What group do you most identify yourself?

Move to the part of the room

that is the group in which

you feel the closest

alliance….• You will work together to create the

best classroom seal and motto for our class after looking at the current United States Seal including motto “E Pluribus Unum.”

As a group, design a seal that would represent our class – check out our current US Seal. Everyone in class must wear

this seal on a class t-shirt.

Present your shield to the class and each group has one vote. We will pick the shield that has 9/13

votes.

• Each group gets to vote on each shield.• The shield with 9 or more votes wins.• Each group can only vote on one shield.

Debrief• Did we decide on one seal that at least 9 of

groups could agree on?• What were the problems in finding a common

decision?• How did the different groups feel as we made

the decisions?• Where there any groups missing? How did

that affect the process• What would have helped the decisions?

Quiz on a Post It

• Place your name on Post It• If you have your own Post It add one point• Number 1-5• Answers require only one letter or one word

answer.• Keep your eyes on your own paper.

Quiz over AOC

1. Totally true, A little true, False, A little False: Native Americans were given equal protection as white settlers under the Northwest Ordinance.

Quiz over AOC

2. The NW Ordinance:a. Granted freedom of religion and the right to

trial by jury to settlers.b. Organized the territories and gave a clear path

to statehood.c. Abolished slavery in the territories.d. All of the above

Quiz over AOC

3. The AOC were ratified:a. Immediately following the DOIb. In 1781 after territorial disputes were solvedc. In 1865 after the end of the Civil Ward. After the US Constitution was proved too weak

Quiz over AOC4. The Articles of Confederation:

a. established the Confederate States of America and announced their secession in 1776.

b. established too weak of a central government and were replaced by the U.S. Constitution.

c. gave all authority to the central government and left no power to the states.

Quiz over AOC5. Which power did the central government not have under the Articles of Confederation? a. Under the Articles of Confederation the central government had all of the powers below:b.Diplomacy, making treaties, etc.c.Coordinating the war effortd.The power to taxe.Settling disputes between the states

Articles of Confederation Simulation

• This simulation was designed to show you the set up and weaknesses of America’s first ruling document – the Articles of Confederation. But what did you actually “experience?”

Simulation to Reality• During the war and after, under the new

government, most people still saw themselves as “Virginians or South Carolinians” than Americans.

• The first government was ruled under the Articles of Confederation. But under this plan for government, most of the powers were given to the states, and the national government was really not strong enough.

• The Constitution replaced the AOC within about 11 years.

• Here’s the story….

From the Articles of Confederation what can you

learn?

The AOC said that the government would be…

• Divided into only one branch: A legislative branch that was called the Confederation Congress.

• Each state could send 2-7 representatives but they only got one vote on each law or issue.

The Confederation Congress had the powers to:

Draw an image next to each:

•Borrow money•Make treaties•Declare war•Deal with the Indians•Control Western lands•Deal with foreign problems•Run Postal Service•9/13 states had to approve any decision

Ratifying the AOC1. Drafted in 1777 and

approved by the Congress as a whole, but the small states did not sign until 1781 as the war was ending.

2. Small states didn’t like that fact that large states had control of lands west of the Appalachian Mountains.

Ratification Dates

Simulation to Reality1. 13 “groups”2. Each group had different #

of representatives3. Some groups had no

members4. Each group got only 1 vote

no matter how many members

5. 9/13 groups had to approve a seal before it went onto our shirts

6. 13/13 had to approve an official change to our voting process

The achievements of the government under the AOC, too.

• It wasn’t all bad…..• Peace Treaty with Great Britain (treaty of Paris of

1783)• Land Ordinance of 1785 – decided how to

systematically cut up the new lands in the Northwest Territory; got large states to give up claims to Western lands.

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787– a system which said new states could be added

Western Land Claims

When the large states gave the land to the government to manage, the remaining small

states ratified the AOC

What would you do with the NW Territory?

How would you organize it? Divide it? Govern it?

Land Ordinance

F. Northwest Ordinance1. Provided for the organized creation of the 5 states that today

we call OH, IN, MI, IL, WI,

F. Northwest Ordinance1. Provided for the organized creation of the states that today we

call OH, IN, MI, IL, WI, 2. Northwest Ordinance – ratified in 1787 by Confederation

Congress and it stated that in lands of the Northwest Territory, they would be settled and governed in the following manner:

a) When there are 5000 land owning males, the township could elect an assembly

b) When there are 60000 people they could apply for statehood (after the assembly writes the state constitution)

c) Slavery is outlawed everywhered) Rivers are navigable by alle) Freedom of religion is guaranteed in all the townshipsf) Trial by jury is guaranteed!g) Schools are set up in each areah) Natives were to be treated with a “decent” respect.

What problems could arise with this plan of government?

What were the weaknesses of the federal government under the AOC?

• No power to levy or collect taxes (states collected money and could turn it into the national treasury)

• No power to regulate trade between states or with foreign countries

• No power to enforce laws (no commander in chief and no way to call up an army) States didn’t have to follow laws or treaties.

• No power to set up courts (judicial branch) to settle disputes between states

Other problems

• Laws needed 9/13 states for approval. That’s 70% - really a lot of agreement.

• To amend (change) any of these weaknesses, all states had to approve – that means 100%

Why were the Articles of Confederation so weak?

What we didn’t like about the British. . .

• Taxation without representation

• Large central government (monarchy) had all the power

• States always had to listen to the king

• All power was in the King’s hands.

• King could change the system of government any time

So the Articles of Confederation…

• Federal government could not tax

• States didn’t have to follow laws and treaties.

• States had their own laws and didn’t have to follow any other states’ laws

• No executive branch or national court system.

• Any amendment required all 13 states

G. Shay’s Rebellion – the final straw1. A problem in the state of Massachusetts because of debt to

soldiers in 17872. Lots of debt in Massachusetts leads to EXTREMELY high taxes -

about $200/year which is more than the average family even makes in a year

3. Strict debt laws also in Massachusetts means that if families can’t pay their taxes or debt, they are thrown in jail and their property sold

4. Farmers worried, so they ask the Massachusetts legislature for some help (c’mon Massachusetts, give us a break!), and legislature gives them no relief

5. Farmers get together to rebel6. Daniel Shays is leader of rebellion, a group of them go to the state

arsenal (where weapons are stored) and attack7. State militia is called in, and four folks die and the rebellion is

squashed.8. What did the national government do? Nothing? They had no

power to give the state and/or the farmers any help. With this huge rebellion, they realized how powerless they were.

Paper Debate in a Group of 4

• Side One: The AOC is a great plan of government for the newly independent US– Hint: Make sure your debaters are prepared with

accurate examples of successes of the AOC.

• Side Two: The AOC is too weak a plan of government for the newly independent US.– Hint: Make sure your debaters are prepared with

accurate examples of problems related to the AOC.