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Too Late to Apologize!. A Declaration. The Articles of Confederation. Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. A unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law]. 13 out of 13 to amend. Could not tax or raise armies. No executive or judicial branches. State Claims to Western Lands.
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Too Late to Apologize! A Declaration
The Articles of Confederation
Weaknesses of theArticles of Confederation • A unicameral Congress [9 of 13 votes to pass a law]. • 13 out of 13 to amend. • Could not tax or raise armies. • No executive or judicial branches.
Land Ordinance of 1785 • $1 per acre with 640 acre mininimum • Raised $760,000 revenue in 4 years
Northwest (Land) Ordinance of 1787 • Strategy for territories to become states. (60,000 pop. Minimum) • Guaranteed freedom of religion. • Guaranteed trial by jury. • Prohibited slavery in Northwest Territory • New states have equal status with 13 • Vermont-1791 • Kentucky-1792 • Tennessee-1796
Economic Problems • 41.2 million in debt including 7.9 in international debt • Domestic debt reduced to 6 million, international debt increased to 10.2 • Negotiated commercial treaties with France, Sweden, Prussia, Morocco • Failed to solve tariff conflicts between states • Failed to solve paper currency abuses • States voted down tax requests
International Problems • Jay-Gardoqui Treaty accepted Spain’s closure of lower Mississippi in exchange for commercial treaty favorable to New England • Unable to get England reopen West Indies trade or accept imports (rice, indigo, tobacco) • British flood U.S. with manufactured goods • Trade deficit=deflation=depression
Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7 • Former Continental soldiers not paid back pay • Land confiscated when they can’t pay taxes
Shays’ Rebellion: 1786-7 There could be no stronger evidence of the want of energy in our governments than these disorders. -- George Washington
Annapolis Convention (1786) • 12 representatives from 5 states • GOAL address barriers that limited trade and commerce between the states. • Sent a report to the Congress to call a meeting of all the states to meet in Philadelphia to examine areas broader than just trade and commerce.
Constitutional Convention • What were the motives of our Founding Fathers? • To what extent was the Constitution a conservative reaction by “monied men” to their fear of the ordinary American citizen? • What was the historical impact of the Great Compromise & the 3/5ths Compromise?
Antifederalist Objections to Constitution • No Bill of Rights • Fear of abuse of centralized power & loss of state power, including executive branch • Concern over federal power to tax, regulate trade, & raise army • Fear of big states dominating small states • Slavery: Pro & anti groups • Lack of democracy in elections