The Articles of The Articles of ConfederationConfederation

How America changed from being divided How America changed from being divided colonies to the United States of Americacolonies to the United States of America

Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation The nation's first The nation's first

Constitution, it defined Constitution, it defined the former colonies as a the former colonies as a confederation of 13 confederation of 13 sovereign states sovereign states – bound loosely in a bound loosely in a

"league of friendship" "league of friendship" Consisted of six sheets Consisted of six sheets

of parchment stitched of parchment stitched togethertogether

The last sheet bears the The last sheet bears the signatures of delegates signatures of delegates from all 13 statesfrom all 13 states

Articles of Articles of ConfederationConfederation Adopted by the Adopted by the

Continental Continental Congress in 1777Congress in 1777

It could not regulate It could not regulate trade, draft troops, or trade, draft troops, or levy taxes on the levy taxes on the peoplepeople

Lasted from 1781-89Lasted from 1781-89 Had little stature in Had little stature in

the eyes of the worldthe eyes of the world

Diplomatic FailuresDiplomatic Failures

Confederation held at low esteem because of Confederation held at low esteem because of difficulties w/ Britain difficulties w/ Britain – Failed to live up to the terms of Treaty of Paris, 1783Failed to live up to the terms of Treaty of Paris, 1783

Congress sent John Adams to London in 1784 Congress sent John Adams to London in 1784 to work out things outto work out things out

Throughout the 1780’s, Britain refused to send Throughout the 1780’s, Britain refused to send a diplomatic minister to the American capital a diplomatic minister to the American capital

Confederation diplomats agreed to a treaty Confederation diplomats agreed to a treaty with Spain in 1786 with Spain in 1786

The Confederation The Confederation and the Northwestand the Northwest A of C most important A of C most important

accomplishment was resolution accomplishment was resolution of controversies involving of controversies involving western land western land

By 1784, confederation had By 1784, confederation had enough land to permit Congress enough land to permit Congress to begin making policy for to begin making policy for national domainnational domain

Ordinance of 1784 divided Ordinance of 1784 divided western territory into ten self western territory into ten self governing districtsgoverning districts

Could petition Congress for Could petition Congress for statehood when population was statehood when population was equal to that of the smallest stateequal to that of the smallest state

A of C & the A of C & the Northwest (cont.)Northwest (cont.) Congress created system for surveying & Congress created system for surveying & selling western lands in Ordinance of 1785selling western lands in Ordinance of 1785

Grid was applied in 1785 to the NW Grid was applied in 1785 to the NW Territory Territory

Northwest Ordinance was passed in 1787 Northwest Ordinance was passed in 1787 - Abandoned the ten districts & created a - Abandoned the ten districts & created a NW TerritoryNW Territory- Specified a 60,000 min. for statehood- Specified a 60,000 min. for statehood- Greatest achievement under A of C!!!- Greatest achievement under A of C!!!

Debts and Lack Debts and Lack of Taxesof Taxes Postwar depression lasted Postwar depression lasted

from 1784 to 1787from 1784 to 1787 Confederation was in great Confederation was in great

debt & couldn’t tax the people debt & couldn’t tax the people Received less than 20% Received less than 20%

neededneeded Nationalists sought to Nationalists sought to

increase powers of central increase powers of central govt. to meet its financial govt. to meet its financial obligationsobligations

Continental impost: 5% duty Continental impost: 5% duty on all imported goods on all imported goods

– to be levied by Congress to be levied by Congress

– used to fund the debtused to fund the debt

Daniel ShaysDaniel Shays Led the rebels, known as Led the rebels, known as

the "Regulators“the "Regulators“ Shays' compatriots were Shays' compatriots were

poor farmers angered by poor farmers angered by crushing debt and taxes crushing debt and taxes

Wanted debt relief through Wanted debt relief through the issuance of paper the issuance of paper currency and lower taxes currency and lower taxes

Stopped the seizing of Stopped the seizing of farmers property by forcing farmers property by forcing the closure of courts in the closure of courts in western Mass. western Mass.

