History Lecture: Articles of Confederation (AOC)

Introduction

• Focus: America's first constitution post-Revolutionary War.
• Document: Articles of Confederation (AOC).
• Purpose: Establish a federal government after independence from Britain.

Background

• American Revolution: Need for governance without a monarch.
• Concerns: Avoid tyranny and abuse of power.

Structure and Intent

• State Power: Strong state governments favored to protect individual freedoms.
• Central Government: Initially weak to prevent centralized power abuse.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Pinky Finger:
  • Represents weak central (national/federal) government.
  • No president; only Congress.
  • Timeframe: 1781 (pre-Constitution) to 1787.
• Ring Finger:
  • Financial issues—no national currency and severe debt post-war.
  • States create own currencies; difficult interstate trade.
  • Federal government cannot collect taxes, only request donations.
• Middle Finger:
  • Boundary disputes:
    • Northwest Ordinance and Northwest Territory (Ohio, Indiana, etc.).
    • States competed for land, causing friction.
• Pointer Finger:
  • States blamed each other for national issues.
  • Lack of unity among states for the national good.
• Thumb:
  • International disrespect:
    • France and Spain upset over unpaid debts.
    • Difficulty in changing laws (required unanimity—13/13 states).

Strength of the Articles of Confederation

• Wrist (Brace): Represents stability.
  • Northwest Ordinance (NWO) 1787:
    • Organized process for territories to become states.
    • Requirement: 60,000 population to apply for statehood.
    • Prohibition of slavery in the Northwest Territory.

Conclusion

• Five Weaknesses: Memorized using hand analogy.
• One Strength: Structured development of new states under the Northwest Ordinance.
• Next Steps: Study Constitutional Convention and slavery debates.