Strengths and Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and U.S. Expansion

1. Essential Question • How did the strengths & weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation affect the growth of the U.S. as a newly independent nation?

2. Strengths & Weaknesses of the Articles Chapter 8 Section 1 (Pt II)

3. Land Ordinance of 1785 • Thanks to George Rogers Clark, the U.S. now controlled the vast western lands known as the “Northwest Territory” • This included part or all of modern-day: • OH, IN, IL, MI, WI, & MN • The Confederation Congress adeptly wrote laws on the division & governing of the newly acquired territories known as the Land Ordinance of 1785 • This law stipulated that surveyors would stake out six square-mile plots, called townships, in these lands • Each township would be split into 36 square-mile plots, which could be purchased for $640/ plot

4. Northwest Ordinance • In terms of governing the NW Territory, the Confed. Congress passed the NW Ordinance • The law possessed many democratic features: • When each territory had 5,000 adult males, men who owned 50 acres of land could elect an assembly • When the pop. reached 60,000 people, the territory could apply to become a state • Slavery was outlawed • River travel was open to all • Freedom of religion & trial by jury were guaranteed • The ordinance was a big success for settlers • Natives, however, fared terribly as settlers flooded in

5. Problems w/ Britain & Spain • Congress had been forced to borrow huge amounts of $ to fight the Revolution • W/ the war over, several countries were expecting repayment of these loans • The Confed. Congress, unfortunately, had no $ to do so • Further complicating matters, the British & Spanish were making trade difficult for the U.S. • The British & Spanish both engaged in subversive actions against the U.S. like: • Britain threatened the fur trade by not leaving the West • Britain did not allow American ships to trade in their Caribbean ports • Spain also barred Americans from trading in their Caribbean holdings • Spain refused to allow access to the Miss. R. and to New Orleans • Spain allowed runaway slaves to take up residence in Spanish FL

6. Shays' Rebellion • One major issue the Confed. Congress had was an inability to levy, or collect taxes • The national govt. relied on the states for $, often which the states were not willing to send • This issue came to a head in a major way in Jan 1787 in MA • MA’s refusal to grant debt relief to its citizens led to an uprising known as Shays’ Rebellion • Led by former CA soldier, Daniel Shays, led a march on a federal arsenal, or weapons warehouse • Shays & his men were quickly met and dispersed by 1000 state militia • Shays’ Rebellion had a large effect on America’s leaders • They felt an uprising of farmers reflected a weak central govt • In turn, some leaders began to campaign for increasing the power of the national government

7. Summary/Test Question • Which of the following was most important for orderly expansion, settlement, & governing of the lands west of the Appalachians? • Completion of the Wilderness Road • Passage of the NW Ordinance • Creation of the NW Territory • Payment of Revolutionary War veterans

8. Summary/Test Question • What similarity can you find btwn Shay’s Rebellion & the American Revolution? • Tax issues played a major role • Perceptions of injustice were heavily present • Both were technically illegal uprisings against an established govt • All of the Above