2. {
The Articles of
Confederation (TN
8.30)
Essential Questions:
- What were the weaknesses of the Articles of
Confederation?
- What is the significance of the Lost State of
Franklin?
- How is Shays’ Rebellion related to the
weaknesses in the Articles of Confederation?
3. Background Information
In the early stages of America,
states were developing their
own Constitutions
America was a loose
confederation of states- not yet
the “United States of America”
Most power was held by the
individual states
Congress realized that rules
were needed for how these
states would be organized
The Articles of Confederation
had SEVERAL weaknesses
4. Weakness 1- No Power to
Tax
Only states had the power to
tax
Why would Americans dislike
a big government imposing
taxes on them?
Congress could only “request”
money from states
What is the problem with this?
There was no way to enforce
this rule
In 1780, the war was not yet
over
Congress had no way to raise
money, it was broke.
5. Weakness 2- No Common
Currency
Congress had the right
to print money but so
did each state
Why could this be a
problem?
The “Continental”
printed by Congress
was nearly worthless
(“Worthless as a
Continental”)
6. Weakness 3- No Control of Interstate
Commerce (trade between states)
Each state was in charge of its
own trade laws
Revolutionary War debt was a
huge problem- who pays?
Some states paid their debt,
some did not (no way to
enforce this)
States could trade with each
other and foreign countries but
each state had its own
currency (How could this be a
problem?)
This led to interstate trade
wars where states with
advantages abused their power
7. Weakness 4- No Executive
Branch (No President)
Why would the framers
of the A.O.C not want a
president?
Perhaps they thought a
president would be like a
king.
What problems could
occur with this?
No one is available to
make quick decisions or
enforce laws
8. The Lost State of Franklin
Modern day TN was part of
North Carolina
The governor of NC wasn’t
giving the Western part of the
state what it needed (like
protection)
After meeting in Greenville,
many people decided to create
their own state of Franklin
Congress never officially
recognized it as a state
Lack of paper currency and
opposition by others meant
that the state failed and it
became part of the Southwest
Territory
9. Shays’ Rebellion
Economic troubles were hitting farmers
hard, especially in Massachusetts
Farmers who couldn’t pay debts were
thrown in jail and their farms were
seized
Farmers wanted a federal government
to issue paper money and help with
their debt
In 1786, farmers led by Daniel Shays,
forced courts to close
Shays led his men to a weapon
storehouse to take guns and ammo
The state militia ordered the farmers to
stop and fired over their heads, the
farmers refused
Four farmers would be killed
The rebellion ended but it made people
wonder if a weak federal government
could handle violent rebellions
