Articles of Confederation Day 2
- 2. Political Problems • In order to change or amend the Articles, unanimous approval of the states was required • For any major laws to pass they had to be approved by 9 of the 13 states • Just one vote per state, size did not matter • No Executive or Judiciary
- 3. Economic Problems • Congress could not tax • States refused to give money to Congress • Federal money and state money • Interstate trade crippled (Congress has no power to regulate) • Can not pay debts
- 4. Foreign Problems • Britain refuses to pull troops out of western lands • Britain closed ports in West Indies • Spain closed the port city of New Orleans to American ships • Barbary pirates seize American ships
- 5. The need for change • 1786 – 1787 Shay’s Rebellion • Many farmers could not pay taxes and lost their land • Could not sell crops or repay debts so they were imprisoned • Wants to shut down courts • Daniel Shay leads Massachusetts farmers to weapons arsenal • *Shows the nation how weak the national government is and that a new government was needed
- 6. Annapolis Convention • 1786 Annapolis, Maryland • Only 12 reps from 5 states show. • Topic: Amending the Articles • Dickinson, Hamilton, and Madison call to meet again in Philadelphia in May 1787 to revise Articles of Confederation
- 7. Review • What were the economic problems under the A of C? • What were the foreign problems? • What were the domestic problems? • What showed Americans the need for change?
- 8. HANDOUT Please take out Homework