How did Shay’s Rebellion expose the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Write today’s objective in your notebook. Wait for directions.

Agenda (mrkhalil.weebly.com)

• • • • • • Do Now – Document Analysis Mini Lesson – Northwest Ordinance and Shay’s Rebellion Independent Practice – Students review powerpoint and documents. Goal: To show how Shay’s Rebellion proved the weaknesses in the A.O.C.

Exit Slip: Questions for understanding M/C Quiz Extended Activity: Article on Shay’s

Do Now

Alexander Hamilton to James Duane, 3 Sept. 1780_ But the confederation itself is defective and requires to be altered. It is neither fit for war nor peace. The confederation gives the states individually too much influence in the affairs of the army. They should have nothing to do with it. The entire formation and disposal of our military forces ought to belong to Congress. The confederation too gives the power of the purse too entirely to the state legislatures. That power which holds the purse strings absolutely must rule.

According to Hamilton, what is wrong with the Articles of Confederation?

Framing Questions

• Explain how weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation and Daniel Shays’ Rebellion led to a call for a stronger central government. • What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance?

Vocabulary

• • • • • • • Article of Confederation Second Continental Congress Constitutional conventions bill of rights separation of powers.

separation of church and state.

Central Government • • • • • Ratification Land Ordinance of 1785 Northwest Ordinance of 1787 Shay’s Rebellion Depression

We Won… Now What???

• • REVIEW: Second Continental Congress in 1775 urges the colonies to organize new governments to replace the colonial governments.

Not all do

The Need For a Strong Central Government • • Desire by many for a stronger central government than the state governments.

Arguments that since the states had fought and won a war for independence, why should they answer to another government.

Articles of Confederation

• • • November 15, 1777 (during the revolution) Created a confederation or league of free and independent states.

– United States of America .

Created a Congress w/ two to seven delegates from each state.

– Each state had only one vote.

Ratification

• • • Each 13 state had to ratify (accept) proposal.

the Maryland last to ratify.

1781- All states surrendered their claims.

– Articles of Confederation ratified.

Land Ordinance of 1785

Western Lands

• • Problems w/ the western lands.

– How to control?

– How to settle?

– How to govern?

– How to handle Indians?

Question of how to settle the new Ohio Territory that had been given to America after the Revolutionary War.

– Treaty of 1783

Governing the West

• • Continental Congress agreed that all the new western states would be admitted on equal terms as the original 13.

Americans begin to move out west at the end of the Revolution.

– Daniel Boone- Kentucky and Tennessee.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• 1.

2.

3.

Established a new way to govern western territories.

Ruled by a governor and 3 judges appointed by Congress. (Territory Status) Population reached 5,000 free, voting age males legislature could be elected and a non-voting delegate could be sent to Congress.

Population reached 60,000 free inhabitants, people could draft a constitution and apply for statehood.

Northwest Ordinance of 1787

• 3 other provisions – Barred slavery from the Northwest Territory.

– Encouraged public education.

– Promised to treat the Indians w/ “the utmost good faith.”

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Weak Government

• • • • Each state had only one vote.

– Rhode Island had as much power as Virginia.

Laws required 9 of the 13 states to agree.

No President or executive.

No Courts.

Finances

• • Power over money not given to Congress .

Each state able to create its own money and value along w/ the Continental money.

– “not worth a Continental.”

Power Over Trade

• • Each state allowed to do its own foreign trading.

No ability to levy taxes on imports .

– Britain floods American market w/ cheaper goods.

Enforcing Treaties

• Any 1 of the 13 states could ignore a treaty written by the new govt.

Military Power

• • • British refuse to leave America.

– America unable to pay its debts to Britain or force them out.

Unable to deal with the Indian threats West.

in the Unable to get the Spanish to allow use of New Orleans.

Shay’s Rebellion

Depression

• • America suffers a depression.

– Sharp decline in business activity and jobs.

Farms are seized for nonpayment of taxes.

– foreclosed.

Daniel Shays

• • Daniel Shays leads a rebellion against the Massachusetts Courts.

– Leads 1500 former Continental Army veterans.

– Demand end of foreclosures.

– Demand representation in Congress.

Occupy the courthouse for 3 days.

Reaction

• • • • Governor James Bowdoin orders General Benjamin Lincoln to stop Shays.

Massachusetts Militia stops Shays because the federal Govt could not. They did not have a strong army.

New governor John Hancock pardons all men who took part in the Rebellion.

Alerts Americans to the real troubles of the new nation .

Reform

• • • 1787 Meeting is called for Philadelphia.

For “the sole and express purpose of revising the Articles of Confederation.”

Questions for Reflection

1.

2.

3.

What was the purpose of the Northwest Ordinance, what were some provisions?

What was Shay’s Rebellion?

How did Shay’s Rebellion prove the weakness of the Articles of Confederation?

4.

Predict, what the founders will do next?