The Articles of Confederation Confederation n A league

The Articles of Confederation

Confederation n. A league or alliance n Permanent union of sovereign states for common action in relation to other states

Articles of Confederation 1777 Continental Congress adopted n Laws to govern US n Needed all 13 states to ratify before it could take effect n 1777 -1778: 11 states n 1779: Delaware n March 1, 1781: Maryland (Effective Date) n Limited national government n Most power with states n

Positives n United the country during the Revolutionary War n Negotiated peace treaty with terms favorable to US n Created a system for debt reduction n Opened up most of Appalachian Mountains for settlement n Passed Northwest Ordinance of 1787 n Entry of new states

Negatives n Only one branch of government n Congress made up of delegates from states n Served as Legislative and Executive n Did not have power to tax – had to ask each state for money n National Debt - $50 million

Negatives n Each state had own currency n Government money was not backed by gold or silver - worthless n States had individual tariffs – states taxed each other n Had to ask states for troops - no troops to enforce laws n Could not help settle disputes because no power to enforce decisions

Shay’s Rebellion

Negatives n Difficult to Amend n 13 out of 13 states n Difficult to pass laws n 9 out of 13 states