The Articles of Confederation What I should know

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The Articles of ConfederationWhat I should know

• Describe the early government of the United
  States.
• What were some reasons for opposition to the
  articles of confederation?
• What were the causes and effects of shays
  rebellion?

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The new nation

• In the years following the Revolution, Americans
  thought of themselves as citizens of individual
  states, not of a common nation. The United States
  was not a nation as much as it was a
  confederation, an alliance of separate
  governments that work together.
• State governments had more power than the
  national government. Individual state
  constitutions were important during this period.
  A constitution is a plan of government that
  describes the different parts of the government
  and their duties and powers.
• In 1777, the Continental Congress adopted a set
  of laws to govern the United States. These laws
  were called the Articles of Confederation.
  Approved in 1781, the Articles established a
  limited national government, in which most of the
  power lay with the states.

Articles of Confederation
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The Articles of Confederation
Consisted of only one branch of government the
legislative branch, or Congress. Congress
carried out the duties of both the legislative
and executive branches. No national court system
existed. Congress could declare war and borrow
money, but lacked the power to tax.
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Under the Articles of Confederation, the states
had most of the power while the national
government was weak.
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The Nationalists

• By the 1780s an influential group called The
  Nationalist wanted to strengthen the federal
  government.
• The nationalist included former military
  officers, congressmen, planters lawyers.

George Washington
Benjamin Franklin
James Madison
Alexander Hamilton
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The Nationalist concerns with the Articles

• The Federal Government is too weak under the
  Articles.
• Lack of a national court system no economic
  policies chaos
• The US Government wouldnt command respect from
  other national governments.
• American citizens challenge to authority demand
  of individual freedoms was getting out of hand.

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The Nationalists battle cry

• Look at what happened to Rome
• America must do it right America is the example
  for the rest of the world.

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Shays Rebellion.. giving the Nationalist support.

• The Causes
• The wealthy loaned states to fight the
  revolution.
• After the war wealthy lenders demanded payment.
• To get payment they forced state government to
  raise taxes - to repay loans.
• In Massachusetts, the state raised taxes only to
  be paid in gold and silver which was more scare
  and valuable than paper .
• Farmers in the West were hardest hit by the taxes
  after complaining to the deaf ear of the
  legislature they revolted.
• this is taxation without representation

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The Farmers Drive off the tax collectors

• The farmers complain to the state legislature to
• Take back the taxes
• The legislature refused
• The courts seized their possessions
• So the Farmers

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The Revolt

• The farmers
• Drove off the tax collectors
• Forced the courts to close
• Rioted
• Marched to the gun depot in Springfield.
• Congress was helpless

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The Effects Of Shays Rebellion

• Realizing they were helpless in restoring order-
• No army
• No aid to the states
• Congressional leaders decided to meet in
  Philadelphia to fix the articles and strengthen
  the federal government.

Shays Rebellion