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'''Aim:''' What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
__NOTOC__


'''Do Now:''' Why was it important for the colonies to form a national government?
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== Articles of Confederation ==
'''EQ:''' What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?
::
'''Do Now:''' Make a prediction, think-pair-share, what is an [[Articles|Article]]?


Nov 15, 1777
::


When John Dickson and his committee wrote The Articles of Confederation in June 1776, which was later adopted by the Continental Congress on Nov. 15, 1777, this document proved to be too weak to solve a majority of the issues facing the new nation, therefore not lasting very long. For the first attempt at creating a central government there were strong points as well as many weaknesses. Such as, regardless of the population of that state it could only have one vote in Congress. This only concluded to thirteen votes out of the whole nation. However, Congress did not accomplish much because 9 out of these thirteen states needed to agree to pass laws. Also, the Congress could not collect or enact taxes. Therefore, putting these thirteen states into a massive amount of debt which couldn't be paid off. There was also no executive branch to enforce the laws of Congress or a national court system to settle legal disputes. Also there were thirteen separate states that lacked national unity. Needless to say, the first attempt of creating a central government failed. However for the past 200+ years The U.S. Constitution, the second attempt or creating a central government, is still in action and still the law of the land.
{{Lessonoverview}}


{| {{table}}
== Articles of Confederation - November 15th, 1777 ==
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''STRENGTHS:  '''
The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.
| align="center" style="background:#f0f0f0;"|'''WEAKNESSES:'''
 
After the Lee Resolution proposed independence for the American colonies, the Second Continental Congress appointed three committees on June 11, 1776. One of the committees was tasked with determining what form the confederation of the colonies should take. This committee was composed of one representative from each colony. John Dickinson, a delegate from Delaware, was the principal writer.
 
The Dickinson Draft of the Articles of Confederation named the confederation "the United States of America." After considerable debate and revision, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777.
 
The document seen here is the engrossed and corrected version that was adopted on November 15. It consists of six sheets of parchment stitched together. The last sheet bears the signatures of delegates from all 13 states.
 
This "first constitution of the United States" established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power...which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States. The Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress.
 
Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion. Because of disputes over representation, voting, and the western lands claimed by some states, ratification was delayed. When Maryland ratified it on March 1, 1781, the Congress of the Confederation came into being.
 
Just a few years after the Revolutionary War, however, James Madison and George Washington were among those who feared their young country was on the brink of collapse. With the states retaining considerable power, the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce. It could not tax and was generally impotent in setting commercial policy. Nor could it effectively support a war effort. Congress was attempting to function with a depleted treasury; and paper money was flooding the country, creating extraordinary inflation.
 
The states were on the brink of economic disaster; and the central government had little power to settle quarrels between states. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.
 
In May of 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. They shuttered the windows of the State House (Independence Hall) and swore secrecy so they could speak freely. By mid-June the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. After three hot, summer months of highly charged debate, the new Constitution was signed, which remains in effect today.
 
==Transcript==
 
<center>[[Transcript of The Articles of Confederation]]
 
==Strengths & Weaknesses of The Articles of Confederation==
 
{|class="wikitable" style="margin:auto"
| align="center" style="background:#999999;"|'''STRENGTHS:  '''
| align="center" style="background:#999999;"|'''WEAKNESSES:'''
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| 1 To declare war and make peace.||1 The national government could not force the states to obey its laws.
| 1 To declare war & make peace ||1 The national government could not force the states to obey its laws.
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| 2 To coin and borrow money||2 It did not have the power to tax
| 2 To coin & borrow money   ||2 It did not have the power to tax
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| 3 To detail with foreign countries and sign treaties     ||3 It did not have the power to enforce laws
| 3 To detail with foreign countries & sign treaties   ||3 It did not have the power to enforce laws
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| 4 To operate post offices||4 Congress lacked strong and steady leadership
| 4 To operate post offices   ||4 Congress lacked strong and steady leadership
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</Center>


== Classwork & Homework ==
== Activities ==


'''Lesson PowerPoint:''' [http://www.classroomexplorations.org/mybetanyc/departments/socialstudies/teachers/ott/wiki/images/9/92/Articlesofconfed.pptx Articles of Confederation]
'''Lesson Video:''' [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BRFdlDFxDGc Articles of Confederation & Shay's Rebellion]


