What Now?
Each colony was seen as its own separate nation.
Founders believed that a unifying national government was neededHelp conduct the warControl trade and manage conflictsBe uniform in how they dealt with other nations
Articles of ConfederationFirst constitution and created first national
governmentAdopted in 1777, final approval 1781
Problems Writing the Articles
People’s fear of a strong national governmentBelieved British gov’t took away people’s rightsThought this would happen with any government
that was powerful and far away from the people
Fear that some states would have more powers than othersWanted to make sure states interests were taken
into considerationMost important issue: how states would vote in
CongressDecisions would be made by majority vote
Organizing a National Government
Created a weak gov’t to appease fears of a national government that was too strong
The government was simply a legislature (Congress)No judicial or executive branches
Most of the powers of gov’t were left to the states
Each state had one vote in Congress.
On important matters (like declaring war) 9 out of 13 states would have to agree.
Achievements of the National Gov’t Under the Articles
Waged the War against Great Britain
Negotiated the Treaty of Paris
Made each state recognize the laws of the other states.Marriage in one state would be valid in anotherCitizens could travel freely from one state to anotherCriminals who crossed state borders to be sent back
to the state in which a crime was committed
Northwest Ordinance
Northwest Ordinance
Gave people in the north west lands the right to organize their own governments.
They could then request to be admitted as a new state.
They would have the same rights as the 13 states.
Provided for public education and forbade slavery
Guaranteed freedom of religion, right to trial by jury and due process of law
Problems with the Articles
Congress had no money and lacked the power to raise money.Could not taxCould ask states to pay certain amount of money to
support national government.
Congress had no power over the state governments or their citizens.States often ignored laws passed by CongressHad no way to force people to obey their laws
Problems with the Articles
Congress could not make states live up to trade agreements with other nations.Some citizens imported goods from other countries
and would not pay for them.People in other nations did not want to trade with USAmericans lost money due to lack of trade
Congress had no power to regulate trade between states.States would tax good from one state to anotherTrade became impossible, business slowed and
people lost jobs.
Problems with the Articles
Citizens thought their property rights were threatenedPeople believed states were not protecting
their property rightsFactions were formed to promote their own
interestsFactions became the majority in some
legislaturesPeople began to think that a strong national
government was needed to protect property rights.
A Failing Economy
What were some of the financial problems America was dealing with after the war?Owed money to other country and citizens that
was borrowed to fight the war.National government did not have the power
to tax.The states were not helpful in giving the
national government money.Currency that was printed during the war was
worthlessEach state printed its own currency.
Economic Depression
Business slowed down, unemployment rate increased.
Britain made trade difficult for America by passing laws that made it difficult for them to enter its ports.
Britain also cut off America’s access to the West Indies further preventing trade.
Farming Difficulties
During the war the demand for goods from farms increased. Farmers borrowed money from banks to buy more land
and equipment.
After the war the demand decreased Farmers grew more goods than they could sell. Could not repay the banks the money they owed
them. Banks began to take farmer’s land if they could not
pay back their debts. Some farmers were imprisoned for not being able to
pay back their debt.
Shays’ Rebellion
Specifically in Massachusetts farmers were getting angry.
Their farms were being shut down. Claimed that the new state taxes put them in debt. They felt that the state was not protecting their
interests.
Farmers asked state legislature to provide debt relief.The state refused
The farmers rebelled.
Shay’s Rebellion
Led by Revolutionary War veteran Daniel Shay
Shay and a group of other angry farmers began to shut down the courts that were taking their land.
Their actions began to spread into other counties
Shay led between 1,000 and 2,000 men to raid a federal arsenal to get weapons.Mass sent in their state militia and easily defeated
Shay’s group.
Call for a Convention
The leaders of the nation felt that an armed group of farmers could become more widespread.
People were beginning to think that they country would fail if it could not maintain law and order.
Leaders felt that the Articles of Confederation needed to be revised.
A convention was called to take place in May, 1787 to revise the articles and delegates from each state were invited to attend.