A Brilliant Solution
Sample Lessons
A Brilliant Solution
Colonial Problems during the
government under the Articles of
Confederation (from Carol Berkin)
“A Sense of Gloom”
•
Colonies were under a sense that
there was a darker side to each of
the hard won freedoms of the
American Revolution; the loss of
advantages of British citizenship
The Seas
• American Merchant Marine: no protection
in the high seas
• Could not pay the ruler of Tripoli
• New England fishermen
• Barbary Coast pirates – vicious!
Economic Markets
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Post war depression
Foreclosures, evictions skyrocketed
Each state: currency
Angry debtors asking for money
Chesapeake tobacco planters
Backcountry farmers
States tried to exploit one another
Loss of ability to negotiate with foreign
powers and tribes
•
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British openly defied the terms of Paris Peace
Treaty
Commanders operated as a “agent provocateurs”
Spain closed the Port of New Orleans
No military clout
Low Morale of Congress
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poor attendance
work nearly came to a halt
negativity
Sale of western lands?
Shay’s Rebellion
• Massachusetts farmer rebelled - realization of
weakness
• More states were now committed to resolving the
problems.
We the People
of the United States, in order to form
a more perfect Union, establish
justice, insure domestic tranquility,
provide for the common defense,
promote the general welfare, and
secure the blessings of liberty to
ourselves and our posterity, do
ordain and establish this
Constitution for the United States of
America.
We the People
of the United States, in order to
COLLECTIVE
form a more perfect Union,
responsibility
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United
States of America.
We the People
of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect Union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United
States of America.
Selflessness
Trumps self
Interest—
Seeking the common good
We the People
of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect Union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of
liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United
States of America.
Importance of
Maintaining
order
We the People
of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect Union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common Importance of
Maintaining
defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of FREEDOM
liberty to ourselves and our
posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United
States of America.
We the People
of the United States, in order to
form a more perfect Union,
establish justice, insure domestic
tranquility, provide for the common
defense, promote the general
welfare, and secure the blessings of Responsibility
liberty to ourselves and our
To future
generations
posterity, do ordain and establish
this Constitution for the United
States of America.
Problem of Representation
• Small States vs Large States
Colony Populations
References
• Center for Civic Education
• Dr. Stephen Frantzich, USNA
• Carol Berkin, A Brilliant Solution