The U.S. Government under the Articles of Confederation

1. The U.S. Government under the Articles of Confederation (1781 – 1789) Why would this time period be called “The Critical Period”?

2. Accomplishments under the Articles of Confederation 1781 - 1789

3. 1.) Signed the Treaty of Paris - 1783 • Terms very favorable to the US • US negotiators John Adams, Benjamin Franklin, and John Jay did very well considering they had no experience negotiating treaties

4. 2.) Kept the 13 states together • Government was not a threat to states’ powers • Stayed as the “United States” long enough to realize the importance of unity

5. 3.) The Land Ordinance of 1785 • Planned for orderly expansion into the territory west of the Appalachian Mountains • Money raised from sale of land would help fund government programs and the repayment of debt

6. Land Ordinance of 1785

7. 4.) Northwest Ordinance - 1787 • Planned for establishment of government in the territories • Expanded basic democratic rights into the Northwest – Congress would guarantee trial by jury, freedom of speech, press, no slavery • Set process for territory to become a state • 5,000 voting males, organize territorial government (governor, legislature, non-voting representative to Congress) • Prepare a constitution that must be approved by Congress • Total population 60,000 people – recognized as a state • No special privileges for original 13 states

8. Problems under the Articles of Confederation Why couldn’t the government of the Articles of Confederation solve the new nation’s problems?

9. Economic Weaknesses… • Congress can’t regulate trade – each state made own trade laws and taxed goods going from state to state • Congress couldn’t tax – only request money to fund programs and pay down debt • Currency is not exclusive power of National Gov’t- confusion on value led to very local markets • 13 of 13 votes - Difficult to amend the Articles

10. Foreign Relations Weakness… • National gov’t could not raise an army – only “request”; No executive branch to enforce terms of treaties • British refused to leave forts in Northwest Territory and along Canadian border • Spain controlled Mississippi River and shipping; revoked “right of deposit” at New Orleans • France was angry that the US preferred to trade for British goods and not with France

11. Political Weakness… • Legislative branch ONLY – 1 house legislature; 1 vote/state • No executive branch to enforce terms of treaties • No national courts to settle disputes • States controlled the National Legislature – chose representatives, paid them, told them how to vote, and could remove them • No “national interests” or “common goals” develop • Difficult to pass laws – 9 -13 needed to pass a law; 13 of 13 needed to amend The Articles

12. Controversial Issues Lead to Civil Unrest… • Slavery • Debt • State governments’ • Individuals’

13. Slavery Issue Re-enforces Regionalism • South believed that emancipation would be contrary to economic interests- defended the institution as an “economic necessity” VS. • North gradually abolished slavery as it was not necessary to economic success of the region

14. South fears strong central gov’t would try to end slavery… • Property rights of the slave holders must be protected • Abolition of slavery could destroy the social order in the South • “peculiar institution of the South” is a state by state issue • “property rights” are protected by states • The fragile balance within the union of states might be upset by changes and the Southern states begin to state that they might secede if pressured

15. DEBT- Shays’ Rebellion: A Struggle between borrowersand lenders • States had borrowed money and the lenders wanted high taxes so gov’t could pay back debt • Debtors went farther into debt • Farmers were paid with paper money and had to repay their debts with hard currency – paper currency was worthless and farmers began to lose their farms

16. Shays’ Rebellion • Proposed relief package for economically suffering farmers; passed by lower house of Massachusetts legislature, defeated by the upper house (wealthier members) • 2000 farmers led by Daniel Shays, rebelled, closed the courthouses to prevent foreclosures on mortgages • Armed rebellion began in summer 1786 – ended in February 1787

17. Shay’s Rebellion • National government could not control value of currency • No uniform currency → inflation and confusion • Government had no power to raise an army to prevent or stop a rebellion