University:
Bradley University
Course:
HIS 203 | American History and Global Systems to 1877
Academic year:

2020
Views:

304

Pages:

22
Author:

Cale Mejia

The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ The Articles were written in 1777 by John Dickinson of Pennsylvania. The Articles were finally accepted by the Continental Congress in 1781. The document created a “league of friendship “ among the states. How Articles of Confederation Worked ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ The Continental Congress was a one-house legislature with very few limited powers. Each state had one vote in Congress. 9 of 13 states were needed to decide any issue. A unanimous vote of 13 states was needed to amend the Articles. Congress Was Given Certain Powers ⚫ Control the army and the navy ⚫ Deal with foreign countries ⚫ Declare war and make peace ⚫ Run the postal service ⚫ Borrow or request money from the states Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation Congress had no power to collect taxes. ⚫ Congress had no power regulate foreign trade or commerce between the states. ⚫ Congress did not have the power to enforce laws. ⚫ 9 out of 13 states had to approve all decisions. ⚫ Congress was unable to settle disputes between the states. ⚫ Understanding The Articles of Confederation ⚫ The fear of having too much power in one person’s hands reflected the experiences the colonies had under a monarchy. ⚫ Under the Articles, the states extensively limited the powers of the Continental Congress. The Result“WEAK” GOVERNMENT Successes of the Articles of Confederation Brought the Revolution to end ⚫ Negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783 ⚫ Established the Postal Service ⚫ Began to organize the western territories (Jefferson-”An Empire for Liberty”) ⚫ Settling Western Lands ⚫ The Land Ordinance of 1785 stated that land in the west was to be surveyed using a grid system to establish 6 mile blocks. ⚫ The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 assisted in the orderly expansion of the United States. It outlined a plan for applying for statehood in the western territories. ⚫ ⚫ Free males who owned 50 acres of land could serve as representatives in the government. Territories with a population of 60,000 could apply for statehood. Settling Western lands ⚫ The Northwest Ordinance provided for an orderly settlement process in the West. ⚫ It promised ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ no slavery free education freedom of religion trial by jury “An Empire for Liberty” Northwest Territory ⚫ The Northwest Territory lay east of the Mississippi River and north of the Ohio River. The states of Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin, and part of Minnesota would be formed from this area. Problems Faced by the Articles of Confederation ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ Each state was independent Disputes raged over western land claims Trade disputes smoldered among the states States were: ~severely in debt ~began to levy high taxes ~began printing their own money ⚫ Debtor rebellions broke out in all 13 states Shays’s Rebellion ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ ⚫ States began to levy high taxes. Many people were in debt and angry about new taxes. Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer, led a rebellion of 1,200 men in the fall of 1786. They were joined by militia and attempted to capture the federal armory in Springfield. Shays’s Rebellion ⚫ Shays and his rebellion were crushed by June of 1787. ⚫ The rebellion will convince the most important leaders in the states that something needed to be done about the failing national government. 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” Views about Shays’s Rebellion Adams will also write a law called the Riot Act, which prohibited 12 people or more from meeting and gave the government the power to shoot rioters at will! ⚫ Samuel Adams sure did change from 1776! ⚫ 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."