The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

The Articles were The Articles were written in 1777 by written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a John Dickinson, a Penn. statesman Penn. statesman

The Articles were The Articles were accepted by Congress accepted by Congress in 1781 and is in 1781 and is considered the first considered the first national constitutionnational constitution

The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

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

In the Articles the state In the Articles the state governments limit the governments limit the power of the national power of the national CongressCongress

Weaknesses of the Weaknesses of the Articles of ConfederationArticles of Confederation

Congress had no power to raise Congress had no power to raise taxestaxes

Congress had no power regulate Congress had no power regulate foreign or state tradeforeign or state trade

Laws had to be approved by 9 out of Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states13 states

Congress did not have the power to Congress did not have the power to enforce lawsenforce laws

Accomplishments during Accomplishments during the Articles of the Articles of ConfederationConfederation

The Treaty of Paris 1783 The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signedwas signed

The Northwest Ordinance The Northwest Ordinance was passedwas passed

Strengths of the Articles of Strengths of the Articles of Confederation: Settling Western Confederation: Settling Western

LandsLands

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

The Northwest OrdinanceThe Northwest Ordinance assisted in the assisted in the orderly expansion of the United States, it orderly expansion of the United States, it outlined a plan for applying for statehood to outlined a plan for applying for statehood to western territorieswestern territories 5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start 5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start

govtgovt 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 Westprocess 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.

Reasons for Shay’s Reasons for Shay’s RebellionRebellion

Farmers are required to Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they pay debts in gold, they have no money because have no money because they were not paid during they were not paid during the warthe war

Wealthy lawmakers Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in invested their money in the war too. And seek to the war too. And seek to get money from the get money from the farmers debts farmers debts

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion

Poor farmers are not Poor farmers are not represented in the represented in the Mass legislature and Mass legislature and cannot pass debt cannot pass debt relief lawsrelief laws

The rebellion will free The rebellion will free debtors from prisons debtors from prisons and close courts that and close courts that are hearing cases are hearing cases against farmersagainst farmers

Shays’s RebellionShays’s Rebellion

The Mass militia is called out to stop itThe Mass militia is called out to stop itPoor farmers in 1791 elect officials Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials

who support their stance and will who support their stance and will close courthouses and demand close courthouses and demand financial help from the Congressfinancial help from the Congress

Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national leaders to create a stonger central leaders to create a stonger central governmentgovernment

Samuel Adams Said What?!Samuel Adams Said 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 will also write a law called the Adams will also write a law called the Riot ActRiot Act, which prohibits 12 people or , which prohibits 12 people or more from meeting and gives the more from meeting and gives the government the power to shoot government the power to shoot rioters!rioters!

Samuel sure has changed since Samuel sure has changed since 1776!1776!

Thomas Jefferson Said What?!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."

And George Washington SaidAnd George Washington Said

““Man left to Man left to themselves are themselves are unfit for their unfit for their own own government.”government.”

Shays Rebellion leads to a Shays Rebellion leads to a Call for ChangeCall for Change

Some leaders were ok with Some leaders were ok with strong states and a weaker strong states and a weaker federal government provided federal government provided by the Articles of by the Articles of Confederation.Confederation.

But many like James Madison But many like James Madison and Alexander Hamilton and Alexander Hamilton demanded reform of the demanded reform of the articles of Confederation. articles of Confederation. They called for a meeting in They called for a meeting in Philadelphia to discuss Philadelphia to discuss possible changes that needed possible changes that needed to be made.to be made.

George Washington agreed to George Washington agreed to go and this gave the meeting go and this gave the meeting significance.significance.