The U.S. Government under the Articles of Confederation

ACCOMPLISHMENTS UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION1781 - 1789

Signed the Treaty of Paris - 1783Terms very favorable to the USUS negotiators John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay did very well considering they had no experience negotiating treaties

Kept the 13 states togetherGovernment was not a threat to states powersStayed as the United States long enough to realize the importance of unity

The Land Ordinance of 1785Planned for orderly expansion into the territory west of the Appalachian MountainsMoney raised from sale of land would help fund government programs and the repayment of debtSection 16 designated for public schools!!!Reflects Jeffersons belief that education citizens are necessary for democracy to flourish

Northwest Ordinance - 1787Planned for establishment of government in the territoriesExpanded basic democratic rights into the Northwest Congress would guarantee trial by jury, freedom of speech, press, no slaverySet process for territory to become a state

Territory State5,000 voting males, organize territorial government (governor, legislature, non-voting representative to Congress)Prepare a constitution that must be approved by CongressTotal population 60,000 people recognized as a stateNo special privileges for original 13 states

PROBLEMS UNDER THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION(1781 1789)

Lack of National Unity : Slavery and SectionalismSouth believed that emancipation would be contrary to economic interests- defended the institution as an economic necessityProperty rights of the slave holders must be protectedAbolition of slavery could destroy the social order in the SouthNorth gradually abolished slavery as it was not necessary to economic success of the region

Why couldnt the government of the Articles of Confederation help?peculiar institution of the South is a state by state issueproperty rights are protected by statesThe fragile balance within the union of states might be upset by changes and the Southern states might secede if pressured

Repayment of Debt: Economic ProblemsRevolution ended protection of mercantilismUS needed to establish favorable balance of tradeUS had few industries and continued to import expensive manufactured goodsUS had to deal with high inflation, worthless currency, 14(!) types of currency and a huge debt

Why couldnt the government of the Articles of Confederation help?Congress cant regulate trade each state made own trade laws and taxed goods going from state to stateCongress couldnt tax only request money from states to fund programs and pay down debtCurrency is not exclusive power of National Govt- confusion on value led to very local marketsDifficult to amend the Articles (13/13)

A Struggle between borrowers and lenders: (Shays Rebellion) States had borrowed money and the lenders wanted high taxes so govt could pay back debtDebtors went farther into debtFarmers were paid with paper money and had to repay their debts with hard currency paper currency was worthless and farmers began to lose their farmsContinued

Shays RebellionProposed relief package for economically suffering farmers; passed by lower house of Massachusetts legislature, defeated by the upper house2000 farmers led by Daniel Shays, rebelled, closed the courthouses to prevent foreclosures on mortgagesArmed rebellion began in summer 1786 ended in February 1787

Why couldnt the government of the Articles of Confederation help? National government could not control value of currencyNo uniform currency inflation and confusionGovernment had no power to raise an army to prevent or stop a rebellion

Foreign ProblemsBritish refused to leave forts in Northwest Territory and along Canadian borderSpain controlled Mississippi River and shipping; revoked right of deposit at New OrleansFrance was angry that the US preferred to trade for British goods and not with France

Why couldnt the government of the Articles of Confederation help?No executive branch to enforce terms of treatiesUS perceived by Europeans as too weakCongress cant taxNo uniform trade policyNo national courts to settle disputes

Why would this time period be called The Critical Period?Serious problems need fixed Can states and/or national government under the Articles of Confederations plan solve problems???!!!!