Students learn about the Articles of Confederation. They discover when and why they were written, the structure and powers of the government it established, achievements and limitations of the government (including the Land Ordinance of 1787), and the significance of Shays’ Rebellion on the Articles.
Students read background text introducing the Continental Congress, the ratification of the Articles of Confederation as the nation’s first constitution, and the lesson objectives. They examine the title “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States” and respond to a prompt about challenges that might arise from trying to balance independence with unity or cooperation.
Teacher MovesPresent the lesson overview and objectives, clarifying key vocabulary such as union, confederation, article, perpetual, and sovereignty. Guide students in analyzing the title of the Articles, prompting them to identify and interpret important words. Use student ideas to surface the central tension between state power and national unity, and support students in articulating possible challenges of balancing independence and cooperation.
Students read Articles of Confederation to learn about the structure and powers of the national government under the Articles. They complete a two-column table identifying powers given and not given to the national government, then respond to a collaborative prompt describing the structure of the government, including which branches existed and how state voting power worked.
Teacher MovesSupport students in identifying examples of powers granted and withheld from the national government, and prompt them to consider benefits and drawbacks of this division of power. Clarify that the Articles created only a unicameral Congress with no executive or judicial branches and that each state had one vote. Use student responses to deepen understanding of how this structure affected national authority.
Students read Evaluating the Congress to examine the accomplishments and limitations of the Continental Congress under the Articles. They complete a “report card” table, assigning pass or fail ratings in foreign relations/diplomacy, the economy, and western expansion, with written explanations. Students then read about the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and use a graphic organizer to explain how the ordinance’s provisions for civil liberties, self-government, banning slavery, and state constitutions reflected democratic ideals.
Teacher MovesDiscuss with students how the Continental Congress performed in foreign relations, economic policy, and western expansion, prompting them to justify their grades with evidence from the reading. Highlight key points such as successful diplomacy with France and in the peace treaty, economic weaknesses due to lack of taxing power, and the significance of the Northwest Ordinance for orderly expansion and equal-status new states. Guide students in connecting features of the Northwest Ordinance to democratic principles like protected rights, representative government, and limits on slavery.
Students read about the postwar economic crisis, growing debt among farmers, and differing state responses, then read Shays’ Rebellion to learn how Massachusetts farmers organized resistance. They post responses explaining whether Shays’ Rebellion was a success, a failure, or both, and justify their position with evidence.
Teacher MovesExplain the economic context of the 1780s and how debtor-creditor tensions led to Shays’ Rebellion. Invite students to share and compare their evaluations of the rebellion, encouraging them to support claims with textual evidence and to respond to differing viewpoints. Emphasize that although the rebellion was militarily defeated, it contributed to pro-debtor legislation and convinced many leaders that a stronger federal government was needed than the one created by the Articles of Confederation.
Students complete the exit quiz by answering all the questions.
Teacher MovesFacilitate the assessment and use student data to evaluate understanding, address misconceptions, and identify areas for growth.
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