EQ’ and Class notes on Articles of Confederation WHAT IS POWER? WHEN CAN YOU WIN AND LOSE AT THE SAME TIME? WHAT IS THE DEFINITION OF GOOD GOVERNMENT?

CRITICAL PERIOD ( ) ECONOMIC DISTRESS –Merchants excluded from British West Indies –Lost favored position in English markets –States printed their own money –Lack of unified currency made merchants reluctant to do business outside of own state

American Exports, To & From Britain:

State Constitutions Republicanism. Most had strong governors with veto power. Most had bicameral legislatures. Property required for voting. Some had universal white male suffrage. Most had bills of rights. Many had a continuation of state- established religions while others disestablished religion.

Organization of the A of C Power rested in the states – weak central authority No executive to carry out laws Unicameral legislature (Congress), one representative per state No national courts – only state courts 9 of 13 states to approve laws 13 of 13 states to amend Articles Congress has not power to tax – can request $ Congress cannot regulate trade among the states Congress can declare war, make treaties, but it cannot draft an army No national currency – states coin own money

Achievements of the A of C Power to make treaties, declare war, and receive ambassadors Successful conclusion of the Revolution Negotiation of the Treaty of Paris and gaining land to the Mississippi River Passage of the Land Ordinance of 1785 – selling of federal lands Passage of Northwest Ordinance of 1787 – pattern to admit new states, prohibits slavery in Northwest Territory

Northwest Ordinance of 1785

Ohio 1 ST STEP WHEN PEOPLE FIRST SETTLE IN THE AREA: Congress appoints a governor and three judges to govern the territory 2 nd STEP 5,000 FREE ADULT MALES: Landowners elect a congress to make laws and raise taxes with approval of governor. 1 representative is elected to the US Congress who can debate but not vote. 3 rd STEP 60,000 SETTLERS: Becomes a state, with its own government and constitution. New states admitted with same rights as the original states. No more than 5 states can carved out of this area. Northwest OrdinanceDOI and republicanism (representative democracyliberty and propertyeducationslavery. The Northwest Ordinance encouraged ideals of the DOI and republicanism (representative democracy) religious freedom, protection of liberty and property, encouraged education, admitted new states and no slavery.

The United States in 1787

WEAKNESSES OF ARTICLES OF CONFEDERATION –Fundamental weakness in any confederation is that power resides in the individual members – no central authority or figure to run operations –Dependence on states for revenue (could not tax) –Problems will hurt the propertied and business classes – merchants, shippers, bankers, manufacturers, large landowners –No ability to protect the nation – couldn’t raise an army with out state consent Conflicting trade regulations

FINANCIAL CHAOS –High inflation - $ = $1.00 gold –Deep debt - $ ($ today) to states and foreign countries –France wants us humble and poor –Soldiers unpaid – no pensions

Shays’ Rebellion: Daniel Shays Western MA Small farmers angered by crushing debts and taxes.

In early 1787 a group of small farmers protested against the Massachusetts govt. Why? They were in debt, their homes being repossessed and unfair taxation. They were led by Daniel Shays, a former army captain in the Revolutionary War. The purpose of the rebellion was to prevent foreclosures by keeping the courts from sitting until the next election. Shay’s Rebellion was put down by private army paid for by wealthy merchants from Boston. The AOC was unable to put down the rebellion with a national guard or army.

Shays Attacks by Shay followers Encounters between Shay’s and hired militias. Outcomes Rebellion put down by a private militia US Govt. too weak to put down rebellion Americans feared govt. too weak = anarchy Call for a Constitutional Convention to change AOC and create a stronger national government.

notes3 == total chaos, mob rule, survival of the fittest, no respect for law and order or attempting to overthrow the authority of govt. = unstable govt. = no govt.“MOBOCRACY”

The Articles of Confederation was an effective form of government. Create a T-Chart of +/- about the Articles Based on your findings, create a thesis that assesses the validity of the first statement

The US Constitution The Constitution was a necessary form of government. Create a T-Chart of +/- about the Constitution Based on your findings, create a thesis that assesses the validity of the first statement

Homework Chapter 10 reading quiz tomorrow Write a summary of chapter 9 Write an introductory paragraph using one of the thesis statements you wrote today: –Articles as effective –Constituion as necessary