Identify 2 weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
and explain why they were weaknesses.
Weaknesses Review
NO POWER
TO TAX
NO DIRECT
POWER OVER
CITIZENS
COULD NOT
ENFORCE LAWS
WEAKNESSES OF
THE ARTICLES
OF CONFEDERATION
COULD NOT
BE CHANGED WITHOUT
CONSENT OF ALL
13 STATES
COULD NOT
REGULATE TRADE
Shays’ Rebellion
 Depression: a steep drop in economic activity and employment.
 Resulted in many foreclosures on farmland in western Massachusetts
 Many of the farmers who lost their land were army veterans
 The federal government owed them money, but could not pay them
 Daniel Shays, a former soldier, led hundreds of people to shut down
the county courts to prevent further foreclosures late in the summer of
1786 and 1,200 on a federal arsenal
 The state army puts down the rebellion
 Citizens fear a breakdown of law and order and it is put down
Shays’ Rebellion
Weakness
Without the ability to collect taxes, the government
can’t pay off debts (including paying the army
veterans) or pay for the security, safety, and services of
the new nation!
Strengths Under the Articles
 Land Ordinance of 1785
 Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Land Ordinance of 1785
 Lands of the Northwest Territory would be sold to
settlers
 Often resisted fiercely by Native-Americans
 Solved two problems:
 Provided cash for the government
 Increased American control over the land
(The first organized American settlement in the
Northwest Territory was Marietta, Ohio, founded in
1788)
Land Ordinance of 1785 Cont’d
 Outlined how the land




would surveyed and
divided
Set boundaries
Townships that were 6
miles by 6 miles were
created
One section was set aside
for schools
Four were given to veterans
Northwest Ordinance of 1787
 Outlined how the territory:
 was to be governed
 steps to statehood
 It created a model for the
orderly growth of the
United States
 Five states were created:
Ohio, Indiana, Illinois,
Michigan & Wisconsin
(parts of Minnesota)
Political Cartoon
Create a political cartoon which relates one of the
strengths or weaknesses of The Articles of
Confederation.
Be sure that your cartoon includes the following:
 Title
 Caption (or explanation)
 Picture
 Viewpoint or Message that you are trying to support