U.S. History

Chapter 8: Forming a GovernmentSection 2: Problems in the New Nation

What are some reasons that the United States is the world’s

most powerful country?

A Lack of Respect

• Congress could not force states to provide soldiers for an army

• Difficult to protect citizens & interests

The Articles of Confederation

A Lack of Respect

•Difficult to enforce international treaties

•Great Britain would not give up forts

Singing the Treaty of Paris

A Lack of Respect

•Spain closed the lower Mississippi River to US ships View of the

Mississippi River

Trouble with Trade

•Great Britain closed many of its ports to American ships

•American merchants forced to pay high tariffs on U.S. exports

Trouble with Trade

•Farmers no longer able to export goods to British West Indies

•Forced to hire expensive British ships to carry goods to British markets

Trouble with Trade

•Great Britain closed many of its ports to American ships

•American merchants forced to pay high tariffs on U.S. exports

Trouble with Trade

•British selling goods cheap goods in America

•Hurt American businesses

Trouble with Trade

•Congress did not have the power to pass tariffs

•Tariffs—taxes on imports or exports

Economic Problems at Home

•Congress had no power to regulate interstate commerce

•Interstate Commerce—trade between two or more states

Economic Problems at Home

•Each state followed their own commercial interests

•Made business difficult for merchants doing business across state lines

Economic Problems at Home

•States struggled with war debt and tax collection

•Printed large amounts of papers money

Economic Problems at Home

•Inflation—increased prices for goods and services combined with the reduced value of money

1934

Today

•Congress powerless to stop states from issuing paper money

•Paper money was almost worthless

Economic Problems at Home

Economic Problems at Home

•Debtors—people who owe money

•Creditors—people who lend money

•Inflation and loss of trade lead to a depression

Debt in Massachusetts

• Massachusetts did not print paper money

• Tried to pay for war debt by collecting taxes on land

Debt in Massachusetts

•Hit farmers hard

•Had to pay debts in gold or silver

Debt in Massachusetts

•Courts forced people to sell land or go to prison

Shay’s Rebellion

•Angry farmers began to revolt

•Shut down courts in western part of state

Shay’s Rebellion

•Daniel Shays—leader of rebels

•Farmer and Revolutionary War veteran

Daniel Shays

Shay’s Rebellion

•Massachusetts government asked national government for help

•Little it could do

•Weakness of Confederation government

Shay’s Rebellion

•Reactions:

–Example of citizens freely expressing their opinions about government

–Embarrassment

A Push for Change

• 1786: Virginia calls for a national conference to change the Articles

• Sept 1786: 5 states send delegates to Annapolis ConventionAnnapolis Convention

Report

A Push for Change

• Annapolis convention calls on all 13 States to send delegates to a Constitutional Convention in May 1783

Maryland Statehouse—site of Annapolis

Convention