A New Nation: The Articles of Confederation

UNIT EQ:

• What are the specific events and key ideas that brought about the adoption and implementation of the Constitution?

EQ #1

• How did weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays Rebellion lead to a call for a stronger national government?

Representative Democracy

• The Confederation Congress (formerly the Second Continental Congress) created a government based on representative democracy

•(Also referred to as a republic)republic)

•Government authority comes from the people who elect people who elect

officialsofficials that represent their interests

Representative Democracy

•13 colonies had a tradition of governing governing themselves…..

•Elected their own representative law making bodies.

•Passed laws to keep peace within their communities.

• Colonies had a tradition oftradition of representative democracyrepresentative democracy.

•That’s why they fought the Revolution.

• The Colonies already had a tradition of governing themselves … (that’s why they fought the Revolution)

• What are some examples of representative democracy in the colonies?

Articles of Confederation

• Our first Constitution (law of the land)

• An attempt to create a democratic government based on the ideals of the DOI

• Written by the 2nd Continental Congress (which becomes the Confederation Congress)

• Major ProblemMajor Problem: Created a weak national government that could not tax, regulate trade or enforce its laws

• states held more power than the National Government.

Why did the founding fathers do this?

• They were determined not to have a king (they did not want the central government to be too powerful)

Major ProblemMajor Problem

Could not tax, regulate trade or enforce its laws

because the states held more power than the National

Government.

Why?Why?

Feared a government like

King George

National Govt.AOC/Congress given 20% of govt.powers

States given 80% of governmental powers…States were over the National Govt.

Fearing a strong central govt. like King George the AOC created a weak National

Government that was not given the

power to tax, regulate trade or

enforce their laws.

EFFECTSCould not deal

effectively with US problems.

Shays

-1785 to 1787-farmer’s rebellion to overthrow Mass. Govt- Because of unfair taxes, debt and foreclosure

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-1785 to 1787-farmer’s rebellion to overthrow Mass. Govt- Because of unfair taxes, debt and foreclosure

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In early 1787 a group of small farmers protested against the Massachusetts govt.

Why? They were in debt, their homes being repossessed and unfair taxation.

They were led by Daniel Shays, a former army captain in the Revolutionary War.

The purpose of the rebellion was to prevent foreclosures by keeping the courts from sitting until the next election.

Shay’s Rebellion was put down by private army paid for by wealthy merchants from Boston.

The AOC was unable to put down the rebellion with a national guard or army.

Shays

Attacks by Shay followers

Encounters between Shay’s and hired militias.

US Govt. too weak US Govt. too weak to put down to put down

rebellionrebellion

Call for a Constitutional Convention to change Call for a Constitutional Convention to change AOC and create a stronger national government.AOC and create a stronger national government.

Which leads to …

Why did the American Why did the American leaders call for a new leaders call for a new

Constitution? Constitution? a. The Articles of Confederation gave too much power to the central government b. A new Constitution would ensure that the states’ rights were protected c. The Articles of Confederation did not allow the national government to act decisively in a time of crisis d. Daniel Shays’ Rebellion taught leaders that a king was necessary

Northwest Ordinance

• Part of Articles of Confederation that has lasting impact

• Set up a system for how new states would be added from northwest territories

USA

Northwest Territory

Ohio

1ST STEP

WHEN PEOPLE FIRST SETTLE IN

THE AREA:

Congress appoints a governor and three judges to govern the

territory

2nd STEP

5,000 FREE ADULT MALES:

Landowners elect a congress to make laws

and raise taxes with approval of governor. 1 representative is elected to the US Congress who can debate but not vote.

3rd STEP60,000 SETTLERS:

Becomes a state, with its own government and

constitution. New states admitted with same rights as the original states. No

more than 5 states can carved out of this area.

The Northwest OrdinanceNorthwest Ordinance encouraged ideals of the DOI and republicanismDOI and republicanism ((representative democracyrepresentative democracy) religious freedom, protection of liberty and liberty and propertyproperty, encouraged educationeducation, admitted new states and no slaveryslavery..