Overview
This lecture explains the structure, weaknesses, and legacy of the Articles of Confederation, America’s first national government, and how its flaws led to the creation of the Constitution.
Teaching the Articles of Confederation
- Primary source documents like the Articles can be hard for students to understand.
- Teachers use interactive activities (e.g., blocks game) to model state-power dynamics under the Articles.
- Each "state" (student group) received one vote and could propose rules if most agreed, regardless of size.
- The activity showed how hard it was to pass new rules and the problems of unequal resources.
Creation and Structure of the Articles
- The Articles of Confederation were drafted before independence was declared but ratified in 1781.
- Designed to make a government opposite from the British monarchy; limited central power.
- Established a "firm league of friendship" among 13 sovereign states.
- Only one branch: legislative (Confederation Congress); each state had one vote.
- Congress could coin money, make treaties, and request (not require) money from states.
- No executive (president), judicial (national courts), or single meeting place.
- Amendments required unanimous approval (13/13 states).
Weaknesses of the Articles
- Congress could not tax or enforce laws; states often ignored requests for money.
- No national currency; individual state currencies led to confusion and trade problems.
- No power to regulate interstate commerce; states imposed tariffs on each other.
- No standing army; difficult to respond to crises.
- Amending the Articles was nearly impossible due to the need for unanimous consent.
Key Events and Collapse
- The Northwest Ordinance was a major success, organizing new territories and banning slavery there.
- Shay’s Rebellion (1786): Unpaid veterans and farmers rebelled in Massachusetts, exposing the federal government’s inability to maintain order.
- States had to hire private armies to suppress uprisings, highlighting weaknesses.
- Calls for reform led to the Annapolis Convention, then the Constitutional Convention in Philadelphia.
Legacy and Lessons
- The Articles served as an early experiment in national government—helped the founders learn but proved too weak.
- Lack of government power led to ineffectiveness, not just limited government.
- The need to balance government power and citizens’ rights led to the later adoption of checks and balances in the Constitution.
Key Terms & Definitions
- Articles of Confederation — America’s first national governing document, creating a loose alliance of independent states.
- Confederation Congress — The single legislative body under the Articles.
- Northwest Ordinance — Law setting rules for creating new states and banning slavery in the Northwest Territory.
- Shay’s Rebellion — 1786 armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers and veterans, revealing government weaknesses.
- Unicameral — Having a single legislative chamber.
- Unanimous Consent — Requirement that all states agree to amendments.
Action Items / Next Steps
- Review the structure and main powers of the Articles of Confederation.
- Be familiar with the Northwest Ordinance and its impact.
- Prepare for discussion on how these weaknesses led to the Constitutional Convention.