Central Gov’t Under the Articles Single- chamber (unicameral) congress No executive branch or president Congress made up of one delegate from

each state w/ one vote each Congress’ powers limited to:

1. Foreign affairs 2. Defense

Articles of Confederation

Weak Central Gov’t

No power to levy taxes No power to regulate trade No power to enforce laws Difficult to pass laws: needed 9/13 to

pass a law Needed consent from all 13 states to

amend the Articles No Executive Branch No Federal court system

Need for Stronger Gov’t

1. States began to argue over boundary lines and tariffs.

2. Central gov’t had no money to maintain an army and was $40 million in debt.

3. 1786 economic depression left many farmers in debt

Shays’s Rebellion

Farmers in debt were often jailed or their properties were seized by state authorities.

Armed farmers closed courts to prevent farm foreclosures

Daniel Shays and a force of 1200 men closed the Mass. Supreme Court.

Mass. militia put down the rebellion.

THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

Describe the weaknesses and achievements of the Articles

CONTENT VOCABULARYRatify- to approve

Unicameral- single-chamber congress

Cede- to yield

Ordinance- laws

Achievements

Developed a fair policy for the development of lands west of the Appalachians

Peace Treaty with Great Britain- Britain recognized American independence, and America gained land

Established “full faith and credit” among states

Annapolis Convention

Alexander Hamilton (NY) and James Madison (VA), both in favor of a stronger central gov’t called for a convention in Philadelphia

Philadelphia Convention (May, 1787) to revise the Articles of Confederation