The U.S. Government under the Articles of Confederation

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The U.S. Government under the Articles of
Confederation
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Accomplishments under the Articles of
Confederation

• 1781 - 1789

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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

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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

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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
• Section 16 designated for public schools!!!
• Reflects Jeffersons belief that education
  citizens are necessary for democracy to flourish

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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

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Territory ? 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

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Problems under the Articles of Confederation

• (1781 1789)

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Lack of National Unity Slavery and Sectionalism

• South believed that emancipation would be
  contrary to economic interests- defended the
  institution as an economic necessity
• Property rights of the slave holders must be
  protected
• Abolition of slavery could destroy the social
  order in the South
• North gradually abolished slavery as it was not
  necessary to economic success of the region

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Why couldnt the government of the Articles of
Confederation help?

• 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
  might secede if pressured

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Repayment of Debt Economic Problems

• Revolution ended protection of mercantilism
• US needed to establish favorable balance of
  trade
• US had few industries and continued to import
  expensive manufactured goods
• US had to deal with high inflation, worthless
  currency, 14(!) types of currency and a huge debt

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Why couldnt the government of the Articles of
Confederation help?

• Congress cant regulate trade each state made
  own trade laws and taxed goods going from state
  to state
• Congress couldnt tax only request money from
  states to fund programs and pay down debt
• Currency is not exclusive power of National
  Govt- confusion on value led to very local
  markets
• Difficult to amend the Articles (13/13)

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A Struggle between borrowers and lenders (Shays
Rebellion)

• States had borrowed money and the lenders wanted
  high taxes so govt 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
• Continued

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Shays Rebellion

• Proposed relief package for economically
  suffering farmers passed by lower house of
  Massachusetts legislature, defeated by the upper
  house
• 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

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Why couldnt the government of the Articles of
Confederation help?

• 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

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Foreign Problems

• 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

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Why couldnt the government of the Articles of
Confederation help?

• No executive branch to enforce terms of treaties
• US perceived by Europeans as too weak
• Congress cant tax
• No uniform trade policy
• No national courts to settle disputes

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Why would this time period be called The
Critical Period?
Serious problems need fixed Can states and/or
national government under the Articles of
Confederations plan solve
problems???!!!!