The Articles of Confederation

The Articles were written in 1777…..right smack- dab in the middle of the Revolutionary War! The Articles were written in 1777…..right smack- dab in the middle of the Revolutionary War! The Articles were accepted in 1781 and are considered our first national constitution The Articles were accepted in 1781 and are considered our first national constitution

The Articles of Confederation There was great fear of one single person having too much power (such as that of a king) There was great fear of one single person having too much power (such as that of a king) In the Articles, it was decided that the 13 individual state governments would STRONGLY limit the power of the national Congress. In the Articles, it was decided that the 13 individual state governments would STRONGLY limit the power of the national Congress.

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation The national government could not force the states to obey its laws. The national government could not force the states to obey its laws. It did not have the power to tax It did not have the power to tax It did not have the power to enforce laws It did not have the power to enforce laws Congress lacked strong and steady leadership Congress lacked strong and steady leadership There was no national army or navy There was no national army or navy There was no system of national courts There was no system of national courts Each state could issue its own paper money Each state could issue its own paper money

Strengths of the Articles of Confederation Allowed the signing of The Treaty of Paris which ended the Revolutionary War Allowed the signing of The Treaty of Paris which ended the Revolutionary War Created a postal service and a treasury department Created a postal service and a treasury department Promoted a general sense of cooperation Promoted a general sense of cooperation Allowed for the formation of new states Allowed for the formation of new states Tried to draw the separate states together Tried to draw the separate states together

Farmers Revolt During the Revolutionary War, farmers grew extra crops to feed the troops. This cost them money (to pay for more seeds, machinery, etc.) which they had to borrow from the government. During the Revolutionary War, farmers grew extra crops to feed the troops. This cost them money (to pay for more seeds, machinery, etc.) which they had to borrow from the government. After the war, the farmers were never paid by the government for their extra crops After the war, the farmers were never paid by the government for their extra crops

Farmers Revolt After the war, the farmers were never paid by the government for their extra crops After the war, the farmers were never paid by the government for their extra crops In the meantime, many wealthy lawmakers had invested their own money into the war effort, and now they wanted to get payment from the government In the meantime, many wealthy lawmakers had invested their own money into the war effort, and now they wanted to get payment from the government This payment was supposed to come from the farmers paying their debts….. This payment was supposed to come from the farmers paying their debts…..

Farmers Revolt THIS IS CALLED A CATCH-22….. THIS IS CALLED A CATCH-22….. A never-ending cause and effect circle…… A never-ending cause and effect circle…… That NEVER GETS RESOLVED!!! That NEVER GETS RESOLVED!!!

Shays Rebellion The poor farmers, were not represented in the Massachusetts legislature The poor farmers, were not represented in the Massachusetts legislature Therefore, they could not have any influence to pass debt relief laws Therefore, they could not have any influence to pass debt relief laws

Shays Rebellion The farmers felt defeated and that nobody would listen to them or help them The farmers felt defeated and that nobody would listen to them or help them Daniel Shays’ started a rebellion along with other farmers Daniel Shays’ started a rebellion along with other farmers The Massachusetts militia is called out to stop it The Massachusetts militia is called out to stop it

Shays Rebellion Shays’ Rebellion made people (citizens) realize that there was no laws to stop such behavior Shays’ Rebellion made people (citizens) realize that there was no laws to stop such behavior People were convinced for a need of a stronger central (federal) government People were convinced for a need of a stronger central (federal) government

Samuel Adams Said What?! “Rebellion against a king may be pardoned, or lightly punished, but the man who dares to rebel against the laws of a republic ought to suffer death”

Sam Adams…hypocrite? Adams also wrote a law called the Riot Act, which prohibits 12 people or more from meeting and gives the government the power to shoot rioters! Adams also wrote a law called the Riot Act, which prohibits 12 people or more from meeting and gives the government the power to shoot rioters! Sort of interesting….since Sam Adams was quite the ruffian-rabble-rouser BEFORE the Revolutionary War…..Remember The Boston Tea Party???? Sort of interesting….since Sam Adams was quite the ruffian-rabble-rouser BEFORE the Revolutionary War…..Remember The Boston Tea Party????

Thomas Jefferson Said What?! "A little rebellion now and then is a good thing. It is a medicine necessary for the sound health of government. God forbid that we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion."

Do You Agree With Him??? IS a little rebellion good now and then? IS a little rebellion good now and then? Why or why not? Why or why not?