Articles of Confederation and New Problems

Ideas about Government Constitution– set of basic principals and laws that state the powers and duties of government Limited power– didn’t want another king with too much power

Ideas from Enlightenment : John Locke– right to life, liberty, & property; gov is a contract Montesquieu– gov should be separated and balanced; should be limited

State Constitutions Nearly all states write up own gov Protected rights of citizens, more power for the states than the national gov Different requirements for suffrage– right to vote

Articles of Confederation Needed a central gov during revolution Was a “Firm league of friendship” No president or court system One vote per state, vote had to be unanimous

Could: Deal with other countries Borrow money Couldn’t: Control trade Form army Collect taxes Print money

New Land Issues Population west of Apps growing quickly Area known as NW Territory– Wisconsin, Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio Ordinance of 1785– divide into townships, 6x6 acres per person, 36 square acres=township NW Ordinance– once pop big enough, write bill of rights, apply to be a state, no slavery

Lack of Respect w/o power, gov couldn’t do much Britain ignores parts of Treaty of Paris Spain closes Mississippi River for trading We trade less with Britain, they also try to shut us out of trading Articles don’t allow us to tax, can’t tax imports, exports (tariffs)

Trouble at Home Articles can’t control interstate trade, states argue with each other Can’t control money– inflation from states printing off too much money Inflation makes money useless, country goes into depression

Economic Depression Farmers hit the hardest, banks take their farms, put in jail Daniel Shays leads Mass. Farmers in a rebellion, gov can’t stop them Some states outlaw slavery, southern states rely on it though People call for a change to the Articles