THE ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION

Were the articles of confederation well thought out?

What made sense? States retained a great deal of autonomy. All states were equal in decision making – they all had one vote. States contributed to the treasury based on the value of the land they owned. All taxes were levied by the individual states. The US government served as a court for disputes between the states. Value of money was regulated by the central government. All changes to the country had to be agrees upon by all of the states.

BUT

What about… States that did not want to cooperate with the central government? States that did not agree with treaties made by the central government? MONEY ? The central government could only REQUEST that states collected a tax. Private property? The states could make laws that benefitted only some of the people. For example, loyalists property was confiscated after the Revolution, but patriots land was not touched. A unified currency? The fact that there was no executive branch to the government? The fact that Congress could not regulate interstate or foreign trade? Change: 2/3 or 9 out of 13 states had to agree to any law and articles could not be amended without the approval of all states.

Positive RESULTS

The central government controlled the northwest territory better than it controlled the original 13 states!!

Northwest ordinance 1787 gained from Britain in the Treaty of Paris Created a plan for the government of the northwest territory Defined the territory Provided a plan for transition into statehood Reserved some of the land for educational institutions Disallowed slavery

Negative results

BASICALLY THERE WERE 13 SEPARATE STATES THAT LACKED NATIONAL UNITY!

Shay’s rebellion 1786 Farmers in Massachusetts, and elsewhere, were losing their farms due to their inability to pay back their debt. Although they fought in the Revolutionary War, their lands were being seized by the courts.. In addition, law fees were too high, so most did not have representation. Shay led an army of farmers to close the courts. 1,200 men strong, the army attempted to get weapons from the Massachusetts arsenal. State officials created a militia to put down the uprising, but it was clear that there were severe issues with the new government. Many were afraid that the idea of rebellion would spread. Since the central government was powerless to act, need for change was evident.