Download The Articles of Confederation

Weaknesses of the
Articles of Confederation
A unicameral Congress
[9 of 13 votes to pass a law].
13 out of 13 to amend.
Could not tax or raise armies.
No executive or judicial
branches.
State Claims to Western Lands
Land Ordinance of 1785
•$1 per acre with 640 acre mininimum
•Raised $760,000 revenue in 4 years
The United States in 1787
Northwest (Land) Ordinance of 1787
Strategy for territories to become states.
(60,000 pop. Minimum)
Guaranteed freedom of religion.
Guaranteed trial by jury.
Prohibited slavery in Northwest Territory
New states have equal status with 13
Vermont-1791
Kentucky-1792
Tennessee-1796
Economic Problems
41.2 million in debt including 7.9 in
international debt
Domestic debt reduced to 6 million,
international debt increased to 10.2
Negotiated commercial treaties with
France, Sweden, Prussia, Morocco
Failed to solve tariff conflicts
between states
Failed to solve paper currency abuses
States voted down tax requests
International Problems
Jay-Gardoqui Treaty accepted
Spain’s closure of lower Mississippi in
exchange for commercial treaty
favorable to New England
Unable to get England reopen West
Indies trade or accept imports (rice,
indigo, tobacco)
British flood U.S. with manufactured
goods
Trade deficit=deflation=depression
American Exports, To & From
Britain: 1783-1789
Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7
•Former Continental soldiers not paid back pay
•Land confiscated when they can’t pay taxes
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
GOAL  address barriers that
limited trade and commerce between
the states.
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.
Constitutional Convention
What were the motives of our
Founding Fathers?
To what extent was the
Constitution a conservative
reaction by “monied men” to their
fear of the ordinary American
citizen?
What was the historical impact
of the Great Compromise & the
3/5ths Compromise?
Federalist vs. Anti-Federalist
Strongholds
Antifederalist Objections to
Constitution
No Bill of Rights
Fear of abuse of centralized power &
loss of state power, including
executive branch
Concern over federal power to tax,
regulate trade, & raise army
Fear of big states dominating small
states
Slavery: Pro & anti groups
Lack of democracy in elections