The Articles of Confederation

Front

The Articles of Confederation were America’s first _____________ ___________ of __________.

It helped guide America through the American ______________. It was written in ______, ratified in ______, and was replaced in ______ by a new plan of government called the _____________.

Back

• Written Plan of Government

Revolution

1777

1781

1789

U.S. Constitution

Front

The Articles of Confederation were written in a way that gave the ___________ more power than the _____________ government. It was written this way because Americans did not trust having a strong central government with a single leader in charge.

Back

States

Federal

Front

The Articles of Confederation had some successful parts, but the document had many _____________, which is why it was only in use for about 10 years.

Back

Weaknesses

Front

Some of the main weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation were:

- No __________ court system

- No power to levy (or “collect”) __________

- The central government was much weaker than the individual _________ governments.

- Did not allow for the country to have a standing (or “permanent”) _________

- Only had a legislative branch, which allowed for the creation of laws

– Did not have an executive branch with a leader, and also did not have a ___________branch with national courts.

- Allowed the central government to regulate foreign trade (which means trade with other countries) but did not allow them to make rules about ______________ trade.

- In order to pass a NEW ___________, 9 out of 13 states needed to agree.

Back

National

Taxes

State

Army

Judicial

Interstate

Law

Front

In order to CHANGE the existing articles, ____________ out of 13 states needed to agree.

Back

13

Front

Many people considered ________ ____________ to be the event that made Americans realize that the Article of Confederation were not a successful plan of government because it revealed how poorly the National government was able to handle ____________ ____________.

Back

Shays' Rebellion, Internal Conflicts

Front

__________ were a group of well-educated and respected people who wanted to replace the Articles of Confederation with a new plan of government that created a strong CENTRAL (AKA: National) Government.

Back

Federalists

Front

The ____________ were a group of well-educated and respected people who wanted to revise (or change) the Articles of Confederation, but KEEP the states’ governments more powerful out of fear that people’s freedoms and rights might be abused by a strong National government.

Back

Anti-Federalists

Front

The most well-known Federalists included ____________, ____________, and ____________. They wrote a series of essays called the ____________ ____________ which explained why everyone should support the ratification of a new Constitution which included 3 ____________ of government that would prevent the abuse of power/violation of people’s rights. These essays became very popular.

Back

Alexander Hamilton

James Madison

John Jay

Federalist Papers

branches

Front

The most well-known Anti-Federalists included ____________, ____________, ____________, and ____________. They also wrote a series of essays explaining why THEY felt creating a strong central government was dangerous, but these were not very popular. In the end, the Anti-Federalists agreed to ratify the new Constitution AS LONG AS it included a ____________ ____________ that protected citizens’ natural rights and freedoms.

Back

Patrick Henry

George Mason

Richard Henry Lee

Samuel Adams

Bill of Rights