The Articles of Confederation

Summary

This flipped classroom lesson explores the Articles of Confederation, the first government system of the United States after independence. It explains the structure, key features, and significant weaknesses of the Articles, including the lack of an executive branch, a federal court system, and national currency. The lesson highlights the challenges posed by the Articles, such as difficulties in raising an army, regulating trade, and enforcing laws. The video concludes by showing how these issues led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, which ultimately replaced the Articles with the U.S. Constitution, aiming for a more balanced and effective government.

Takeaways

• 😀 The Articles of Confederation were the first system of government for the United States after independence, establishing a unicameral Congress.
• 😀 There was no executive branch or federal judicial system under the Articles, meaning no centralized authority or federal courts existed.
• 😀 The president of the Congress, Samuel Huntington, is considered the first president of the United States, though his role was very different from modern presidents.
• 😀 The Articles gave Congress significant powers, such as making war and peace, sending ambassadors, borrowing money, and establishing a military, but lacked enforcement power.
• 😀 States were not required to send troops or contribute funds to the central government, leading to weakness in governance and defense.
• 😀 Each state could issue its own currency, which created economic chaos and difficulties in conducting business between states.
• 😀 The federal government had no power to tax, relying on states to raise funds, which often led to financial instability and inability to pay debts.
• 😀 States operated almost like independent countries, with laws and currencies that varied from state to state, leading to challenges in trade and cooperation.
• 😀 The lack of a strong central government made it difficult to regulate foreign trade, and foreign nations were hesitant to engage with the fragmented states.
• 😀 The Articles' weaknesses became apparent during the 'critical period' of the early 1780s, leading to economic struggles and internal unrest, such as Shays' Rebellion.
• 😀 The failure of the Articles of Confederation led to the Constitutional Convention in 1787, where a new framework for government, the U.S. Constitution, was created to address these issues.

Q & A

What was the Articles of Confederation, and why was it significant in U.S. history?

The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States, establishing a confederation of the 13 original states. It was significant because it laid the foundation for the U.S. government post-independence but was later deemed too weak to address the nation's needs, leading to the drafting of the U.S. Constitution in 1787.

How did the structure of the government under the Articles of Confederation differ from the current U.S. system?

Under the Articles of Confederation, the U.S. government had a unicameral Congress with no executive branch or federal judicial system. This contrasts with the modern U.S. system, which includes a bicameral Congress (Senate and House of Representatives), an executive branch led by the President, and a federal judiciary.

Who was the first president of the United States under the Articles of Confederation?

The first president under the Articles of Confederation was Samuel Huntington, who served as the president of the Continental Congress. This title is largely symbolic, as his role was not equivalent to that of George Washington, the first president under the U.S. Constitution.

What powers did Congress have under the Articles of Confederation?

Congress under the Articles had the power to make war and peace, send and receive ambassadors, make treaties, borrow money, and raise an army by asking the states for troops. However, these powers were limited by the lack of enforcement mechanisms and reliance on states' cooperation.

Why was the Articles of Confederation considered weak?

The Articles of Confederation were considered weak because Congress had no power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws. States were not required to send troops when requested, and each state had its own currency. The government lacked a unified approach to these issues, which led to instability.

What were the financial problems under the Articles of Confederation?

One major financial problem was that Congress had no power to tax and had to rely on the states to contribute funds. Additionally, each state printed its own currency, leading to a lack of uniformity. These issues were exacerbated after the Revolutionary War when the U.S. owed millions to foreign nations, primarily France.

What was the role of states in the Articles of Confederation?

States retained significant independence under the Articles, including the ability to print their own currency and raise taxes. They were expected to contribute troops, respect the laws of other states, and cooperate in trade and defense, but there was no federal authority to enforce these obligations.

How did the Articles of Confederation impact foreign relations?

The lack of a unified national government and the states' independent foreign policies made foreign nations hesitant to negotiate or engage with the U.S. Foreign governments were unsure whether they were dealing with independent states or a unified nation.

What event led to the recognition that the Articles of Confederation were too weak?

Shay's Rebellion, in which former Revolutionary War soldiers protested the government's failure to pay them, highlighted the weaknesses of the Articles. This event, along with other issues, prompted leaders to convene the Annapolis Convention and later the Constitutional Convention to create a stronger federal system.

How did the Articles of Confederation ultimately lead to the creation of the U.S. Constitution?

The failures and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation, such as the inability to raise revenue, regulate trade, and enforce laws, led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. Recognizing that the Articles were insufficient, delegates decided to replace them entirely and draft a new Constitution, which established a more powerful federal government.