Chapter Overview Visit g[fncoe.com and click on Chapter 7-Chapter Overviews to preview chapter information. Section 1: The Articles of Confederation Essential Question How effective was government under the Articles of Confederation? Organizing Information Section 2: Convention and Compromise Make this Foldable to help Essential Question Why is the Constitution a document of you organize what you learn about the differ­ compromises? ences between the Articles of Confederation and the Constitution. Section 3: A New Plan of Government Essential Question What ideas and features are found in the Step 1 Fold an United States Constitution? 11" x 17" piece of paper lengthwise to create three equal sections. r r Step 2 Then fold it in­ f'--- - - I-- to four equal columns. Step 3 Label your ~: ; Pv rro~ D rtCJ~ Pti PI1 Perfed ar......... ~~~ .. ~ Foldable as shown. ~--- Articlefof ~;i,.j..,!;... Reading and r- - - Writing As you C..Till1'"'* read, describe each - document by identifying its purpose and fea­ tures, and evaluate how effective it was for governing. The Articles of Confederation : How effective was : government under the :. .Articles . of. Confederation? . .. • American Diary Reading Guide As British forces approached Philadelphia Content Vocabulary on September 19, 1777, fohn Adams and constitution (p. 187) petition (p. 190) bicameral (p. 187) ordinance (p. 19D) nzembets of the Second Continental republic (p. 188) depreciate (p. 191) Congress fled to York, Pennsylvania. Academic Vocabulary Adams wrote to his wife: "War has abandon (p. 189) clause (p. 191J no Charms for me. If! live much Key People and Events Articles of Confederation (p. 188) longer in Banish111ent I shall John Adams (p. 193) scarcely know my own Reading Strategy Children. Tell my little ones, Taking Notes As you read, use a diagram like the one below to identify that if they will be very good, the powers of the national government under the Articles of Confederation. Pappa will come home." -from Letters of Delegates to Congress From Independent States to 1777 and Massachusetts in 1780. Connecticut and Rhode Island kept their colonial charters a Republic as state constitutions. Their experience with British rule made IM}lltlal¥1 The Articles of Confederation created a Americans cautious about placing too much weak central government and strong state governments. power in the hands of a single ruler. For that History and You How hard is it to get a group of reason, the states adopted constitutions that friends to agree on what type of movie to watch or limited the power of the governor. Pennsyl­ game to play? Read about what was necessary for vania even replaced the office of governor the new Congress to pass a law. with an elected council of 12 members . .. .. I t was important for the Second Continental Limiting Power Congress to create a plan for government that States also divided government functions would satisfy the needs of all 13 states. The between the governor (or Pennsylvania's states were united against the British, but council) and the legislature. Most states estab­ would they be able to work together and still lished two-house, or bicameral, legislatures maintain their independence? How would to divide the power even further. each state's government be organized? After The writers of the constitutions not only rejecting British rule, the states' first task was wanted to prevent abuses of power in the to establish their own political institutions. states, but they also wanted to keep power in the hands of the people. State legislators were State Constitutions popularly elected, and elections were fre­ In May 1776, the Continental Congress quent. In most states, only white males who asked the states to organize their govern­ were at least 21 years old could vote. These ments. Each state moved quickly to adopt a citizens also had to own a certain amount of state constitution, or plan of government. By property or pay a certain amount of taxes. the end of 1776, eight states had drafted con­ Some states allowed free African American stitutions. New York and Georgia followed in males to vote. \J~ hen and VII here Capitals of the United States Nine different cities have served as capitals, or seats of government, of the United States. / 1;. Making Inferences Why do you ~~~r.~J:tt:;-:~:7::::--::--=-::-:----t-:-.......:..:.~~=~~~~-=-=~...::....:....--l think the United States had numerous capital cities between 1775 and 1800? Do you think it is important for a country to have a permanent location for its seat of government? Explain. Writing the Articles Even Richard Henry Lee of Virginia ARTICLES though he opposed independence, John moved on June 7, 1776, that 0 F Dickinson was asked to 11a plan of confederation be Confederatiot} . chair the committee to prepared and transmit­ draft the Articles of A N D ted to the respective Confederation because of colonies, for their rpetual Union his knowledge of government institutions. consideration and 6 .