Articles of
Confederation
November 15, 1777
Articles of
Confederation
• established a "firm league of friendship" an
alliance among the 13 states rather than a
nation.
• reflect the wariness by the states of a strong
central government.
• states retained their "sovereignty, freedom and
independence" with their own constitutions.
Articles of
Confederation
Presidents of the United States in
Congress Assembled
Samuel Huntington
Thomas McKean
John Hanson*
Elias Boudinot
Thomas Mifflin
Richard Henry Lee
John Hancock
Nathaniel Gorham
Arthur St. Clair
Cyrus Griffin
*Hanson was the first presiding officer of the Congress to use that title
when dealing with foreign governments, diplomats, or treaties.
Articles of
Confederation
Congress Under the Articles
• conduct foreign affairs, declaring war or
peace
• maintaining an army and navy
• request money from the states
• coin money and establish post offices
• one vote per state regardless of size
Articles of
Confederation
Congress Could NOT
• take state territory for the benefit of the country
• collect taxes or control commerce
• force compliance with national laws it made –
required 9 of 13 states to approve
• establish courts
Problems with the Articles
• Hard to amend – required all states approval
• States so strong that no national problems could be
solved. Could block int’l treaties.
• Europe had no faith in US unity.
• Revolutionary War debt owed to foreign
governments and wealthy citizens
• Creditors began to demand payment –states issue
new taxes and people object.
Shay’s Rebellion
• Merchants and lawmakers of Eastern Massachusetts
pushed for taxes to repay debt owed them
• Taxes had to be paid in cash – gold or silver coin
called specie – worth more than paper.
• Farmers in West faced hard times and jail if debt not
paid. Many not paid for war service.
• Daniel Shays led a rebellion to protest tax collections
Effects of Shay’s Rebellion
• National government
powerless to help stop the
riots.
• Demonstrated need for
strong National
Government.
• Annapolis Convention
Protesting taxes at a courthouse
Articles of
Confederation
Two important actions taken:
1)
Land Ordinance of 1785
•
Raised needed money for national government
•
Organized western territories for later settlement
six-mile wide townships.
Articles of
Confederation
2)
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
•
abolished claims to territory by states
•
banned slavery in the territory & established civil rights
•
governed process for creating new states
•
placed territorial government under Congress