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The Articles of Confederation (TN 8.30)

Essential Questions: - What were the weaknesses of the

Articles of Confederation?- What is the significance of the Lost State

of Franklin?- How is Shays’ Rebellion related to the

weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?

Background Information

In the early stages of America, states were developing their own Constitutions

America was a loose confederation of states- not yet the “United States of America”

Most power was held by the individual states

Congress realized that rules were needed for how these states would be organized

The Articles of Confederation had SEVERAL weaknesses

Weakness 1- No Power to Tax

Only states had the power to tax

Why would Americans dislike a big government imposing taxes on them?

Congress could only “request” money from states

What is the problem with this? There was no way to enforce

this rule In 1780, the war was not yet

over Congress had no way to raise

money, it was broke.

Weakness 2- No Common Currency

Congress had the right to print money but so did each state

Why could this be a problem?

The “Continental” printed by Congress was nearly worthless (“Worthless as a Continental”)

Weakness 3- No Control of Interstate Commerce (trade between states)

Each state was in charge of its own trade laws

Revolutionary War debt was a huge problem- who pays?

Some states paid their debt, some did not (no way to enforce this)

States could trade with each other and foreign countries but each state had its own currency (How could this be a problem?)

This led to interstate trade wars where states with advantages abused their power

Weakness 4- No Executive Branch (No President)

Why would the framers of the A.O.C not want a president?

Perhaps they thought a president would be like a king.

What problems could occur with this?

No one is available to make quick decisions or enforce laws

The Lost State of Franklin

Modern day TN was part of North Carolina

The governor of NC wasn’t giving the Western part of the state what it needed (like protection)

After meeting in Greenville, many people decided to create their own state of Franklin

Congress never officially recognized it as a state

Lack of paper currency and opposition by others meant that the state failed and it became part of the Southwest Territory

Shays’ Rebellion

Economic troubles were hitting farmers hard, especially in Massachusetts

Farmers who couldn’t pay debts were thrown in jail and their farms were seized

Farmers wanted a federal government to issue paper money and help with their debt

In 1786, farmers led by Daniel Shays, forced courts to close

Shays led his men to a weapon storehouse to take guns and ammo

The state militia ordered the farmers to stop and fired over their heads, the farmers refused

Four farmers would be killed The rebellion ended but it made

people wonder if a weak federal government could handle violent rebellions