Shays’ RebellionShays’ Rebellion Most riots rallied behind Daniel Most riots rallied behind Daniel

ShaysShays Shays issued demands Shays issued demands

including:including:– paper money, paper money, – tax relief, tax relief, – moratorium on debts, moratorium on debts, – move state capital from Boston to move state capital from Boston to

interior,interior,– abolition of imprisonment for debtabolition of imprisonment for debt

As a military enterprise, Shays As a military enterprise, Shays Rebellion was a failureRebellion was a failure

Consequences of Shays’ RebellionConsequences of Shays’ Rebellion

National govt. needed to be stronger National govt. needed to be stronger – to create uniform economic policiesto create uniform economic policies– protect property ownersprotect property owners

Rebellion proved the A of C was not Rebellion proved the A of C was not workingworking

Shays Rebellion helped start a Shays Rebellion helped start a movement produced in statesmovement produced in states– a new national Constitutiona new national Constitution!!

Thomas Jefferson’s letter to Thomas Jefferson’s letter to James MadisonJames Madison

““I hold it that a little rebellion I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing, now and then is a good thing, and as necessary in the and as necessary in the political world as storms in the political world as storms in the physical,physical,

Unsuccessful rebellions, Unsuccessful rebellions, indeed, generally establish the indeed, generally establish the encroachments on the rights of encroachments on the rights of the people which have the people which have produced them. An observation produced them. An observation of this truth should render of this truth should render honest republican governors so honest republican governors so mild in their punishment of mild in their punishment of rebellions as not to discourage rebellions as not to discourage them too much. It is a medicine them too much. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health necessary for the sound health of government.”of government.”

Pros and Cons of the Pros and Cons of the Articles of Articles of

ConfederationConfederation StrengthsStrengths

Victorious in Rev. WarVictorious in Rev. War Independence recognized Independence recognized

by Euro countriesby Euro countries Power left to statesPower left to states NW Ordinance was greatest NW Ordinance was greatest

piece piece – Defined territoryDefined territory– Plan for govt. Plan for govt. – No slavery in NWNo slavery in NW– Power to add new statesPower to add new states

60,000 required for statehood60,000 required for statehood

WeaknessesWeaknesses Couldn’t levy taxes or coin Couldn’t levy taxes or coin

$$ Couldn’t regulate tradeCouldn’t regulate trade No judicial / executive No judicial / executive

branchbranch Inability to enforce treatiesInability to enforce treaties Congress couldn’t raise an Congress couldn’t raise an

armyarmy States acted as individual

countries and seldom agreed– All 13 needed to pass lawsAll 13 needed to pass laws

The Northwest The Northwest OrdinanceOrdinance

Northwest OrdinanceNorthwest Ordinance•an act of the Congress of the Confederation of an act of the Congress of the Confederation of the United States, passed July 13, 1787the United States, passed July 13, 1787

•  it established the precedent by which the federal it established the precedent by which the federal government would be sovereign and expand westward government would be sovereign and expand westward across North America with the admission of new states, across North America with the admission of new states, rather than with the expansion of existing states and rather than with the expansion of existing states and their established sovereignty under the Articles of their established sovereignty under the Articles of Confederation.Confederation.

RepublicanismRepublicanism Americans were Americans were

in agreementin agreement All power should All power should

come from the come from the people!people!

- sturdy, - sturdy, independent, independent, property ownersproperty owners

Equal Equal opportunity for opportunity for allall– Truly???Truly???

State GovernmentsState Governments Had written Had written

constitutionsconstitutions Executive separate Executive separate

from legislative from legislative - governor w/ limited - governor w/ limited powerspowers- later changed to give - later changed to give more powers more powers

Property requirements Property requirements to voteto vote- not completely direct - not completely direct rulerule

QUESTIONS?QUESTIONS?