1. Articles of Confederation
and Shay’s Rebellion

2. Objectives
Today we will be able to answer the question, “How did Americans react to Shay’s Rebellion”?

3. Why were the Articles of Confederation so weak?
AoC writers disliked…
So under the AoC…
Taxation without representation
The federal government could not tax
A large central government that had absolute power
States didn’t have to follow federal laws and treaties
Having to follow British legislation
States had their own laws and didn’t have to follow other states’ laws
Lots of power was in the king’s hands
No executive branch or national court system
The king could change laws at any time
Any amendment required all 13 states’ approval

4. What was the Problem?
Since the federal government could not tax, it was very difficult to raise money
Since states didn’t have to follow laws and treaties, the federal government had no assurance that individual states would follow them
Each state had its own laws, which made it difficult for the country to act in a united way. Congress couldn’t pay back debts from the revolution and couldn’t get states to work together to encourage commerce.

5. What was the Problem?
Since there was no executive branch, the government could not defend its borders.
Since there was no executive branch and national court system, the government could not enforce its laws
Any amendment required all 13 states’ approval, so the AoC was very difficult to modify

6. Textbook Excerpt Questions
What happened in Shay’s Rebellion?
How is it connected to the Articles of Confederation?
According to the excerpt, how did Americans respond?

7. Discussion Questions
What are the pros and cons of a strong central government?
Why might Jefferson oppose having a strong central government?
Why would the idea of poor farmers rebelling be scary to many of the people at the Constitutional Convention?

8. Discussion Questions
Do you agree with Jefferson’s assertion about the “tree of liberty”?
How does this letter challenge or expand the textbook excerpt’s account?
Why might many texbooks make it seem like everyone wanted a strong central government after Shay’s Rebellion?