Creating a New Nation

What Now?

Each colony was seen as its own separate nation.

Founders believed that a unifying national government was neededHelp conduct the warControl trade and manage conflictsBe uniform in how they dealt with other nations

Articles of ConfederationFirst constitution and created first national

governmentAdopted in 1777, final approval 1781

Problems Writing the Articles

People’s fear of a strong national governmentBelieved British gov’t took away people’s rightsThought this would happen with any government

that was powerful and far away from the people

Fear that some states would have more powers than othersWanted to make sure states interests were taken

into considerationMost important issue: how states would vote in

CongressDecisions would be made by majority vote

Organizing a National Government

Created a weak gov’t to appease fears of a national government that was too strong

The government was simply a legislature (Congress)No judicial or executive branches

Most of the powers of gov’t were left to the states

Each state had one vote in Congress.

On important matters (like declaring war) 9 out of 13 states would have to agree.

Achievements of the National Gov’t Under the Articles

Waged the War against Great Britain

Negotiated the Treaty of Paris

Made each state recognize the laws of the other states.Marriage in one state would be valid in anotherCitizens could travel freely from one state to anotherCriminals who crossed state borders to be sent back

to the state in which a crime was committed

Northwest Ordinance

Northwest Ordinance

Gave people in the north west lands the right to organize their own governments.

They could then request to be admitted as a new state.

They would have the same rights as the 13 states.

Provided for public education and forbade slavery

Guaranteed freedom of religion, right to trial by jury and due process of law

Problems with the Articles

Congress had no money and lacked the power to raise money.Could not taxCould ask states to pay certain amount of money to

support national government.

Congress had no power over the state governments or their citizens.States often ignored laws passed by CongressHad no way to force people to obey their laws

Problems with the Articles

Congress could not make states live up to trade agreements with other nations.Some citizens imported goods from other countries

and would not pay for them.People in other nations did not want to trade with USAmericans lost money due to lack of trade

Congress had no power to regulate trade between states.States would tax good from one state to anotherTrade became impossible, business slowed and

people lost jobs.

Problems with the Articles

Citizens thought their property rights were threatenedPeople believed states were not protecting

their property rightsFactions were formed to promote their own

interestsFactions became the majority in some

legislaturesPeople began to think that a strong national

government was needed to protect property rights.

A Failing Economy

What were some of the financial problems America was dealing with after the war?Owed money to other country and citizens that

was borrowed to fight the war.National government did not have the power

to tax.The states were not helpful in giving the

national government money.Currency that was printed during the war was

worthlessEach state printed its own currency.

Economic Depression

Business slowed down, unemployment rate increased.

Britain made trade difficult for America by passing laws that made it difficult for them to enter its ports.

Britain also cut off America’s access to the West Indies further preventing trade.

Farming Difficulties

During the war the demand for goods from farms increased. Farmers borrowed money from banks to buy more land

and equipment.

After the war the demand decreased Farmers grew more goods than they could sell. Could not repay the banks the money they owed

them. Banks began to take farmer’s land if they could not

pay back their debts. Some farmers were imprisoned for not being able to

pay back their debt.

Shays’ Rebellion

Specifically in Massachusetts farmers were getting angry.

Their farms were being shut down. Claimed that the new state taxes put them in debt. They felt that the state was not protecting their

interests.

Farmers asked state legislature to provide debt relief.The state refused

The farmers rebelled.

Shay’s Rebellion

Led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shay

Shay and a group of other angry farmers began to shut down the courts that were taking their land.

Their actions began to spread into other counties

Shay led between 1,000 and 2,000 men to raid a federal arsenal to get weapons.Mass sent in their state militia and easily defeated

Shay’s group.

Call for a Convention

The leaders of the nation felt that an armed group of farmers could become more widespread.

People were beginning to think that they country would fail if it could not maintain law and order.

Leaders felt that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised.

A convention was called to take place in May, 1787 to revise the articles and delegates from each state were invited to attend.