The document summarizes key aspects of the Articles of Confederation and the weaknesses it revealed that led to calls for a new governing framework. It outlines that the Articles of Confederation gave states more power than the central government and prevented Congress from levying taxes or enforcing laws. It describes Shays' Rebellion in Massachusetts as an example of the weaknesses of the Articles that emerged. The document concludes by noting the Philadelphia Convention was convened to revise the Articles, with notable founders like Washington, Madison, Franklin, and Hamilton in attendance.
2. Articles of Confederation
• Drafted by John Dickinson
• Americans feared a strong government
• It took four years for the US to ratify the
Articles.
• Lasted only 8 years
3. Power of the Articles
• Congress had few powers, states held more
power.
5. Northwest Ordinance of 1785
• Drafted by Thomas Jefferson
• Provided for selling and surveying of
Northwest Territory
7. 15
Land sold in section 15
supported public
schools.
16
Section
Township
8. Northwest Territory of 1787
•
•
•
•
5,000 voters = election of own legislature
60,000 voters = apply for statehood
5 states came out of the Northwest Territory
Slavery was banned in the territory
10. Weaknesses of the Confederation
1. Lack of power to enforce the laws that it
made
2. Couldn’t levy taxes
3. Didn’t have sole power to coin money
12. Shay’s Rebellion
• Farmers in Massachusetts were losing their
lands due to the heavy taxes by
Massachusetts and the worthless money
• Daniel Shay led one mob of farmers to the
federal arsenal
• Were dispersed by the Massachusetts militia
• This showed the weakness of the Articles!
13. • Come and listen to a story ‘bout a man named
Shays
• Poor ol’farmer whose debts weren’t gettin’
paid
• So one day he rallied up his friends
• And that my dear is where it all begins
14. • Well, Shays and his friends they stole a lot of
guns
• They closed down the bank
• They shouted “Re-bell-yun”
• The wise men knew this Shay wasn’t a fool,
they knew to others he’d seem really cool
• (smart that is, John Locke, don’t ya’ see)
15. • Well the next thing you know the rich folks got
all scared
• Madison said “Let’s get out of here!”
• He said “Philadelphia is the place we oughta
be”
• So they saddled up the horse and they rode
off to Philly
• (PA that is, making rules, changing laws)
16. •
•
•
•
And that my friends was really just the start
Those 55 men were really very smart
They made a constitution for you and me
And it has lasted for two-20 (years that is)
17. Philadelphia Convention
• Meeting of the states to revise the Articles of
Confederation
• 12 states were represented. Rhode Island
didn’t come.
• George Washington was elected convention
chairman
More loyal to their states than to the United StatesDrafted in 1777 after the battle of saratoga
Who owned this land? The US had to make treaties with the Indians in order to sell this land under the Northwest Ordinance
Cost was $1 per acre…you had to buy an entire section (640 acres)Could have made more money, but was trying to get people to buy land for family farmsYou can still see this layout in the Midwest and Plains states…straight lines and right angles
Ohio River became dividing line between slavery and nonslavery
People ignored or disobeyed the national government laws with little risk of punishmentAsked states for money, but they didn’t do it…needed money to pay for war debts…needed to pay soldiers, foreign nations and war bond holdersStates printed so much money that it became worthless
Shay’s rebellion song!
Met in secrecy…freedom to speak their minds, as well as change them without fear of public criticism. More likely that states would ratify the new one, if they knew that the men didn’t agree on everything, they may not have had complete faith in the new constitution
Called the “Father of the Constitution”Kept diary of the convention
Sense of humor relieved tensionOldest delegate at 82
Broad knowledge of hisotry and government
Captivating speaker and persuasive debater
Focused energy of solving financial problems of the US