The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

ObjectivesObjectives

Be able to explain what the Articles of Be able to explain what the Articles of Confederation were.Confederation were.

Be able to compare and contrast the strengths Be able to compare and contrast the strengths and weaknesses of the Articles.and weaknesses of the Articles.

Understand the importance of Shays’s Understand the importance of Shays’s Rebellion.Rebellion.

What were the Articles of What were the Articles of Confederation?Confederation?

America’s first attempt at independent governmentAmerica’s first attempt at independent government

(A precursor to the Constitution)(A precursor to the Constitution)

The Articles were an agreement among the 13 The Articles were an agreement among the 13 founding states that legally established the founding states that legally established the United States of America as a confederation of United States of America as a confederation of sovereign states.sovereign states.

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

The fear of having too much The fear of having too much power in one person’s hands power in one person’s hands reflects the experiences the reflects the experiences the colonies had under a colonies had under a monarchy. monarchy.

In the Articles, the state In the Articles, the state governments limited the governments limited the power of the national power of the national Congress.Congress.

Strengths of the Articles of Strengths of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation    

1.1. Power to declare war Power to declare war and settle disputes and settle disputes between statesbetween states

2.2. Power to coin and Power to coin and “borrow” money“borrow” money

3.3. Power to negotiate with Power to negotiate with foreign countries and foreign countries and sign treatiessign treaties

4.4. Power to operate post Power to operate post officesoffices

Weaknesses of the Articles of Weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

WEAKNESSES1. The national government could not force the states to obey its laws

2. It did not have the power to tax

3. It did not have the power to enforce laws

4. Congress had no power regulate foreign or state trade

5. Congress lacked strong and steady leadership (There was no Executive Branch)

6. There was no national standing army or navy

7. There was no system of national courts (There was no Judicial Branch)

8. Each state could issue its own paper money

9. Each state could put tariffs on trade between other states. (A tariff is a tax on goods coming in from another state or country.)

10. All laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states

Achievements of the Articles of Achievements of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

1.1. The Treaty of Paris (1783)The Treaty of Paris (1783) Brings an official end to the warBrings an official end to the war Britain official recognizes the United States as an Britain official recognizes the United States as an

independent nationindependent nation England gives up all its land rightsEngland gives up all its land rights

2.2. The Land Ordinance of 1785, The Land Ordinance of 1785, stated that land in stated that land in the west was to be surveyed using a grid system the west was to be surveyed using a grid system to establish 6 mile blocks.to establish 6 mile blocks.

Achievements of the Articles of Achievements of the Articles of Confederation: Settling Western LandsConfederation: Settling Western Lands

The Northwest OrdinanceThe Northwest Ordinance (1787) (1787) assisted in the orderly expansion assisted in the orderly expansion of the United States.of the United States. It outlined a plan for applying for It outlined a plan for applying for statehood to western territoriesstatehood to western territories

5,000 free males who own 50 acres could 5,000 free males who own 50 acres could start governmentstart government

Population of 60,000 could become a statePopulation of 60,000 could become a state

Settling Western landsSettling Western lands

The Northwest The Northwest Ordinance provides an Ordinance provides an orderly settlement orderly settlement process in the West.process in the West.

It promisedIt promised No slaveryNo slavery EducationEducation Freedom of religionFreedom of religion Trial by juryTrial by jury

Northwest TerritoryNorthwest Territory

The Northwest Territory was east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. The states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin would be formed from this area.

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion Shays' Rebellion Shays' Rebellion was an armed was an armed uprising that took uprising that took place in central place in central and western and western Massachusetts from Massachusetts from 1786 to 1787. 1786 to 1787.

The rebellion was The rebellion was named after Daniel named after Daniel Shays, a veteran Shays, a veteran of the American of the American Revolutionary War.Revolutionary War.

Reasons for Shay’s Reasons for Shay’s RebellionRebellion

The rebellion started on August 21, The rebellion started on August 21, 1786, over financial difficulties.1786, over financial difficulties.

Farmers were required to pay debts Farmers were required to pay debts in gold.in gold. However, most farmers had no money However, most farmers had no money

because they were not paid during the because they were not paid during the war.war.

Wealthy lawmakers invested their Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too.money in the war too. They wanted to collect that money from They wanted to collect that money from

the farmers’ debts. the farmers’ debts.

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion Poor farmers were not Poor farmers were not

represented in the represented in the Massachusetts’ legislatureMassachusetts’ legislature They could not pass debt They could not pass debt

relief laws.relief laws.

The rebellion setout to The rebellion setout to free debtors from prisons free debtors from prisons and close courts that were and close courts that were hearing cases against hearing cases against farmers.farmers.

Outcomes of Shays’s Outcomes of Shays’s RebellionRebellion

The Massachusetts militia was called out to The Massachusetts militia was called out to stop the rebellion.stop the rebellion.

Poor farmers in 1791 elected officials who Poor farmers in 1791 elected officials who supported their stance, would close supported their stance, would close courthouses, and demand financial help from courthouses, and demand financial help from the Congress.the Congress.

Major Outcome of the RebellionMajor Outcome of the Rebellion

Shays’s Rebellion prompted national leaders to Shays’s Rebellion prompted national leaders to create a stronger central government (Partially out create a stronger central government (Partially out of fear).of fear).It helped spark the creation of the It helped spark the creation of the ConstitutionConstitution..

Samuel Adams Said Samuel Adams Said What?!!!!!What?!!!!!

“Rebellion against a king may be pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death.”

Views about Shays’s Views about Shays’s RebellionRebellion

Adams went on to write a law called the Adams went on to write a law called the Riot ActRiot Act, , which prohibited 12 people or more from which prohibited 12 people or more from meeting, and it would have gave the government meeting, and it would have gave the government the power to the power to shoot shoot rioters!rioters!

Samuel sure did changed since 1776!Samuel sure did changed since 1776!

Think! Why did Shays’s Rebellion freak-out some of the Founding Fathers?

Thomas Jefferson Said Thomas Jefferson Said What?!What?!

"A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion."