The Articles of
Confederation
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

The Articles of Confederation
The fear of having too
much power in one
person’s hands reflects
the experiences the
colonies had under a
monarchy
 In the Articles the state
governments limit the
power of the national
Congress

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

Strengths of the Articles of
Confederation
The Treaty of Paris 1783 was signed
 The Northwest Ordinance was past
 Had the power to declare war and peace,
print money, make treaties and settle
state disputes

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation:
Settling Western Lands

The Land Ordinance of 1785, stated that
land in the west was to be surveyed using a
grid system to establish 6 mile blocks
 The Northwest Ordinance assisted in the
orderly expansion of the United States, it
outlined a plan for applying for statehood to
western territories


5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt
Population of 60,000 could become a state
Settling Western lands
The Northwest Ordinance
provides an orderly
settlement process in the
West
 It promised





no slavery
education
freedom of religion
trial by jury
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.
Reasons for Shay’s 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
Shays’s 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

Shays’s 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
 Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national
leaders to create a stonger central
government

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 Rebellion
Adams will also write a law called the Riot
Act, which prohibits 12 people or more
from meeting and gives the government
the power to shoot rioters!
 Samuel sure has changed since 1776!

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."