The Confederation

Ch. 2.3

New State Govt’s

• 2 House Legislature

• Weak Executive Branch

• Citizenship

• Rights

Articles of Confederation

• 1781-1787

• “Firm league of friendships” among 13 sovereign states.

Powers

• Unicameral legislature.

• Each state 1 vote.

• Limited powers– Raise army & navy– Coin & borrow $– Admit new states & manage Indians

• States kept all other powers

Weaknesses

• No executive branch.

• No Fed. court system.

• Couldn’t tax or regulate trade.

• No respect

• Impossible to amend.

Settling the West 1780-1790

• Public land west of Appalachian Mts.

• 2000-100,000 people in 10 yrs.

Problems

• GB & Sp. Still have ambition.

• Gov’t weak. (No real Army)

• Can’t protect settlers.

• Eastern speculators buy up good land.– TN & KY threaten to leave

1785 Land Ordinance

• Orderly method of settling the west.

• Townships, school provisions.

• Speculators must buy whole section.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• Divided into 3-5 territories.

• 5,000 males ter. Gov’t. (judge & gov.)

• 60,000 - constitution & apply statehood.

• Slavery prohibited north Ohio R.

Boundary Disputes

• VT & NY

• CT & PA

• Chaos in west – states conduct own wars.

Commercial War

• States tax neighbors goods. (wood, lighthouses, etc…)

• Restrict shipping.

• Print own $.

• Founders fear Civil War.

Shay’s Rebellion MA

• MA Legislature wants to pay creditors.

• 1200 farmers couldn’t afford new taxes.

• Up 60%.

• Jailed or farms taken.

• Farmers claim tyranny.

• Many were veterans.

Shays Rebellion

• 1786, 1787 Capt. Shays army closes courts to stop farm seizures.

• MA Gov’t puts down rebellion w/ donations to pay for a militia.

• Elites scared.- need a strong nat. govt.– Control public from getting too democratic.

Nationalists Ideas 1780’s

• Stronger active nat. govt.

• Great commercial & diplomatic potential

• Individual economic interests– Bondholders– Urban artisans (tariff protections)– Merchant access to GB– Fear state attack on property rights

Nationalist Leaders

• James Madison VA– Deep thinker on political issues– Political freedom

• Alexander Hamilton NY– “energetic” supporter of national greatness– Economic power (bigger than GB)

Annapolis Convention 1786

• Only 6 states meet to discuss interstates & international trade.

• Meeting in Phil. Suggested to amend Articles.

Impact of Shay’s Rebellion

• 1785 Sam Adams– Our government at present has liberty for its

object.

• “A little rebellion now and then is a good thing, the tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time w/ the blood of patriots and tyrants.” - Jefferson

• No respect is paid to federal authority”-Madison

• Madison feared private liberty or property rights could be endangered by public liberty or unchecked power in the hands of the people.

• What did the nationalists want?

• Explain the conflicting views of Shay’s Rebellion?