 sMqPL0g sMqPL0g

 A the Continental Congress created the Articles of Confederation as a national government 1. States had already created their own governments  B. Was fairly weak; had fear of a strong central government

 C. Congress was the only source of political authority 1. no executive or judicial branch

 A. Had the power to conduct wars and deal with foreign nations.  B. Could appropriate, borrow and issue money.

 A. Congress could not levy taxes on the people  B. Congress could not enforce a draft for the military 1. Had to ask state legislatures, who often refused these requests  C. Articles could not be amended without the approval of ALL 13 states.

 D. There was no separate executive 1. The “president” was the presiding member of Congress at the time.  E. Each state had one vote in Congress 1. Favored smaller states 2. Only one house in the legislature  F. Lacked power to deal with interstate issues, enforce will on the states, or gain respect internationally.

 A. Lack of respect among foreign nations  B. Britain refusing to respect Treaty of Paris Troops have still not all been evacuated from American territory 2. Did not return slaves who fought for Britain back to slaveholders

 C. Boundary disputes-disagreement over boundary with Florida and Canada.

 A. More people begin moving west with removal of the Royal Proclamation 1. Increased from a few thousand to over 120,000.  B. Congress needs to organize land  C. Northwest Ordinance 1787 A. Created a Northwest Territory out of land north of the Ohio River.

 C. Did not include land south of the Ohio 1. Tennessee and Kentucky  D. Increased conflict with Native Americans 1. Land that had been claimed by Native Americans 2. Made treaties with various tribes to give up their land 3. Natives renounced the treaties and increased attacks on American settlers.

 A. Postwar depression from War debt and inadequate money supply  B. Articles had a massive war debt that it could not pay 1. Could not force the states to levy taxes to raise revenue  C. States had their own war debts A. Levied their own taxes-poor farmers paying the most B. 1780’s-periodic riots by farmers

 D. Farmers in Massachusetts rallied behind Daniel Shays 1. Former captain in the Continental Army.  E. Made many demands of the state 1. Wanted tax relief 2. Issuing of paper money 3. The end of imprisonment for failing to pay debts.

 F. Marched on Springfield to seize supply of weapons there.  G. State militia sent out and dispersed the farmers

 H. It was a military failure, but some concessions were made. 1. Some debt relief and postponement of debt payments  I. Increased popularity of the movement for a stronger national government.

 A. Had been almost non-existent since 1783  B. Constantly on the move from angry war veterans

 C. Many delegates in congress inactive in government operations 1. Not all delegates participated in the ratification of the Treaty of Paris 1783 and of the passage of the Northwest Ordinance 1787.

 D. The most wealthy and powerful groups wanted a stronger national government. 1. Merchants wanted a single, high national tariff 2. Landowners wanted protection from mobs 3. Biggest supporters were Alexander Hamilton and James Madison.

 E. By 1787 the only question was how drastically the Articles needed to be changed 1. Called a meeting in Philadelphia to discuss changing the Articles. 2. Shays’ Rebellion and Washington’s support were the reasons that so many delegates showed up.

 Do you agree with the decision to change the Articles of Confederation?  List out the pros and cons of the government on your sheet below. Then, decide whether you would be in favor of a stronger national government or a weaker one.