Do Now: What problems come with having a weak national government? Why were the participants of Shays’ Rebellion upset with the government? Was their rebellion successful?

United States of America Articles of Confederation Objective: To examine the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation by answering discussion questions and analyzing primary source docs. United States of America Articles of Confederation

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? I. Currency Issues The United States did not have a common currency. Americans carried money from the federal government, state government, and foreign nations.

Merchants stopped accepting money from outside of their own state, causing a lot of money to become worthless. This caused an increase in inflation.

Post War Economy Navigation Acts now work against US Cheap imports from GB make it difficult for American businesses… How can you fix this problem? Power in the hands of merchant elite impacted laws being passed.

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? II. Debt Congress could not tax the people and depended on money from the states. Therefore, the U.S. was unable to pay its debts! Examples: - The U.S. owed money to France, Holland, and Spain for loans made during the Revolutionary War. - The U.S. had not paid many of their own soldiers!

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? III. International and Domestic Problems The U.S. lacked the military power to defend itself against Great Britain and Spain. States acted as individual countries and seldom agreed. Example: - Connecticut and Virginia almost went to war over land claims!

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? Courts (Judicial Branch) The nation lacked a national court system. Supreme Court

Why did the Articles of Confederation fail? President (Executive Branch) The nation did not have a President, or Chief Executive. White House

Reasons for Shays’ Rebellion Farmers owe money to merchants, merchants owe money to creditors, creditors serve on the Massachusetts state government. Taxes! When they can’t be paid, foreclosure

Reasons for Shay’s Rebellion Farmers are required to pay debts in gold, they have no money because they were not paid during the war Wealthy lawmakers invested their money in the war too. And seek to get money from the farmers debts

Shays’s Rebellion Poor farmers are not represented in the Mass legislature and cannot pass debt relief laws The rebellion will free debtors from prisons and close courts that are hearing cases against farmers

Shays’s Rebellion The Mass militia is called out to stop it Poor farmers in 1791 elect officials who support their stance and will close courthouses and demand financial help from the Congress Shays’s Rebellion will prompt national leaders to create a stonger central 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”

“Our situation is becoming every day more and more critical “Our situation is becoming every day more and more critical. No money comes into the Federal Treasury; no respect is paid to the Federal authority… the existing confederacy is tottering to its foundation…” -- James Madison to Edmund Pendleton, February 25, 1787, Madison Papers. Madison

“The moment is, indeed, important “The moment is, indeed, important! – If government shrinks, or is unable to enforce its laws; fresh maneuvers will be displayed by the insurgents – anarchy & confusion must prevail – and every thing will be turned topsy turvey.” George Washington to Henry Knox, February 3, 1787 Washington

“God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion “God forbid we should ever be twenty years without such a rebellion... We have had thirteen States independent for eleven years. There has been one rebellion. That comes to one rebellion in a century and a half, for each State. What country before ever existed a century and a half without a rebellion?" -- Jefferson to William S. Smith, 1787

Effects of Shays’ Rebellion and Economic Struggle Many citizens and influential founding fathers began to agree that strong government was needed. Convinced those scared of a strong central government of the need for reform.

Annapolis Conference The conference was called to discuss how to fix the government to avoid another revolution States were in debt Taxes too high- Shay’s Rebellion Interstate commerce a mess Foreign trade problems

Annapolis Convention Famous Americans who attended-James Madison, Alexander Hamilton, and John Marshall Recognize need for a stronger national government Meet in September 1786- delegates only from six states Better ways to regulate interstate and international commerce Hamilton proposes another gathering in Philadelphia