Political Problems

• In order to change or amend the Articles, unanimous approval of the states was required

• For any major laws to pass they had to be approved by 9 of the 13 states

• Just one vote per state, size did not matter

• No Executive or Judiciary

Economic Problems

• Congress could not tax

• States refused to give money to Congress

• Federal money and state money

• Interstate trade crippled (Congress has no power to regulate)

• Can not pay debts

Foreign Problems

• Britain refuses to pull troops out of western lands

• Britain closed ports in West Indies

• Spain closed the port city of New Orleans to American ships

• Barbary pirates seize American ships

The need for change

• 1786 – 1787 Shay’s Rebellion

• Many farmers could not pay taxes and lost their land

• Could not sell crops or repay debts so they were imprisoned

• Wants to shut down courts

• Daniel Shay leads Massachusetts farmers to weapons arsenal

• *Shows the nation how weak the national government is and that a new government was needed

Annapolis Convention

• 1786 Annapolis, Maryland

• Only 12 reps from 5 states show.

• Topic: Amending the Articles

• Dickinson, Hamilton, and Madison call to meet again in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise Articles of Confederation

Review

• What were the economic problems under the A of C?

• What were the foreign problems?

• What were the domestic problems?

• What showed Americans the need for change?

HANDOUT

Please take out Homework