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Situation: 1787. Articles of Confederation are in effect Congress of Confederation meets to run national affairs but is unsuccessful due to lack of power Successes of Congress Won the war Created peace treaty with Great Britain Secured recognition of US as an independent nation
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Situation: 1787 • Articles of Confederation are in effect • Congress of Confederation meets to run national affairs but is unsuccessful due to lack of power • Successes of Congress • Won the war • Created peace treaty with Great Britain • Secured recognition of US as an independent nation • Northwest Ordinance of 1787
Northwest Ordinance of 1787 • Area North of Ohio River, West of PA, and East of Mississippi River • Transition of area from territory to statehood • 5 new states • CC had complete control over this area
Limitations of the Articles • No money and no power to get it • No power over the state governments and their citizens • Unenforceable trade agreements • Unfair competition among the states
1. NO money and no power to get it Could not raise/ pay National Army Request $$ from states Could not prevent States from issuing Their own currency No power to tax Needed to repay War debts Asked for $10 M, Received only $1.5 M from states
2. No power over the state governments and their citizens No way to force states Enforce/follow laws Made in Congress States didn’t have To live up to treaties Made by Congress Loyalists were unable To collect on loaned $$- CC couldn’t enforce National Congress no power Over states CC- no power to force State gov’s to respect Property rts of loyalists No national court system Forced CC to rely on state Courts to enforce laws
3. Could not enforce trade agreements Citizens imported foreign Goods -> didn’t pay for them Great Britain saw this weakness And closed West Indies to US trade Could not Regulate trade US exporters/importers lost markets due to this Lack of confidence Treaties and negotiations With foreign countries Could not be enforced
4. Unfair competition among states Protectionism -> Postwar Economy worsened States levied taxes/ Tariffs on goods Passing through NJ forced to pay taxes on Goods between NY & PA No power to regulate trade Between the states Trade relations between States became Extremely strained
5. Threats to citizens’ Right to Property One class of citizen denying Another class to rights Of property Factions in state legislatures Passed laws to cancel debts -> Confiscated Loyalist prop States unable to protect Citizens property rights Attempts to create laws against Were stopped by majority Vote of states
Crossroads of a Nation • In a letter to James Madison, George Washington said, • “We are either a united people or we are not. If the former, let us act as a nation. If we are not, let us no longer act a farce by pretending to it.”
Annapolis Convention • Initiated by James Madison • Held September 11, 1786 in Annapolis, MD • Two purposes • Open free trade on the Potomac River • Make amendments to the Articles of Confederation Maryland State House
Annapolis Convention proceedings • All 13 states were invited to send representatives • 5 states attended: NY, NJ, PA, DE, & VA • The other states didn’t attend because free trade on the Potomac River didn’t effect their state • Accomplishments • Alexander Hamilton proposal of meeting of all state delegates to be held in May 1787 in Philadelphia • Object of meeting to consider changes to the Articles of Confederation • Congress authorized a National Convention of delegates to a Philadelphia Conference for the purpose of amending the Articles of Confederation