The Post-Revolutionary Years and the Articles of Confederation

1
The Post-Revolutionary Years and the Articles of
Confederation

• 1777-1787

2
America after the Revolution . . .

• A republic, which was radical for the 1700s
• States were the primary power, the not federal
  government

3
Characteristics of American Society

• Voting rights expanded
• Land ownership expanded
• Separation of church and state
• Equality, but not for all

4
American Government

• Each state was sovereign.
• Congress was not allowed to govern the states in
  any way.
• Educated white males, over age 21 who paid taxes
  made up the state governments.

5
America

• Worldwide recognition but no worldwide respect
• Very unorganized
• 13 sovereign nations operating independently
• No trust between the states
• No money, no revenue

6
The Articles of Confederation, the first
constitution

• The Second Continental Congress drew up and
  adopted the Articles of Confederation in November
  1777
• The plan was a loose league of friendship under
  the authority of Congress
• Articles were ratified by all 13 states on March
  1, 1781

7

• Congress could not...
• Regulate trade
• Draft militia
• Impose taxes Congress could suggest taxes

• Congress could
• Conduct foreign affairs and sign treaties
• Maintain the Continental Army and declare war
• Borrow money from other countries

Congress was unicameral there was no executive
or judiciary
8
Weaknesses

• No chief executive or judiciary
• 9/13 to pass laws
• 13/13 to change the AOC
• States were given 1 vote each, regardless of size
  or population
• No unified currency system across the states.

9
Successes of the Articles

• Congress under the Articles waged and won a war
• Against Great Britain.
• Congress negotiated the Treaty of Paris in 1783
• The Articles created a sense of unity amongst
  the colonies, then states
• Northwest Ordinances of 1785 1787
  established a procedure for surveying and selling
  frontier land.
• When populations reached 60,000 people, that
  territory could petition to Congress for
  statehood
• Progressive action because no slavery was allowed
  in these areas (although fugitive slaves would be
  returned) and each township had to provide a
  school for its children.

10
Economic Problems

• Recession
• Massachusetts and other states raised taxes to
  pay off debt
• Shayss Rebellion
• Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer, led a riot
  in 1786 in protest of the court system. Four
  were killed.
• Shays Rebellion symbolized the Articles of
  Confederation were not going to work.

11

• George Washington suggested calling a session of
  Congress to revise the Articles.
• In the summer of 1787, delegates were called to
  Philadelphia, Pennsylvania