Articles of Confederation and Shays's Rebellion

Flashcards covering the Articles of Confederation, its influences, structure, achievements like the Northwest Ordinance, and the impact of Shays's Rebellion.

What was the first constitution of the United States?

The Articles of Confederation

When was the Articles of Confederation adopted?

1781

Why was the Articles of Confederation created?

To organize political authority after declaring independence from Britain in 1776

What branch of government was heavily favored when drafting the Articles of Confederation?

Legislative branch

Why did the framers of the Articles place power in the legislative branch?

They didn't want to invest too much power in an executive, due to the lingering fear of monarchy.

Under the Articles of Confederation, what positions were absent?

There was no executive (president) and no national supreme court.

Under the Articles of Confederation, where did all the power reside?

In the legislature

Under the Articles of Confederation, how many votes did each state have in the legislature?

One

Under the Articles of Confederation, how many states were needed to ammend the Articles?

Agreement from 9 out of 13 states (super-majority)

What was one of the most notable achievements under the Articles of Confederation?

The Northwest Ordinance of 1787

What did the Northwest Ordinance of 1787 accomplish?

Regulated westward migration, promoted public education, provided for the protection of private property, abolished slavery in the Northwest Territory, and established a process for territories to gain population and apply for statehood.

What event exposed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Shays's Rebellion

In the mid-1780s, what problems did American farmers face?

Economic hardship due to debt, inflation, and taxes

Who led a militia to seize arms from a town arsenal during Shays's Rebellion?

Daniel Shays, a Massachusetts farmer

Why was Shays's Rebellion significant?

Massachusetts requested federal troops to help quell the rebellion, but there was no president or federal army to provide assistance. This event highlighted the inability of the government under the Articles to respond to crises, leading to calls for a new constitution.