Articles of Confederation

Unit 2.4Articles of ConfederationOur First GovernmentAfter the Declaration, the 2nd Continent Congress created our first Government under the Articles of Confederation.Made weak on purpose. Why?Took a while for it to be ratified because of land claims in the west.Are those claims fair to coastal states like NJ, RI, and Del.?What would be the compromise?

Major Successes under the ArticlesLand Ordinance of 1785Surveyed the lands6 miles x 6 miles (36 sq. miles)Each square mile (640 acres) divided into quarter sections (160 acres)Provided lands for schools (sec 16)Compare the grid of the Midwest to metes and bounds of EastNorthwest Ordinance of 1787Provided for rules for new states to come into U.S.Still used today Lands sold provided $$ to United States government

Civil War during Revolutionary War?Sometimes our forgotten history Patriots vs. Loyalists fightingMany times very brutal on both sidesHow was the movie The Patriot not very true to history?How were Loyalists treated after the war? What about their land claims?How would Britain use that against the U.S. in the future?Many areas very lawless and mob rule sometimes in force.

Problems after the warIndian Conflicts Battle of Fallen TimbersBack Pay / Pensions of SoldiersOrder of CincinnatiPiratesIn North Africa and CaribbeanDemanding Tribute to travel in areaVermontNH and NY both claimingBritain interferingAll of these things show a Weak Government

More Problems after the WarStates making their own treaties with other countriesFrontier Forts Britain isnt leavingNew Orleans Spain closes port to USFlorida Spain and runaway slavesStates making their own moneyRunaway inflation

The Turning PointMobcracyShays Rebellion 1787Farmers demanding paper moneyBankers did not like it as inflation kept risingMany vets about to lose everything and rose up against state government.Militia called out and 4 killedMany leaders (and the rich) were afraid of the lawlessness and mob rule and wanted more protection than Articles

Annapolis ConventionAnnapolis Convention Sept 187612 delegates from 5 statesAlexander Hamilton main leaderThought the Articles did not have enough powerUnanimously called for a constitutional conventionLed to convention the following yearHow can 12 men have so much power?

What powers did the Articles have?Federal Government could:Borrow MoneyEstablish Post OfficesMake Standards for measurementsDeclare WarSign Peace Treaties

What were the weaknesses?No changes without Unanimous vote.Weak Army/Navy remember all those problems?No true Executive or Judicial Branches to enforce laws.No control of Interstate Commerce.Could not levy taxes. How do you pay for things (war)?No control of money supply.

Lack of Unity the United States were not united, but 13 different countries doing their own thing.

Reflection QuestionsWhat did the Land Ordinance and Northwest Ordinance do that made an impact for the future?Why was Shays Rebellion so important in convincing our leaders that a stronger federal government was needed?What was the one overall weakness of the Articles and some of the other weaknesses?How were the Articles like a rebound boyfriend/girlfriend?

Linkshttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IY2IsCg8IEw&list=UUZYs757tACChkS-vjS1m66Q&index=10&feature=plcp review videohttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=h10eSXRFsTM&feature=related slideshowhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fbP0JWQeXag&feature=related slideshow reviewhttp://www.ourdocuments.gov/doc.php?flash=true&doc=3 100 top documents