The Articles of Confederation

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The Articles of Confederation
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• After the Declaration of Ind. was signed, the 2nd
  Continental Congress created the first government
  under the Articles of Confederation (United
  States)-1777
• It was weak on purpose
• --Why?
• --One goal was to win the war

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Strengths of the Articles of Confederation

• The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed
• Had the power to declare war and peace, print
  money, create postal system, make treaties and
  settle state disputes (sort of)

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The Articles of Confederation

• The Articles were written in 1777 by John
  Dickinson, a Penn. statesman
• The Articles were accepted by Congress in 1781
  and is considered the first national constitution
• Why did it take so long to ratify?

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Took several years to be ratified because of land
claims
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• Are those land claims fair to Delaware or New
  Jersey?
• What would be a Compromise?
• States (starting with Virginia) gave up the land
  claims
• Land was sold by Confederation and used to pay
  for war
• New states would be created

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Land Ordinance of 1785 -System of surveying land
was established -Supported public education
(Section 16) -Who else benefitted from this
system? Land speculators?
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Articles created the Northwest 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.

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--Provided for rules for the admission of new
states --Prohibited slavery in the territory
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• PROBLEMS UNDER THE ARTICLES
• Civil War during the American Revolution/Problems
  continued
• Patriots vs. Loyalists-approx. 500,000 Loyalist
  (Tories) during the war
• How were loyalists treated after the war?
• Land claims
• Restoration of land and compensation continued to
  be a problem
• INDIAN CONFLICTS
• Conflict between Indians and settlers in the
  frontier
• DEBT/Inflation Problems with currency
• Failure to pay back pensions to Vets

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• PROBLEMS UNDER THE ARTICLES
• Piracy in North Africa
• Impressment of Americans by the British Navy
• Conflict over Vermont (Claimed by NY and NH)
• British sitting on the sidelines
• States making their own treaties with
  Spain/France
• Awkward!!
• New Orleans- Would Spanish close it ? Why would
  that be a problem?

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PROBLEMS UNDER THE ARTICLES Florida Slaves
running away to Spanish Florida Frontier forts
British were supposed to leave as part of the
Treaty of Paris but they did not Severe
economic problems in many states
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Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• Congress had no power to raise taxes
• Congress had no power regulate foreign or state
  trade
• Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states
• Congress did not have the power to ENFORCE laws!
  Thats huuuuge!

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Reasons for Shays Rebellion

• Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they
  have no money because they were not paid during
  the war
• Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war
  too. And seek to get money from the farmers debts
  

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Shayss Rebellion

• Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass
  legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws
• The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and
  close courts that are hearing cases against
  farmers

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Shayss Rebellion

• The Mass militia is called out to stop it
• Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who support
  their stance and will close courthouses and
  demand financial help from the Congress
• Shayss Rebellion will prompt national leaders to
  create a stonger central government

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Thomas Jefferson Said 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."

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• Annapolis Convention 1786
• Delegates met to discuss problems
• Thought the Articles were too weak
• Alexander Hamilton
• James Madison
• Planned to meet in Philadelphia to
• revise articles.