£H... DETWEEX T H B C ·-~ approbation T A 'I' E.S [approval]." o r 1781 March 1 1783 March 10 1786 September 14 1787 May 17 Articles of Troops demand back Annapolis Convention Constitutional pay from Congress, to reform regulation threaten to mutiny of commerce Continental Army Congress approves Congress calls officially disbanded a currency system convention to amend based on the dollar Articles of Confederation State constitutions generally restricted the Planning a New Government powers of the governors, which made the In 1776 the Second Continental Congress legislatures the most powerful branch of gov­ appointed a committee to draw up a plan for ernment.The state legislatures struggled to a new government. After much debate, the make taxes more fair, but disagreements Congress adopted the Articles of Confed­ arose. New challenges emerged as dependent eration in November 1777. The Articles, colonies became self-governing states. America's first constitution, provided for a new central government under which the Forming a Republic states kept most of their power. For the states, Americans agreed that their country should the Articles of Confederation were "a firm be a republic, a government in which citizens league of friendship" in which each state rule through elected representatives. They retained "its sovereignty, freedom and inde­ could not agree, however, on the organization pendence." Under the Articles of Confedera­ and powers of their new republic. At first, tion, Congress had the authority to conduct most Americans favored a weak central gov­ foreign affairs, maintain armed forces, bor­ ernment. They assumed the states would be row money, and issue currency. like small, independent countries-similar to Congress, however, did not have the power the way the colonies had been organized. The to regulate trade, force citizens to join the states would act independently on most army, or impose taxes. If Congress needed to issues, working together through a central raise money or troops, it had to ask the state government only to wage war and handle legislatures-but they were not required to relations with other nations. contribute. 188 Chapter 7 A More Perfect Union Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation • Congress had no authority to raise money by • Congress could not force states to carry out its laws collecting taxes • All 13 states had to agree to any amendments, • Congress had no control over foreign trade making it nearly impossible to correct problems A Common Currency The national currency had little According to George Washing­ value. States issued their ton, the Articles of Confedera­ own money, and values tion were "little more than the varied from state to state. shadow without the substance." Regulating Trade Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government did not have the authority to regulate commerce. In 1784 Congress wanted to take control of commerce for 15 years. The states, however, refused because they were afraid that Congress would then have too much power. In addition, the government lacked a chief The Confederation Government executive. The Confederation government The years between 1781 and 1789 were a carried on much of its business, such as sell­ critical period for the young American repub­ ing western lands, through congressional lic. The Articles of Confederation did not committees. provide a government strong enough to han­ The Articles of Confederation were not dle the problems facing the United States. wholly supported by the states. Under the The Congress had limited authority. It could new plan, each state had one vote, regardless not pass a law unless 9 states voted in favor of its population, and all states had to approve of it. Any attempt to change the Articles the Articles and any amendments. States with required the consent of all 13 states. This large populations, however, believed they made it difficult for the Congress to pass laws should have more votes. The states were also when there was any opposition. Despite its divided by whether or not they claimed land weaknesses, the Confederation made some in the West. Maryland refused to approve the important achievements. Under the Confed­ Articles until New York, Virginia, and other eration government, Americans won their states abandoned, or gave up, land claims independence from Britain and expanded the west of the Appalachian Mountains. Finally country's foreign trade. The Confederation the states settled their differences. With Mary­ also aided with settling and governing the land's ratification, all 13 states approved the nation's western territories. Articles. On March 1, 1781, the Confederation formally became the government of the Reading Check Specifying How many votes did United States of America. each state have in the new Congress? A More Perfect Union Chapter 7 189 New Land Policies the number of people in a district reached the population of the smallest existing state, that l l'i rttniGI¥1 As people moved west, the country district could petition, or apply to, Congress needed a process for new states joining the Union.