'''Lesson Video:''' [http://www.classroomexplorations.org/mybetanyc/departments/socialstudies/teachers/ott/wiki/classroom/articlesconf.wmv Articles of Confederation & Shay's Rebellion]
'''Lesson Activity:'''


'''Lesson Activity:''' Create a "T-Chart" of the Strengths & Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
* [https://www.learnsocialstudies.org/wiki/images/d/d2/Articlesofconfederationworksheet1.pdf Articles of Confederation Reading & Worksheet #1]


'''Homework:''' [[Assignments]]
* [https://www.learnsocialstudies.org/wiki/images/7/78/Articlesofconfederationworksheet2.pdf Articles of Confederation Reading & Worksheet #2]

Latest revision as of 14:25, 27 July 2023


EQ: What were the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Do Now: Make a prediction, think-pair-share, what is an Article?

This Lesson Overview is provided as a quick and easy lesson plan format for teachers.
Lesson Procedures are located at bottom of lesson for individuals/groups/pairs. Print Lesson and complete as needed.

Lesson Overview
Utilized Activity Time Allocated Mode of Activity
____ Do Now _________ / 2-5 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Mini Lesson _________/ 15-20 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Activity _________ / 20-30 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #_____)
____ Discussion/Exit Ticket _________ / 5-10 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Assessment _________ / 10-40 Min (Individual / Think-Pair-Share / Pair / Group #____)
____ Conferencing _________ Min (Individual / Pair / Group #____ / Throughout Class Period)

Articles of Confederation - November 15th, 1777

The Articles of Confederation were adopted by the Continental Congress on November 15, 1777. This document served as the United States' first constitution. It was in force from March 1, 1781, until 1789 when the present-day Constitution went into effect.

After the Lee Resolution proposed independence for the American colonies, the Second Continental Congress appointed three committees on June 11, 1776. One of the committees was tasked with determining what form the confederation of the colonies should take. This committee was composed of one representative from each colony. John Dickinson, a delegate from Delaware, was the principal writer.

The Dickinson Draft of the Articles of Confederation named the confederation "the United States of America." After considerable debate and revision, the Second Continental Congress adopted the Articles of Confederation on November 15, 1777.

The document seen here is the engrossed and corrected version that was adopted on November 15. It consists of six sheets of parchment stitched together. The last sheet bears the signatures of delegates from all 13 states.

This "first constitution of the United States" established a "league of friendship" for the 13 sovereign and independent states. Each state retained "every Power...which is not by this confederation expressly delegated to the United States. The Articles of Confederation also outlined a Congress with representation not based on population – each state would have one vote in Congress.

Ratification by all 13 states was necessary to set the Confederation into motion. Because of disputes over representation, voting, and the western lands claimed by some states, ratification was delayed. When Maryland ratified it on March 1, 1781, the Congress of the Confederation came into being.

Just a few years after the Revolutionary War, however, James Madison and George Washington were among those who feared their young country was on the brink of collapse. With the states retaining considerable power, the central government had insufficient power to regulate commerce. It could not tax and was generally impotent in setting commercial policy. Nor could it effectively support a war effort. Congress was attempting to function with a depleted treasury; and paper money was flooding the country, creating extraordinary inflation.

The states were on the brink of economic disaster; and the central government had little power to settle quarrels between states. Disputes over territory, war pensions, taxation, and trade threatened to tear the country apart.

In May of 1787, the Constitutional Convention assembled in Philadelphia to revise the Articles of Confederation. They shuttered the windows of the State House (Independence Hall) and swore secrecy so they could speak freely. By mid-June the delegates had decided to completely redesign the government. After three hot, summer months of highly charged debate, the new Constitution was signed, which remains in effect today.

Transcript

Transcript of The Articles of Confederation

Strengths & Weaknesses of The Articles of Confederation

STRENGTHS: WEAKNESSES:
1 To declare war & make peace 1 The national government could not force the states to obey its laws.
2 To coin & borrow money 2 It did not have the power to tax
3 To detail with foreign countries & sign treaties 3 It did not have the power to enforce laws
4 To operate post offices 4 Congress lacked strong and steady leadership
5 There was no national army or navy
6 There was no system of national courts

Activities

Lesson Video: Articles of Confederation & Shay's Rebellion

Lesson Activity:

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