The Articles of Confederation The weakness the was

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The Articles of Confederation The weakness the was America’s 1 st form of gov’t

The Articles of Confederation The weakness the was America’s 1 st form of gov’t national gov’t was originally seen as Later, these same weaknesses kept the gov’t from solving Confederation good because it Government ineliminated tyranny serious national problems New York City

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Handout

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Handout

The inability of the government to collect taxes led to problems Confederation Government in

The inability of the government to collect taxes led to problems Confederation Government in New York City

U. S. Trade with Britain, 1783 -1789 America could not pay off debts from

U. S. Trade with Britain, 1783 -1789 America could not pay off debts from the Revolutionary War Debt

Congress had no power to lay or collect taxes Government is always short of

Congress had no power to lay or collect taxes Government is always short of money Congress had no power to enforce its laws (no chief executive or executive branch) The government depended on the states to enforce law. There was no effective way to coordinate the work of the government Congress was made up of one house (unicameral). One vote per state = unequal representation There was no national judicial system. There was no easy way to settle disputes between states.

Congress had no power to regulate interstate or foreign trade Economic quarrels among the

Congress had no power to regulate interstate or foreign trade Economic quarrels among the states broke out often over interstate tariffs. There was difficulty in arranging for trade with other countries. The government did not have the power to maintain an army There was no national defense. States had local militias. Government was dominated by states There was no easy way to settle disputes between states. Approval of nine states was needed to enact laws. It was difficult to enact laws. Amendments to the Articles required the consent of all thirteen states. There was no practical way to change the Articles.

Shays’ Rebellion proved to be the convincing event that led to the Constitutional Convention

Shays’ Rebellion proved to be the convincing event that led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787 Property foreclosures led an uprising among Massachusetts farmers called Shays’ Rebellion in 1787 but the gov’t could not pay for an army to stop it Poor farmers in western MA were angered over high taxes & prospect of debtors jail Daniel Shays led an uprising & closed debt courts & threatened a federal arsenal

After. America’s Shays’ Rebellion, people. Government: like Hamilton & First National Madison began calling

After. America’s Shays’ Rebellion, people. Government: like Hamilton & First National Madison began calling for a stronger national gov’t The Articles of Confederation In 1787, delegates Instead of revising the met in Philadelphia to Articles of Confederation, discuss ways to the delegates replaced it improve the Articles with the Constitution

The Articles of Confederation were intentionally weak in order to protect state & individual

The Articles of Confederation were intentionally weak in order to protect state & individual liberties But, the inability of the national gov’t to tax & unify the states led to problems like Shays’ Rebellion Confederation Government in New York City

In May 1787, 55 delegates held a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to discuss ways

In May 1787, 55 delegates held a Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia to discuss ways to strengthen the national gov’t… …But instead of revising the Articles of Confederation, they replaced it with the Constitution

The Constitution was a The supremacy clause radical shift from the AOC establishes the

The Constitution was a The supremacy clause radical shift from the AOC establishes the because it gave more Constitution (not the power to the national gov’t states) as the "the than to the state gov’ts supreme law of the land"

The national government under the Constitution would have new features & powers that the

The national government under the Constitution would have new features & powers that the Articles of Confederation did not have Rather than a single unicameral Congress, the new national government would be divided among three equal branches of government

Like the AOC, the gov’t had a Congress (legislative branch) to make laws Unlike

Like the AOC, the gov’t had a Congress (legislative branch) to make laws Unlike the AOC, the new gov’t had a president (executive branch) to lead the nation and enforce laws passed by Congress Unlike the AOC, Congress had the power to tax & coin money Unlike the AOC, the new gov’t had a court system (judicial branch) to interpret laws and prosecute federal crimes

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention agreed on some major philosophical ideas for the new

Delegates at the Constitutional Convention agreed on some major philosophical ideas for the new national government

Popular Sovereignty: the people have power by voting for leaders Limited gov’t: even though

Popular Sovereignty: the people have power by voting for leaders Limited gov’t: even though the national government was stronger, citizens’ liberty was still protected Federalism: the national gov’t shares power with state gov’ts

Separation of powers: Checks & balances: each branch three branches with can limit the

Separation of powers: Checks & balances: each branch three branches with can limit the power of the others defined powers