To what

extent were
the Articles
of
Confederati
on a failed
government
?

Kentucky Clerk
Defies Court on
Marriage Licenses
for Gay Couples

I. Articles of Confederation
First national government under the Continental Congress, 1776-1789
A.

A firm league of friendship - loose union of states (each STATE a

republic)
1. each state had a single vote in the national
gvt (equal representation), reflecting primacy of state
sovereignty
B. Very limited Powers
1. ONLY 1 branch: legislative
2. National government could conduct foreign relations, run a postal service, and
request troops
BUT it had no power to tax, raise armies, or have an
executive or judicial branch (feared abuses of power)
3. Difficult to make major changes - ie. routine decisions req. a majority; major
decisions (ie. war) req. 9/13 states; amendments req. anonymity

Government
has authority
of citizens

Written
constitution

Guarantees
rights and
freedoms

VISIONS OF A
VIRTUOUS
REPUBLIC

Vision of
simple and
plain
lifestyle

Educated
citizenry

Limited powers
(checks/balance
s; frequent
elections)

The Yeoman
Farmer
symbol of the
republican values
embraced by agrarians
hardworking
independent
self-sufficient
industrious
honest
virtuous
does not exploit others

II. State Governments

A. States maintained primary
sovereignty and
independence without
encroachment from a
strong national government
B. Each state considered a
small republic

C. States had written constitutions that included:

1. limited power of governor - no veto
power, no land grants, one year
terms.
2. List of rights and freedoms (ie. trial
by jury, religion)
3. Separation of powers - 3 branches
4. Lowered property qualifications for
voting among white males (increased
suffrage) in most states

Limits of republicanism?

ABIGAIL ADAMS:

"I long to hear that you have declared an independency. And, by the way, in the
new code of laws which I suppose it will be necessary for you to make, I desire
you would remember the ladies and be more generous and favorable to them than
your ancestors. Do not put such unlimited power into the hands of the husbands.
Remember, all men would be tyrants if they could. If particular care and attention
is not paid to the ladies, we are determined to foment a rebellion, and will not hold
ourselves bound by any laws in which we have no voice or representation."

III. Limits of republicanism

A. Women remained second class citizens
- without suffrage rights or many legal rights (esp. if married)
B. Though the First emancipation occurred in many northern
states, all southern states maintained slavery
- slavery remained a protected institution (states had primary
sovereignty)
- Property rights (ie. ownership of slaves) came before any
broader notion of equal rights (indication that African slaves
thought of FIRST as property)

I. Problems under the Articles

ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION

CONSEQUENCES

TAXES

Had to ask each state for money; no

power to tax

States ignored requests; no money to

run central gvt
Could not pay foreign or internal
debts

RAISING an ARMY/NAVY

Had to ask each state for

troops/sailors

States often ignored requests

No troops to enforce national laws or
secure borders
No troops to deal with domestic
rebellion

COMMERCE

Could not control commerce/trade

States taxed each other

Business suffered and was inefficient

MONEY

Could not regulate the printing or

earning of money

Each state printed its own money;

government money seen as worthless

LAND

Lands west of the Appalachians

unorganized

Squabbling over western lands by

squatters and speculators

Shays Rebellion (1786-87) leads to fears of

the mobocracy

Western MA farmers (led by Daniel Shays) - dissenters of state gvt

petitioned for lower taxes, more printed money, greater rep. in st. gvt
Organized to shut down courts and seize an armory

Highlighted class disparity

particularly alarming to the propertied classes

Convinced some that a stronger national government/greater

centralization was needed to maintain order

Convention called to amend the Articles

Was overhauling the Articles of Confederation

necessary to preserve the union?
NO

YES

Euro powers looming and the US

needed to ensure national security

Shays Rebellion was a legitimate

expression of republican values

Congress lacked power to pay debts,

fix economic issues, settle interstate
conflicts

Articles saw some accomplishments

ie. NW Ordinance

Most people who sought to overhaul

Articles were men of means who
fabricated impending calamity to
strengthen national gvt

The Articles could have been

tweaked, not scrapped entirely

Self-governing states were

unwilling to make sacrifices

Internal conflicts threatened national

security (ie. Shays Rebellion)

I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good

thingIt is a medicine necessary for the sound health
of the governmentGod forbid we should ever be
twenty years without such a rebellionThe tree of
liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the
blood of patriots and tyrant. It is its natural manure.
- Thomas Jefferson (at the time an ambassador in
France)