1. the Articles of Confederation
TURNING POINT-SHAY’S REBELLION

2. Colonies become states
1700s-Each of the British colonies had its own governor, council and colonial assembly
This system of self-governing colonies caused people to identify their allegiance with the colony
As colonies became states after the Revolution (after 1783), they were reluctant to unite under a strong central government
Challenge was to find balance between interests of the states with those interests of the nation

3. Unity through a republic
18th century Americans believed that a democracy placed too much power in the hands of the masses
So they favored a republic-a government in which citizens rule through their elected representatives
Republicanism meant different things to different people:
Some thought that in a republic people had to place the good of the nation above personal interests
Others believed that a republic could benefit from self-interests (should allow independent citizens and states to pursue their own interests)

4. State constitutions
Many state constitutions shared certain characteristics: gave rights to citizens such as freedom of speech, religion, press
State constitutions emphasized liberty over equality
Feared centralized authority
State constitutions differed on who could vote; African Americans generally could not vote nor could women; other states made property ownership a requirement for voting

5. Articles of Confederation
When the 2nd Continental Congress met in Philadelphia in 1776 they tried to draft a new government for the states as a whole
Used democracy of Ancient Greece and the Roman republic as guidelines
Much disagreement on the role of the national government.
Delegates had to answer three questions:
Should representation be based on population or by state?
Can Supreme Power be divided?
Who gets the Western lands of the United States?

6. Articles of Confederation
Should representation be based on population or by state?
States were equal as political entities but they were unequal in size, wealth and population
Decision made that each state would have one vote regardless of population

7. Articles of Confederation
Can Supreme Power be divided?
Congress proposed a new type of government-a confederation-one in which two levels of government shared powers
State governments would be supreme in some matters; while the new national government would be supreme in others
New national government=power to declare war; borrow money; deal with Native Americans

8. Articles of Confederation
Who gets the western lands?
Maryland, which had no western land claims refused to approve the articles until all states turned over land to the federal government
States agreed to give up land claims and the Articles of Confederation went into effect in March 1781

9. Articles of confederation
Who gets the western lands?
Land Ordinance of established a plan for surveying the land
Northwest Ordinance of Congress provided a procedure for dividing land into territories and then becoming a state:
1. Congress would appoint a territorial governor
settlers=could write a temporary constitution and elect a government
3. 60,000 settlers=could write a state constitution which could be approved by Congress

10. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation
Congress could not enact or collect taxes
Revolutionary War had cost nation $190 million
struggle between creditors and debtors
led to foreign relations problems with Great Britain
Congress could not regulate trade (foreign or domestic)
Each state had only one vote in Congress (regardless of population)
2/3 majority of states had to agree to pass laws
Articles could be amended only if unanimously approved
No executive branch
No national court system
13 separate states that lacked unity

11. Shay’s Rebellion
Daniel Shays was a veteran of the Revolutionary War battles at Bunker Hill and Saratoga
Returned to his farm in western Massachusetts after the war
Faced debtors prison because of his debt
He felt he was the victim of too much taxation
Summer and Fall of 1786 farmers like Shay demanded that courts close so they wouldn’t lose farms
Shays led an army of 1200 farmers to close the courts in 1787
State officials called out militia; four rebels killed and rest were scattered.

12. Case Study on the Articles of Confederation
Directions:
15 minutes--Silently read and answer the questions for each of the six case studies involving the national government under the Articles (you may use the chart comparing the Articles and the U.S. Constitution)
10 minutes—Partner with someone in class to discuss the answers to the questions.
5 minutes—Prepare to share out to the rest of the class how you answered the questions.

13. Articles of Confederation Constitution
Levying taxes
Congress could request states to pay taxes
Congress has right to levy taxes on individuals
Federal court system
No system of federal courts
Court system created to deal with issues between citizens, states
Regulation of trade
No provision to regulate interstate trade
Congress has right to regulate trade between states
Executive  Branch
No executive with power. President of U.S. merely presided over Congress
Executive branch headed by President who chooses Cabinet and has checks on power of judiciary and legislature
Amending document
13/13 needed to amend Articles
2/3 of both houses of Congress plus 3/4 of state legislatures or national convention
Representation of states  
Each state received 1 vote regardless of size  
Upper house (Senate) with 2 votes; lower house (House of Representatives) based on population  
Raising an army  
Congress could not draft troops, dependent on states to contribute forces
Congress can raise an army to deal with military situations
Interstate commerce  
No control of trade between states  
Interstate commerce controlled by Congress  
Disputes between states  
Complicated system of arbitration  
Federal court system to handle disputes  
Sovereignty  
Sovereignty resides in states  
National Constitution the supreme law of the land  
Passing laws  
9/13 needed to approve legislation  
50%+1 of both houses plus signature of President  

14. Jefferson and Washington on Shay’s Rebellion
Directions:
You will be assigned either a letter by Jefferson or a letter by Washington. Both men are speaking about Shay’s Rebellion.
As you read the letter answer the questions that follow. Take 15 minutes.
Partner with someone who had the other letter. Teach each other your letter using your answers to the questions as a guide. Take 5 minutes.
Develop a dialogue between the two men on Shay’s rebellion. Use a reflective journal rubric as a guide for your dialogue. Be prepared to turn in at the end of class.