The Articles of ConfederationWhat a mess…!

The Articles of Confederation were the first government of the United States after we declared independence from England (1781).

The Articles created a government in which the states were almost like independent countries, but in which they all agreed to work together and protect each other.

The Articles had a one-house legislature and a very weak executive. It had no Judicial Branch.

The government lasted from 1781 to 1787. The Articles failed miserably because: Congress was too weak to really

govern (they couldn’t tax, they couldn’t enforce they’re own laws)

Too much power was given to the individual state governments. States could voluntarily pay taxes, follow the law, or ignore it entirely--it was up to them.

There was no national currency (states all printed their own money)

Each state had its own weights and measures (and Congress could not regulate trade). People argued over what products weighed and what they would pay for them.

There was no national court system

There was no national banking system

Shays’s Rebellion (1786) ~ Daniel Shays led people to believe that the Articles weren’t working

When Massachusetts called for help, no one helped. This is not what the confederation of states was supposed to do. A better government was needed…