Articles of Confederation America’s First Constitution

What are the Articles of Confederation? The Revolutionary War and Declaration of Independence made a new country- The United States of America. This new country had to make the laws now, since Britain used to make all the decisions. But America did not want a powerful central government like King George III (tyranny). The Articles of Confederation were written by the Second Continental Congress to unify the 13 states. It was the first constitution (rules for government) in America.

Type of Government Created by the Articles of Confederation The government created by the Articles of Confederation was WEAK! There was a national government (Congress) and the states were also self-governed. Why would this cause a problem? Congress had the power to declare war and make laws BUT the states had more power and could cause Congress not to pass these laws. Remember, the individual states did things that were in their best interests, not the United States’.

Articles of Confederation STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES Stated that Congress could declare war and make laws Could make peace treaties Could make treaties with other countries Could print and borrow money Most of the power was with the states Could not set up an army Could not control trade or create taxes because the states would not agree to it NO president

Shay’s Rebellion Congress could not take it any longer! The states were printing their own money and making their own rules for trade. In Massachusetts, farmers were forced to pay high taxes. They did not have the money to pay off their debt…they could lose their farm or go to jail. A farmer named Daniel Shay led a group of 1,100 farmers in protest of the state government. The farmers began capturing weapons from the national government and Congress could not stop them because they did not have an army. Today, this protest is called Shay’s Rebellion. It showed that the Articles of Confederation had created a weak national government that could not keep order.

Shays’ Rebellion • Farmer’s income decreased while taxes increased. • Farmers who could not pay their debts had their farms taken away by the courts. Massachusetts farmer Daniel Shays and his supporters occupy a Massachusetts courthouse.

• Therefore, in 1786, Daniel Shays led a group of farmers in an attempt to capture a federal arsenal. Men Fighting During Shays' Rebellion

• The U. S. , without an organized army, was powerless • The U.S., without an organized army, was powerless. Massachusetts sent a militia to stop the rebellion.

• Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that the U. S • Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that the U.S. needed a new, stronger government. • The Articles of Confederation needed to be replaced!

This is a picture of Daniel Shays grave in Scottsburg, NY.

Shay’s Rebellion High taxes in Massachusetts for farmers Problems that led to Shay’s Rebellion Government’s Response to Shay’s Rebellion High taxes in Massachusetts for farmers No control over taxes from national government No army to stop the rebellion. States chose to meet again and change the Articles of Confederation. This meeting was called the Constitutional Convention.

What did Congress do? The Constitutional Congress met and decided they had to do something to make the government stronger and that the Articles of Confederation were not working. In May 1787, the Congress drafted a new constitution for the United States of America….this will later be known as The Constitution.