Shays' Rebellion in western Massachusetts in 1786-1787 shocked the wealthy and political elite and highlighted problems with the government under the Articles of Confederation. Daniel Shays led an armed uprising of farmers who could not pay their taxes due to economic hardship. The rebellion demonstrated that the national government under the Articles lacked the power to provide security or regulate interstate commerce. As a result, many felt the Articles needed to be replaced with a new constitution that established a stronger federal government.

1. The Crisis of
Confederation
Chapter 3, Lesson 3

2. Objectives
• Understand the conflicts between the
national government and the 13 states.
• Northwest Ordinance
• Annapolis Convention

3. Vocabulary
Commerce- the buying and selling of goods
Territory- an area belonging to the U.S. but
not yet a state.

4. Shays’ Rebellion
• Daniel Shays
• 1786 & 1787
• Soldier fought in Bunker
Hill and Saratoga
• Was going broke from
taxes

5. Massachusetts
• Like many states,
• Was in an economic depression
Taxing its people to pay off the war debt
Farmers could not pay taxes
Farmers going broke
Faced losing their farms

7. Rebellion
Daniel Shays and a mob protested in 1786
This was shut down by the Governor.
4 Months later, in January 1787
Shays organized again

8. Shays’ Rebellion
• Now over two thousand strong!
• To the federal Arsenal

9. Shays’ Rebellion
• Now over two thousand strong!
• To the federal Arsenal

10. Shays’ Rebellion
• Now over two thousand strong!
• To the federal Arsenal

11. Springfield Arsenal

12. Shock!
• The wealthy people wanted protection
under the national government
• The A. of C. couldn't provide this.
• Time for a change

13. ..

14. ..

15. ..
Economy

16. Research

17. Problems
Too confusing
Some states didn’t accept other notes. at
face value.

18. Congress Lacks Power

19. congress
noun
1 the national legislative body of a country.
• ( Congress) the national legislative body of the U.S., meeting at the
Capitol in Washington, DC. It was established by the Constitution of
1787 and is composed of the Senate and the House of Representatives :
changes in taxation required the approval of Congress.
• a particular session of the U.S. Congress : the 104th Congress.
2 a formal meeting or series of meetings for discussion between delegates,
esp. those from a political party or trade union or from within a particular
discipline : an international congress of mathematicians.
3 a society or organization, esp. a political one : the National Congress of
American Indians.

20. Congress Lacks Power
States did not allow Congress to regulate
commerce.

21. Congress Lacks Power
States did not allow Congress to regulate
commerce.
What things can you regulate
in commerce?

22. Congress Lacks Power
• Congress could not collect import taxes on
foreign goods.

23. “Easy States”
• Offered lower import taxes

24. Congress Lacks Power
Without the power to tax the government
could not raise money to function.
No power in foreign affairs

25. Prates!!

27. Barbary Pirates
• Accept money
• Captured American ships
• America was too broke to pay the pirates.
• Too weak to fight back.

28. New Trade
• Developed trade with:
• France (French West Indies)
• Netherlands (Dutch West Indies)
• Morocco

31. Open Trade with China
• The Empress of China
• Sailed to Canton, China