Students learn about the Articles of Confederation. They discover when and why they were written and the structure and powers of the government they established. Then they explain the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles. Finally, they examine the impact the Articles of the Confederation had on the writing of the U.S. Constitution.
Students read background information about the Continental Congress and the creation of the Articles of Confederation as the nation’s first constitution, along with the lesson objectives and the full title “Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union between the States.” They examine the title and consider key terms such as union, confederation, and perpetual, then respond to a collaborative wall prompt explaining what challenges might arise from trying to balance independence with unity or cooperation among the states.
Teacher MovesIntroduce the experience and review the objectives. Use the title of the Articles to spark discussion, asking which words stand out and what they suggest about the new government. Highlight and help students define union, confederation, and perpetual, and use these terms to surface the central tension of the Articles—balancing state power with national unity—before inviting students to share their ideas about the 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. As they read, they complete a two-column table identifying powers given and not given to the national government. They then post to a collaborative wall describing the structure of the national government under the Articles, including which branches existed and how power was distributed among the states.
Teacher MovesReview student tables, using the sample powers (such as declaring war, managing foreign relations, and the lack of taxing and trade-regulating powers) to check understanding. Prompt students to consider benefits and drawbacks of dividing power this way. After students respond on the wall, clarify that the Articles created only a single legislative body (Congress), with no executive or judicial branches, and that each state had one vote in Congress.
Students read Evaluating the Congress to examine the accomplishments and limitations of the national government under the Articles of Confederation. They complete a “report card” table, assigning pass or fail grades to the Continental Congress in foreign relations/diplomacy, the economy, and western expansion, and justify each grade with evidence from the reading. Next, they read about the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 and complete a graphic organizer explaining how the ordinance reflected democratic ideals, such as protecting civil liberties, allowing new states to elect assemblies and draft constitutions, and prohibiting slavery in the territory.
Teacher MovesReview students’ report cards and invite them to share their grades and reasoning, prompting them to support claims with evidence from the article. Highlight likely conclusions about Congress’s performance in foreign relations, economic policy, and western expansion. As students work with the Northwest Ordinance, reinforce how its provisions for civil liberties, self-government, and the ban on slavery in the Northwest Territory embodied key democratic principles and established a model for adding new states.
Students read about the postwar economic crisis of the 1780s and the causes and events of Shays’ Rebellion to understand how economic hardship and debt shaped political conflict. They then respond on a collaborative wall to the question of whether Shays’ Rebellion was a success, a failure, or both, explaining and supporting their position with evidence from the reading.
Teacher MovesEmphasize that this extension is essential for understanding later assessment questions. Invite several students to share their judgments about Shays’ Rebellion, prompting them to use evidence to support their claims and encouraging respectful disagreement and discussion. If most students take only one side, present the opposing perspective and guide students to consider how, despite the rebels’ military defeat, the rebellion led to pro-debtor laws and helped convince leaders that a stronger federal government was needed.
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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