1. Aim: Why were the Articles of Confederation so weak and ineffectual?
Warm Up: After the treaty of Paris, what would be some challenges that the new nation would face?

2. FREEDOM
Americans won their independence but what did that mean? Were all men really equal? What about women? What about slavery?
Not quite
No state south of PA would abolish slavery
Laws discriminated against free blacks and slaves

3. Republican Motherhood
Women’s equality? Abigail Adams and “remember the ladies?”
No: Women will not have the right to vote, however, women play a key role in the development of American democracy
It’s women’s job to raise good sons who understand the special responsibilities that the right to vote contains

4. New State Constitutions
In 1776 Continental Congress asked states to draft constitutions: Establish republican government
Constitutions were became social contracts that defined the powers of government and reserved rights to the people
Required annual election of legislators

5. Challenges to Union Had just fought a revolution against authority
Fought for freedom but only white men with property had it
Substantial loyalist population
No manufacturing base
Loss of British military protection and economic base

6. Articles of Confederation
By 1777 the Continental Congress had written and ratified in 1781 the Articles of Confederation
Would turn new Western lands over to Federal government to avoid states from fighting over new lands
New lands to bound the country together, Federal government is necesary

7. Problems with the Articles
Congress was to be the main force of Government
No Executive Branch, distaste for a central gvt. After Revolution
Each state would have one vote, regardless of population
Bills required support of 9 states, any change to the Articles had to but Unanimous
No power to regulate Commerce
States could pass their own laws that could conflict with other states
Could not Control
No military power and could not force individual states to do anything
No judiciary
Loose organization of mostly independent States
Seen as necessary but not desirable to be together

8. Northwest Ordinance
What to do with common areas in the North=west: fertile area around the Great Lakes
Land Ordinance of 1785: Sell land and the proceeds be used to pay off national debt
Survey before sell to ensure fair price
Set aside townships of six square miles each, 1/16 of sale to be used for education in NW
Northwest Ordinance 1787
How to govern Northwest?
Established a territorial stage where territory would be subject to the Federal government
Once 60,000 inhabitance in a territory, the territory could apply for full and equal statehood into the country

9. Foreign Relations Britain resented America fighting British
Refused to send an Ambassador
Brits shut America out of its profitable trade network, Still Americans smuggled
US refused to honor debts or to return loyalist property
Britain continued to maintain trading posts and forts on US soil
Spain controlled Mississippi and was unfriendly to US, closing river in 1784 to US commerce
French demanded repayment of loans
Pirates in N. Africa prayed on US shipping no longer protected from British fleet

10. Economic Situation Some states refused to pay to Congress
States were quarrelling over boarders and some battles erupted.
Some states were taxing their neighbors for commerce
States began to print worthless paper money
Worry existed about governments ability to control the situation

11. Shays Rebellion 1786: Western Mass.
Poor farmers who had fought in the Revolution were losing their farms due to mortgage foreclosures and tax delinquencies
Farmers demanded lighter taxes and suspension of take-over
Mass responded with an army and fought the farmers back
Idea that the government was no longer meeting the needs of the people and the masses may soon raise up!
Call for change