II. THE ARTICLES OF
CONFEDERATION
A. “A Firm League of Friendship”
1. The United States began as a confederation under the Articles of Confederation.
2. The Articles of Confederation established a “firm league of friendship” with a weak
national government. Each state retained “its sovereignty, freedom, and independence.”
3. The Articles created a unicameral Congress in which each state had one vote.
4. The Articles did not establish executive or judicial branches. Instead, congressional
committees handled these functions.
B. Flaws in the Articles of
Confederation
1. The writers of the Articles of Confederation were reluctant to give the new government
powers they had just denied to Parliament.
2. Congress lacked the power to levy taxes. It had to ask the states for revenue.
3. The government lacked both executive and judicial authority. Congress had no means of
enforcing its will.
4. Congress did not have the power to regulate or promote commerce among the states.
5. Amendments required a unanimous vote of all 13 states.
C. Shay’s Rebellion
1. Frustrated Massachusetts farmers were losing their land because the could not pay debts
in hard currency
2. The farmers demanded an end to foreclosures, relief from oppressively high taxation,
and increased circulation of paper money.
3. Led by Daniel Shays, rebellious farmers forced several judges to close their courts.
4. Shay’s Rebellion helped convince key leaders that the Articles of Confederation were
too weak and that the United States needed a stronger central government that could
maintain order, protect property, and promote commerce.