1. The Articles of Confederation

2. AFTER THE REVOLUTION America was now an independent nation having won the Revolutionary War, but now what? What would the country and the government look like? Our good friend John Green explains http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bO7FQsCcbD8

3. The Articles of Confederation The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson, a Penn. Delegate (remember him from our film?) The Articles were accepted by Congress in 1781 and is considered the first national constitution.

4. The Articles of Confederation The fear of having too much power in one person’s hands reflects the experiences the colonies had under a monarchy In the Articles a national government is formed but the state governments limit the power of this national Congress

5. Articles of Confederation Chart Examine the image and read the text for each Placard. Take notes in the appropriate box on your chart.

6. Limits of The Articles of Confederation The National government under the Articles did not have the power to tax or enforce laws. Those powers were left up to the states. The national government had the power to wage war, BUT since they couldn’t tax, there was no way to pay for it. The government could issue money, BUT the states didn’t have to use it. They had their own.

7. Limits of the Articles of Confederation Congress had no power regulate foreign or state trade Laws had to be approved by 9 out of 13 states Congress did not have the power to enforce laws Since the national government could not tax, and the national money was worthless, debt became a huge problem. The biggest problem was that the soldiers who had fought the war, had not been paid, and they were dismayed.

8. The Northwest Ordinance One of the things the new government was allowed to do was divide any new lands the United States acquired. 5,000 free males who own 50 acres can start govt. Under the Northwest Ordinance, when 60,000 people lived in a territory, they could apply to become a state. Slavery was also outlawed, but runaway slaves were to be returned to their lawful “owners.” Freedom of religion and trial by jury were guaranteed.

9. 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.

11. Shays’ Rebellion – Mass. The money paid to the soldiers who had fought in the Revolution was worthless. As a result, the farmers were unable to pay their debts because they were expected to pay their debt in gold. The farmers were taken to court, then to jail, and their land was taken away from them. In 1786, an armed revolt broke out by farmers against the Mass. state government. Led by Daniel Shays, the farmers began to forcibly prevent the courts from meeting so they couldn’t take anyone else’s land away or put them in jail. Early in 1787, the Governor sent 4,400 men against the rebels and the rebels were defeated. Shays and the other rebels were eventually pardoned.

12. Results of Shays’ Rebellion Shays’ Rebellion showed the leaders of America that the Articles of Confederation were too weak, and a stronger national government was needed.

13. Views about Shays’s Rebellion

14. Samuel Adams Said What?! “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” Adams will also write a law called the Riot Act, which prohibits 12 people or more from meeting and gives the government the power to shoot rioters! Samuel sure has changed since 1776!

15. Thomas Jefferson Said What?! "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."