Articles of Confederation Northwest Ordinance Shay’s Rebellion Confederation Era Articles of Confederation Northwest Ordinance Shay’s Rebellion

Articles of Confederation Plan for a national government (1781) Each state has 1 vote in Congress National-wage war, make peace, sign treaties, and issue money State-set taxes and enforce national laws

Weaknesses of Articles... Lacked power to: Enforce laws Levy taxes Regulate trade among the states Required all 13 states to approve changes in the Articles

Northwest Territory Ohio Indiana Michigan Illinois Wisconsin Part of Minnesota

Land Ordinance of 1785 Six mile square plots called townships One mile for schools First time national government promoted public education

Northwest Ordinance (1787) At 60,000, a territory could apply to become a state Slavery outlawed Rivers open to all Freedom of religion Trial by jury

Shay’s Rebellion After the war: big recession Huge debt (27 million) People had very little cash Many soldiers went unpaid for war Average family owed $200 a year More $ than most farmers made

Shay’s Rebellion Debt laws were strict Property auctioned off If there is still debt...

Debtor’s Prison

Shay’s Rebellion Farmers ask for debt relief in Massachusetts Daniel Shays leads 1500 men Marched to federal arsenal Rebellion is put down by militia hired by merchants Two are hung; rest are pardoned

Reactions & Effects Sam Adams writes a Riot Act Proposed death penalty for guilty Farmers won sympathy from many Showed need for a stronger national government

I hold it that a little rebellion now and then is a good thing. The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. Thomas Jefferson