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Lesson 11: How Did the Articles of Confederation Organize the First National Government?
Lesson Purpose
Our first government, the Continental Congress, drew up a constitution stating its powers. This constitution was called the Articles of Confederation. In this lesson, you will learn about some of the problems the Founders faced in creating our first national government. You will learn about the successes of the first national government. You also will learn about the weaknesses of government under the Articles and why some people believed that a new constitution was necessary.
Lesson Objectives
When you finish this lesson, you should be able to explain how the Articles organized the national government, and explain how the problems with the Articles caused the Founders to write a new constitution.
Lesson Terms
Articles of Confederation
The first Constitution of the United States, created to form a perpetual union and a firm league of friendship among the thirteen original states. It was adopted by the Second Continental Congress on November 10, 1777, and sent to the states for ratification. It came into force on March 1, 1781, and served as the nation's constitution until 1789, when the U.S. Constitution replaced it. The Articles provided for a weak central government.
national government
Northwest Ordinance (1787)
Shays' Rebellion
