The Articles of Confederation

Forming a New Government: What would it look like? ● A Republic? - Citizens rule through elected representatives A Democracy? - Citizens rule directly Government based on the consent of the people ( Republicanism ) had different meanings to different people 2

States wrote their own constitutions (plans for government). Three branches of government (legislative, executive, judicial) Limited powers of government Guaranteed citizens rights – freedom of religion, speech, press

 There was still a need for a national government.

The Articles of Confederation The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a Pennsylvania statesman and created a… “league of friendship [between] each [state],…”

A confederation is an alliance All 13 states had to approve the plan for the Articles before they would be official The Articles were NOT accepted until Why? Disputes over western lands

The Articles of Confederation  There was a fear of the national government having too much power  In the Articles, the state governments ON PURPOSE limit the power of the national Congress

Structure of Government/ Problems with the Government  Unicameral (single house) legislative body  Each state had one vote regardless of population size  One branch of government – Legislative Branch (Congress)  No executive or judicial branches  13 states must vote to amend Articles. 8

Powers given to the National Government  Declare war  Make peace  Sign treaties  Others:  Borrow money  Set up a post office  Deal with Native Americans  set standards for weights and measures

Powers Withheld  Tax - How did the new nation get money?  Power to regulate foreign trade - How did the new nation make agreements with foreign nations?

Disputes over western lands  Western lands – land west of the Appalachian Mountains, North of Ohio River and East of Mississippi River  Maryland would not agree to Articles until all states gave up a claim to these lands - Thought states with this land would overpower smaller states

Northwest Territory The Northwest Territory was east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. The states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, and Wisconsin would be formed from this area.

 Now that the land belongs to no one what are you going to do with it?

The Land Ordinance of 1785, stated that land in the west was to be surveyed and divided into blocks 36 miles square

The Northwest Ordinance 1787 outlined a plan for applying for statehood to western territories  5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt  Population of 60,000 could become a state

Settling Western lands  The Northwest Ordinance provides an orderly settlement process in the West  It promised  no slavery  education  freedom of religion  trial by jury

Reasons for Shay ’ s Rebellion  Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they have no money because they were not paid during the war  Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too. And seek to get money from the farmers debts

Daniel Shay & His Reasons Daniel Shay- Revolutionary War Veteran & farmer in debt. Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and close courts that are hearing cases against farmers

Shays ’ s Rebellion Formed an army of 1,200 farmers -Marched towards arsenal in Springfield -The Mass militia is called out to stop it - Result: 4 rebels killed -Shays ’ s Rebellion will prompt national leaders to create a stronger central government

Samuel Adams  “ 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 ”

Thomas Jefferson  "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."

Call for Convention  Problems:  Trade between states  Taxes on goods  Madison & Hamilton called for convention in Annapolis, Maryland 1786  5 states sent delegates  Failure  Shay’s Rebellion got attention= Convention in 1787 in Philadelphia  12 states sent delegates  Rhode Island did not 55 Delegates total- merchants, lawyers, planters.

Key Conflicts: Central Government Vs. States Strong Central Government: -Authority comes from the people -The central government should be stronger than the states Strong States: -Authority comes from the states -The states should remain stronger than the central government

Key Conflicts: Large Vs. Small States Large States: -Congress should be 2 houses -Delegates should be assigned based on population size Small States: -Congress should remain unicameral (1 house) -Each state should have one vote

Key Conflicts: North Vs. South North: -Slaves should not be counted when assigning delegates -Slaves should be counted when levying taxes South: -Slaves should be counted when assigning delegates -Slaves should not be counted when levying taxes