2. The Confederation Era EQ: What were the main weaknesses of the AoC and why did we decide to get rid of it?

3. The war is over, now what? America was now and independent nation having won the Revolutionary War, but now what? What would the country and the government look like?

4. The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation was the name of the first government of the United States. It had been started back in 1776 in the Continental Congress, and finally approved by all the states in 1781.

5. The Articles of Confederation was weak, on purpose Americans were afraid of a strong national government. After all, they had fought a war over it. So, the government they decided on was weak. The main purpose of the Articles of Confederation was to create a national government which could help coordinate and fight the Revolutionary War. After the War, there were areas that the AoC did not cover, and proved to be a MAJOR Problem.

6. The Articles of Confederation DID allow: Congress given the power to: Declare War Make Peace Sign Treaties Borrow Money Establish an Army & Navy Organize a Post Office

7. Weaknesses of The Articles of Confederation: No Chief Executive No National Court System No Power to Draft Soldiers No Power to Control Interstate Commerce No Power to Enforce Treaties No Power to Collect Taxes from the States Difficult to Pass Laws (2/3 vote) No National Currency Difficult to Amend –(Unanimous Vote Needed to Change Articles)

8. Weaknesses of the Articles Since the national government could not tax, and the national money was worthless, debt became a huge problem. Debt = owing money The biggest problem was that the soldiers who had fought the war, had not been paid, and they were mad. Most of the soldiers were farmers, and they were unable to pay their debts.

9. What is happening in the following picture? You are going to be looking at a picture in a few seconds? See if you can figure out what is going on in the picture. Look at the picture closely. Describe the people, objects, where the event is happening, and what is happening. (Who, what, where, and objects)

11. Farmers were taken into court, then to jail, and their land was taken away from them because they were in debt. In 1786, an armed revolt by farmers against the state government took place. The revolt was led by Daniel Shays. Shays’ Rebellion

12. The farmers began to forcibly prevent the courts from meeting so they couldn’t take anyone else’s land away or put them in jail. Early in 1787, the Governor sent 4,400 men against the rebels and the rebels were defeated. Shays and the other rebels were pardoned. (An official act of forgiveness)

13. Shays’ Rebellion showed the leaders of America that the Articles of Confederation were too weak, and a stronger national government was needed. Results of Shays’ Rebellion

14. What was the most Important Accomplishment of the Articles of Confederation?

15. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE of 1787

16. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE A.Problem: Many states made claims to the western lands (Northwest Territory).  Boundaries of the Northwest Territory: Great Lakes (north), Pennsylvania (east), Ohio River (south), Mississippi River (west)

17. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE B.Solution to the Problem: All states agreed to cede (give) their claims to Congress, so Congress can sell the land for the good of the country (confederation). NATIONAL DOMAIN – Public land

18. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 1.Township – the largest division of land. It is thirty-six square miles.

20. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE 2.Section – 36 sections in a township. It is one square mile or 640 acres.

21. THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE B.Education – the sale from one section of each township goes to start a school for that township. How much went for education? Answer: $640

22. Conclusion They feared that a strong central government would create tyranny, and stamp out the peoples natural God given rights. Why did the Founding Fathers Choose a Confederation plan of government?

23. Conclusion Why Did the Founding Fathers believe the Articles needed to be replaced by the US Constitution? The nation needed to function as ONE united country & not 13 small unorganized nations. Shay’s rebellion proved the need to strengthen the government.