The Articles of Confederation The 1st government of the US

Articles of Confederation (1781) Document for the 1st government of the United States

Strengths of the AOC 1. Treaty of Paris (1783) Officially made US independent of England John Jay, John Adams, and Benjamin Franklin negotiated the treaty

Strengths of the AOC 2. Land Ordinance of 1785 Created procedure to allow new states into the union. New states would be equal to original 13 states

Strengths of the AOC 3. Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Land between App. Mtns and Mississippi River to be divided up into states Ohio Indiana Minnesota Michigan Wisconsin Slavery prohibited in this new area

Weaknesses of the AOC Federal government had very little power. Could not tax or enforce laws No president No national currency No national court system

Shays Rebellion Overview Where: Massachusetts When: 1786-1787 Who: Group led by Daniel Shays (Revolutionary War veteran) Why: Shays and others were being overtaxed and land was being taken away due to debts

Shays Rebellion Forcibly closed courts Free debtors from jail Rebellion was squashed by military force organized by the governor Shays pardoned on charges of high treason

Outcome of Shays Rebellion Realization that national government under the AOC had very little power New government needed Constitutional Convention and the US Constitution being written