① create an episode map on the american...

Warm Up

①  Create an episode map on the American Revolution

②  Again you will have to use your notes from the last unit or from the classroom website

Shay’s Rebellion & The Articles of Confederation

STRENGTHS WEAKNESSES

The Articles of Confederation

Congress was given the power to:

Americaʼs 1st Constitution 1781-1789

Declare War &

Establish an Army/Navy

No Power to Draft Soldiers




Make Peace & Sign Treaties

No Power to Enforce Treaties




Borrow Money No Power to Collect Taxes

from the States




Organize a

Post Office




No Chief Executive

No national court system

No Power to Regulate Interstate Commerce

No National Currency

Difficult to Pass laws (9/13vote)




Difficult to Amend

(unanimous (all 13) vote needed to

change the articles)

Problems With the A of C

I.  The A of C was a weak system of government A.  It was designed to be weak

II.  The A of C made it difficult for the national government to make laws:

A.  9 of 13 states was required to make a law

III.  The A of C had no executive (president/someone in charge) so enforcing laws was nearly impossible

IV.  The A of C is nearly impossible to change (amend) since all 13 states must agree to change the A of C

Do Now

①  Research Shay’s Rebellion using your iPad or technology

②  Write three descriptive sentences about Shay’s Rebellion and then draw a picture

③  Just like we’ve done before but only one vocabulary word this time

④  Do it right there in your notes

But what if the government doesn't have enough power?

BIG PROBLEMS!

Federal Rights

States' Rights

The Major Weakness: Articles of Confederation

Congress did not have the power to collect taxes from the states.

Weak Government = Problems!

I.  The USA created the A of C to be weak because we were fearful of strong governments

II.  The A of C however was too weak and will lead to domestic problems following the Revolutionary War

No Money = Big Problems

I.  Since the national government created by A of C didn't have the power to tax states the national government had no money

A.  The states were asked for tax dollars but provided no money to Congress

II.  Congress was unable to pay its debts to other nations and the Revolutionary War soldiers

A.  Foreign nations and soldiers grew unhappy as the money owed to them was not paid

I.  Soldier farmers were not paid the money owed to them à A of C (No Tax, No Cash)

II.  Farmers were taken to courts, then to jail, and their land was taken away from them because they were in debt.

III.  In 1786 farmers began an armed rebellion against the state government of Massachusetts

IV.  The revolt was led by Daniel Shays.

Shaysʼ Rebellion

Daniel Shays

I.  Shays was a Captain in the Continental Army

II.  Retired from the army at the end of the war

III.  Began a career as a farmer in western Massachusetts

I.  The state and national governments tried to stop the rebellion but had no way to do so à A of C gives them no authority or ability to raise money for an army

II.  The Governor of Massachusetts eventually sent 4,400 men against the rebels and the rebels were defeated.

Shay’s Rebellion

Impact of Shay’s Rebellion

I.  Shay’s Rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses of the Article of Confederation

II.  Americans believed their government too weak and in need of change

III.  Shay’s Rebellion led the U.S.A. to reevaluate its governmental needs and demonstrates the need for a more powerful Constitution

ARE YOU WITH ME??

①  How did the lack of the power of taxation lead to Shay’s Rebellion?

②  Explain the purpose of Shay’s Rebellion (what do the farmers want)

③  What did Shay’s Rebellion demonstrate about the Articles of Confederation?

④  Explain the impact of Shay’s Rebellion:

① create an episode map on the american...

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