The Critical Period

1. The Critical Period Chapter 2 Section 3

2. Today’s Agenda • Warm-up: Study for Section 2 Quiz • Notes on Section 3 • Homework

3. The Articles of Confederation • Established “a firm league of friendship” • Each state kept “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.” • Came together for “their common defense, the security of their Liberties, and their mutual and general welfare.

4. The Articles of Confederation • November 15, 1777, the delegates approved this plan of government. • The ratification, or formal approval, of each of the 13 states was needed. • Maryland finally ratified on March 1, 1781 – the Second Continental Congress declared the Articles effective on that date. http://www.izaak.unh.edu/dlp/Stark/StarkGallery/images/STK1777_U58.jpg

5. Government Structure • Unicameral Congress with delegates chosen yearly • Each state one vote • No executive or judicial branch • Congress chose a member to be its President yearly – presiding officer no the President of the United States

6. Powers of Congress • Make war and peace • Send and receive ambassadors • Make treaties • Borrow money • Set up a money system • Establish post offices http://www.pocanticohills.org/5ggovernment/img003.gif

7. Powers of Congress • Build a navy • Raise an army by asking states for troops • Fix uniform standards of weights and measures • Settle disputes between states http://www.stratcom.mil/seals/Navy.jpg

8. State Obligations • Provide funds and troops requested by the Congress • Treat citizens of other states fairly and equally • Give full faith and credit to the public acts, records, and judicial proceedings of every other state http://www.busternus.com/rvn/1966%201016%20new%20troop%20arriving.jpg

9. State Obligations • Surrender fugitives to one another • Submit disputes to Congress for settlement • Allow open trade and travel among states http://www.moviequotequiz.com/reviews/FugitiveBig.gif

10. State Obligations • States retained any powers not explicitly given to Congress. • States were responsible for promoting life and property and “the safety and happiness of the people.”

11. Weaknesses • No power to tax (raise money by borrowing and asking states for funds) • No power to regulate foreign or interstate trade • No power to make states obey the Articles of Confederation or the laws it made – no executive branch to enforce • Required the consent of 9 of 13 states to exercise any power http://library.thinkquest.org/J003358F/money_tree5.jpg

12. Weaknesses • All 13 states legislatures had to consent to any changes in the Articles – not one amendment was ever added • One vote per state regardless of size • No national court system

13. The 1780’s • The Revolutionary war ended on October 19th, 1781. • The Treaty of Paris was signed in 1783 • Peace brought the weaknesses of the Articles to the surface. • States bickered, taxing each other and banning trade. http://www.constitutioncenter.org/timeline/flash/assets/asset_upload_file867_11926.jpg

14. The 1780’s • Many states acted without Congress’ approval. • Violence broke out in many places. • Shay’s Rebellion - 1786 Daniel Shays led uprising that forced the Massachusetts Supreme Court to close (upset about economic conditions)

15. Need for Stronger Government • Mount Vernon – successful negotiations between Maryland and Virginia that lead to a “meeting of all states to consider a plan for regulating commerce.”

16. Need for Stronger Government • Joint meeting – September 11, 1786 – only 5 states attended. Call for another meeting. • Congress calls on all states to send a delegate to Philadelphia “for the sole and expressed purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.

17. Need for Stronger Government • May 25, 1778 – Meeting in Philadelphia becomes the Constitutional Convention. • Began the establishment of a new government for the United States.