Articles of Confederation Government: 1781-1789

Articles of Confederation

• A document that stated the role of a national government in the United States from 1781 to 1787.

• It had many weaknesses, primarily the creation of a very weak central government and strong state governments

• Its weaknesses will lead to drafting of the Constitution

Weaknesses of theArticles of

ConfederationA unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law].13 out of 13 to amend.Representatives were frequently absent.Could not tax or raise armies.No executive or judicial branches.

State ConstitutionsRepublicanism.Most had strong governors with veto power.Most had bicameral legislatures.Property required for voting.Some had universal white male suffrage.Most had bills of rights.Many had a continuation of state-established religions while others disestablished religion.

Land

• During the time of the Articles of Confederation there are many land issues that must be resolved by the United States

• One of the few achievements of the Confederation was how well the land issue was handled

Indian Land Cessions:1768-1799

Disputed Territorial ClaimsBetween Spain & the U. S.:

1783-1796

State Claims to Western Lands

Land Ordinance of 1785

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

One of the major accomplishments of the Confederation Congress!Statehood achieved in three stages:

1. Congress appointed 3 judges & a governor to govern the territory.

2. When population reached 5,000 adult male landowners elect territorial legislature.

3. When population reached 60,000 elect delegates to a state constitutional convention.

The United States in 1787

The Confederation encounters problems

• After the initial success of territorial expansion issues, the Confederation began showing it’s weakness when dealing w/

• taxation, • national debt• Congressional representation

Weaknesses

• The Articles of Conf. caused Americans to see themselves as individual states, not one nation

• The 1 vote per state rules hurt states w/ large populations (Ga (23,375)= Mass (235,308)

• Most serious economic problem was the national debt stemming from the war ($190 million)—had to pay back foreign nations/ Continental currency worthless

• Couldn’t tax or collect revenue from the states

Debtors vs. Creditors• After the war, Creditors (lenders of $) and debtors

(borrowers of $) struggle against one another.

• Lenders favor high taxes so the states can pay them back--- this sends farmers into debt and many lose their farms because of it.

• Usefulness of Money- Debtors want to increase the supply of money to lessen its value and enable them to pay off their debts with cheap currency.

• Creditors want the money supply low so it would keep its full value.

Foreign Relation problems• US does not pay debts to British merchants or compensate

Loyalists

• In retaliation, Britain refuses to evacuate forts on the Great Lakes

• In 1784, Spain closes Miss. River to American navigation

• Westerners unable to ship crops east through New Orleans

• Congress unable to resolve problems with foreign nations

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7

Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7

There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders.-- George Washington

Annapolis Convention (1786)

12 representatives from 5 states[NY, NJ, PA, DE, VA]GOAL address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states.Not enough states were represented to make any real progress.Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.