The United States Constitution has become the most important document ever created in American history. The delegates who met in Philadelphia in 1787 were given the arduous task of creating a government that firmly guaranteed freedom, liberty, and justice. Learn more and engage students with our premade activities and lesson plans!
Constitutional Convention lesson plan - Articles of Confederation Weakness
Storyboard Text
WEAKNESS 1
WEAKNESS 2
WEAKNESS 3
New Hampshire Population in 1780: 1 Vote In Congress
Virginia Population in 1780: 1 Vote In Congress
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had no power to collect taxes from the states. Without the ability to tax the states, federal defense programs would be difficult to fund.
Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no federal court system. Without a federal court system, there was no structured way for states to resolve their conflicts.
The new republic created by the Articles of Confederation gave each state a single vote in regards to the creation and amending of federal laws. Although this allowed each state to voice their opinions, it also did not give more power to more highly populated states. This resulted in an unfair distribution of power to the less populated states.