Articles of Confederation

I Can- Articles of Confederation I Can: ___ Explain major domestic problems faced by the leaders of the new republic under the Articles of Confederation ___ Summarize issues with maintaining national security ___ Foreign countries ___ Summarize issues with creating a stable economy ___ National Currency ___ Summarize issues dealing with war debts ___ Money from states ___ Farm foreclosures ___ Shay’s Rebellion ___ Summarize issues with collecting taxes ___ Lack of a national tax ___ Summarize issues with defining the authority of the central government ___ Passing legislation ___ Explain how the Northwest Ordinance solved the problems of western land settlement

Government under the Articles of Confederation Government was going to be based on a friendship of states States could make their own laws without interference from other states A union would only be needed for defense Any issue dealing with all of the states would be decided by Congress. Each state had one vote

Positives of Articles of Confederation Was effective in winning the war Was effective in settlement of western lands

Western Settlement Land Ordinance of 1785 Orderly system Land divided into surveyed sections of 640 acres Land would be sold with one section for schools Northwest Ordinance Territory divided into smaller sections (Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigan) Could apply for statehood when they reached 60,000 people All rights must be guaranteed in a state constitution No Slavery is allowed

Issues with the Articles of Confederation National Security Providing a stable economy Dealing with war debt Collecting taxes Authority of Central Government

Summarize issues with maintaining national security No Navy- so we could not stop pirates from seizing ships No Army- British still occupied forts in the Ohio Valley and Great Lakes after the Revolutionary War

Summarize issues with creating a stable economy Money printed during the revolution was worthless States printed there own money, no one knew the value of each others money Trade between colonies slows drastically

Summarize issues dealing with war debts States had to raise money to pay off war debt- they taxed each other by placing tariffs on other colonies goods Trade between colonies continues to slow Farmers are hit hard because of the loss of trade, they can not pay their own debts. Banks foreclose on their farms

Summarize issues with collecting taxes Lack of a national tax Not able to pay off war debt Not able to raise an army or navy No money available to provide for services and national improvements

Summarize issues with defining the authority of the central government Passing legislation was to difficult 2/3 vote needed to pass a law Unanimous vote to change the Articles of Confederation

Shay’s Rebellion Massachusetts farmers led by Daniel Shay march on courthouses to stop the foreclosures of farms They proceed to the Arsenal to get weapons Rebellion against the national government National Government can do nothing- Proves how weak it really is The nation realizes a change is needed