Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation (1781) First central government of U.S. Congress was a unicameral legislature Main power of Congress involved foreign affairs All 13 states had to agree on all amendments 9 of 13 states had to agree on all federal laws 1 state = 1 vote regardless of population

Powers of Congress Congress could raise army, declare war, sign treaties, relations w/ Native Americans Congress could NOT raise revenue through taxes, regulate trade and collect tariffs

States Rights States had more power than federal government Could tax, jurisdiction over law enforcement – why? Articles of Confederation were designed with a weak federal government because they were afraid of their experiences with British monarchy/Parliament

Why did it fail? No common currency Citizens carried money from states, foreign nations and federal government Merchants would accept money from outside their own states making their own state’s money worthless Leads to massive inflation

Why did it fail? Debt Congress acted as a national body, but could not tax people and depended on money from states U.S. unable to pay debts U.S. owed money to France, Holland, Spain for loans made during War U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers

Why did it fail? International and Domestic Problems U.S. lacked military power to defend itself against Great Britain/Spain Br. did not leave their forts in Great Lakes region Negotiating with Spain over use of Mississippi and New Orleans port was difficult States acted as individual countries, seldom agreed Connecticut and Virginia almost went to war over land claims

Why did it fail? Structure Nation lacked a national court system – could not settle disputes between states Nation lacked President or Chief Executive Congress had one house (unicameral) Laws were difficult to pass – needed support of 9 states Congress was responsible to states and NOT people

Land Ordinance of 1785 Western territory divided into 10 districts Congress surveyed the land into squares 6 miles on each side (townships) Each town was divided into 36 smaller sections, 640 acres each Cost was a minimum of $1 per acre People pooled their money in order to be able to afford a piece of land Grid system ended boundary disputes

Township Map

Northwest Ordinance (1787) When 5 000 free males of voting age settled an area, it became self-governing When population reached 60 000 free citizens, area could apply for statehood - OH, IN, IL, MI, WI Slavery outlawed in Northwest Territory Promised religious freedom to settlers Encouraged orderly settlement and formation of new states Single governor put in charge

Shays’ Rebellion Farmer’s income ↓ while taxes ↑ Farmers who could not pay debts had farms taken away by courts 1786 - Daniel Shays led group of farmers in attempt to capture a federal arsenal U.S. w/out organized army was powerless Massachusetts sent militia to stop rebellion Governor send 4 400 men against rebels – defeated Shay pardoned (act of official forgiveness) Shays’ Rebellion convinced many people that U.S. needed a new, stronger government