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The Articles of Confederation

Creating a New Nationhttp://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yHp7sMqPL0gThe Articles of Confederation1781-1789I. Creation of the ArticlesA. 1777-the Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation as a national government1. States had already created their own governments

B. Was fairly weak; had fear of a strong central government

C. Congress was the only source of political authority1. no executive or judicial branch

II. Power of the ArticlesA. Had the power to conduct wars and deal with foreign nations.

B. Could appropriate, borrow and issue money. III. Powers the Articles Did not Have

A. Congress could not levy taxes on the people

B. Congress could not enforce a draft for the military 1. Had to ask state legislatures, who often refused these requests

C. Articles could not be amended without the approval of ALL 13 states. D. There was no separate executive1. The president was the presiding member of Congress at the time.

E. Each state had one vote in Congress1. Favored smaller states2. Only one house in the legislature

F. Lacked power to deal with interstate issues, enforce will on the states, or gain respect internationally. IV. International IssuesA. Lack of respect among foreign nations

B. Britain refusing to respect Treaty of Paris 17831. Troops have still not all been evacuated from American territory2. Did not return slaves who fought for Britain back to slaveholders

C. Boundary disputes-disagreement over boundary with Florida and Canada.

V. Conflict over Western LandsA. More people begin moving west with removal of the Royal Proclamation1. Increased from a few thousand to over 120,000.

B. Congress needs to organize landC. Northwest Ordinance 1787A. Created a Northwest Territory out of land north of the Ohio River.

C. Did not include land south of the Ohio1. Tennessee and Kentucky

D. Increased conflict with Native Americans1. Land that had been claimed by Native Americans2. Made treaties with various tribes to give up their land3. Natives renounced the treaties and increased attacks on American settlers. VI. Shays RebellionA. Postwar depression from 1784-17871. War debt and inadequate money supply

B. Articles had a massive war debt that it could not pay 1. Could not force the states to levy taxes to raise revenue

C. States had their own war debtsA. Levied their own taxes-poor farmers paying the mostB. 1780s-periodic riots by farmersD. Farmers in Massachusetts rallied behind Daniel Shays1. Former captain in the Continental Army.

E. Made many demands of the state1. Wanted tax relief2. Issuing of paper money3. The end of imprisonment for failing to pay debts.

F. Marched on Springfield to seize supply of weapons there.

G. State militia sent out and dispersed the farmersH. It was a military failure, but some concessions were made. 1. Some debt relief and postponement of debt payments

I. Increased popularity of the movement for a stronger national government.

VII. Future of the ConfederationA. Had been almost non-existent since 1783

B. Constantly on the move from angry war veterans

C. Many delegates in congress inactive in government operations1. Not all delegates participated in the ratification of the Treaty of Paris 1783 and of the passage of the Northwest Ordinance 1787.

D. The most wealthy and powerful groups wanted a stronger national government. 1. Merchants wanted a single, high national tariff2. Landowners wanted protection from mobs3. Biggest supporters were Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

E. By 1787 the only question was how drastically the Articles needed to be changed1. Called a meeting in Philadelphia to discuss changing the Articles. 2. Shays Rebellion and Washingtons support were the reasons that so many delegates showed up. Your Opinion! Do you agree with the decision to change the Articles of Confederation? List out the pros and cons of the government on your sheet below. Then, decide whether you would be in favor of a stronger national government or a weaker one.