowed money from foreign nations and Americans to pay for the Revolutionary war – Under the Articles the gov’t could not raise taxes to pay off debts. – States printed money that was not backed by gold = useless – Economic chaos

Worries n Many worried that: – The state governments were too powerful – The government could not control economic problems – The government could not raise an army n Shays’ Rebellion