Problems in the New Nation Weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation

Powers Under Articles of Confederation Federal Powers State Powers Request money from states Tax Coin money Enforce federal law Make treaties Regulate commerce Create an army Raise troops Create a postal system All powers given to Congress

Lack of Respect Britain refused to remove troops from western lands (a violation of Treaty of Paris) Spain will not allow the US to use the lower Mississippi River Congress cannot solve these problems because it does not have an army to enforce treaties or pressure countries to negotiate

Troubles with Trade Britain refuses to allow the US to trade with its colonies in the West Indies Britain forces American merchants to pay high duties on US exports such as rice, tar and tobacco Congress cannot fix the problem because cannot enforce treaties without an army or passing and regulating tariffs

Economic Problems at Home States charge tariffs on goods shipped between the states Each state prints its own money causing inflation Congress cannot fix this problem because it lacks the ability to regulate interstate commerce or stop states from issuing money

Public Safety Problems Shays’s Rebellion Massachusetts outlaws the use of paper money at the request of merchants and creditors Many farmers begin to have their farms foreclosed upon Read pages 234 – 235 and complete the web on the back of your outline