ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
• The first constitution
of the United States
• Developed and
approved by the 2nd
Continental
Congress in 1777
• Maryland did not
ratify the document
until 1781 because
of border disputes in
the western
territories
http://www.fresno.k12.ca.us/divdept/sscience/images/articles.jpg
POWERS OF THE CENTRAL GOVERNMENT
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Declare war and appoint military officers
Coin money
Set standards for weights and measures
Handle foreign affairs and Native American
issues
• Set up a postal service between the states
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STRUCTURE OF THE NEW CONGRESS
One delegate from each state
Each state = 1 vote
In theory, each state equal in the Congress
GROWING TERRITORY & ADMITTING NEW
STATES
• One power was given
to the Congress that
proved to be important
over time was control
of western lands
• Congress passed laws
on how to govern the
new territories
• And, sales could be
used to pay down
national debt
http://www.in.gov/history/images/usmap1783.gif
LAND ORDINANCE OF 1785
• Territory surveyed and divided into townships
• Each township divided into 36 sections of 1 square
mile per section
• Sections sold
to settlers for
$640 per
section
• Hold one
section for
public schools
support
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• New territories could
ask for admittance as
a state once
population reached
60,000 settlers
• New states have the
same Constitutional
rights as original
states
• New territories
guaranteed basic
rights
• Slavery outlawed in
new territories
http://www.earlyamerica.com/earlyamerica/maps/northwest/northwest.jpg
NORTHWEST
ORDINANCE (1787)
CENTRAL GOVERNMENT POWERS LIMITED
• Congress could pass laws but needed at least 9
states to approve any new law
• No changes to the Articles could be made without
the approval of ALL 13 states
• Congress not able to regulate trade between
states or between a state and a foreign country
• No power to tax so
Congress had to ask
the states for money
• States not required to
pay a set amount to
the central government
• No central courts to
settle disputes
between the states or
decide on laws
• No executive branch of
government - no
leader of government
PROBLEMS CAUSED BY WEAK GOVERNMENT
• Conflicts Between States
– Border and territorial disputes developed between the
states claiming western lands
• Money Problems
– The central government could not pay back debts from
the war and had no way of forcing states to pay
– Money printed during the Revolution had no value
because it was not supported (backed) by gold or silver
– And, states start printing their own money
• Other Nations Took Advantage
– England did not remove troops from the Ohio area
– Spain closed off New Orleans to American shipping
SHAYS’ REBELLION (1786)
• Started because of money / credit problems farmers
throughout the colonies faced after the Revolution
• Farmers had borrowed money during the
Revolution because there was a high demand for
their crops
• However, when the war ended demand for crops
decreased, prices dropped
• Farmers still owed banks for the money they
borrowed
• Also, paying high taxes but see no benefits such as
roads or canals built to make transport easier
• State courts start to foreclose on properties that
were behind on payments
• Daniel Shays, Revolutionary
War veteran, became one of
the leaders of the rebellion
• Took over courthouses,
burned barns on properties of
wealthy landowners,
prevented bank
representatives from taking
properties
• Threatened to march into
Boston
• Wanted:
– Suspend foreclosures
– Print more paper money so
more in circulation
– Lower taxes on western
areas
• People in eastern
Massachusetts feared
open rebellion
• The wealthy put
money together to
form a militia to stop
the rebellion
• Led by Benjamin
Lincoln, also a
Revolutionary War
veteran
• Shays rebellion
crushed
• People like Sam
Adams wanted all
rebels hung
RESULTS OF REBELLION
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Shays escaped to Vermont and later pardoned
Many fear that problems will only get worse
Civil war in states cannot be stopped
Control of the mob (mobocracy)
The wealthy fear they will become targets
Many now realized that there is no way to
prevent these problems from recurring
– The central government had no legal
controls, no real army to send as needed
• The Articles of Confederation needed revision
and a stronger central government put in place
• BUT, how much power will states have to give
up – or be willing to give up – for a stronger
central power?