Articles of Confederation Aim: What was accomplished during the Articles of Confederation government?

Articles of Confederation Weaknesses Congress cannot levy taxes or collect tax revenues. Congress could not regulate interstate trade or foreign trade. 1 State – 1 Vote

Weaknesses Articles of Confederation could be amended/changed only with all 13 states voting in favor. 9 of 13 states were needed to pass important laws. No executive branch No national court system

Accomplishments Land Ordinance of 1785 – Established a plan for surveying the land of the Northwest territory. The land is divided into townships, each containing 36 square miles. Read textbook pages 138-139 How did the Land Ordinance of 1785 affect ordinary Americans and our growth as a nation?

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – Biggest Accomplishment Congress appoints a territorial governor and judges Once a territory had 5,000 adult male residents, the settlers were allowed to write a temporary constitution and elect their own territorial legislature. Once the population reached 60,000 free settlers (men and women), they could write a state constitution and apply to Congress to be approved for statehood.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Congress proclaimed “fundamental principles of civil and religious liberty” were the foundation for the new states to be created. Provision for government funding of elementary education through the sale of land. Ordinance rejected slavery for the new states to be carved out of the Northwest Territories.

Shays’s Rebellion 1786-1787 Rebellion is put down Debt-ridden farmers – Western Massachusetts Revolutionary war veterans march on the town of Northampton to shut down courts – prevent further foreclosures. Later march to the Springfield arsenal, defeated.

Shays’s Rebellion What did Shays’s Rebellion mean for the country? What did some leaders begin to call for? May - 1787

Calls for Reform 1786 – Delegates from five states meet in Maryland to discuss the problems of the Articles of Confederation May of 1787 – Delegates from 12 states (not Rhode Island), gather in Philadelphia. News of Shays’s Rebellion convinces them that a meeting is necessary to reform the Articles of Confederation

Constitutional Convention George Washington is elected to be the presiding officer. James Madison and George Mason represent Virginia Alexander Hamilton represents New York Windows nailed shut. Sweltering heat

Bold Proposal The Virginia delegation proposes a new plan: Completely abandons the Articles of Confederation for a new form of national government What was in it?

The Virginia Plan Congress: Two houses, both would be determined by population Taxation: Congress would have the power to tax There would be a federal judiciary Single executive chosen by a national legislature What states opposed this idea?

New Jersey Plan Proposes to keep the Articles Single legislature One house, one state, one vote Power to tax Federal Judiciary

Strong Central Government Central government should be stronger than the states. Delegates to Congress assigned according to population.

Roger Sherman – Great Compromise What was it?