Exam 8: Building a Republic 1775-1789

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Slavery's Expansion Westward: The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 set forth a three-stage process by which settled territories would advance to statehood.It prohibited slavery in the Northwest Territory but included a fugitive slave provision mandating that escaped slaves caught north of the Ohio River be returned south,thereby prohibiting slavery in one region and at the same time acknowledging and supporting it in another.

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Confederation's Reliance on States for Revenue: The new U.S.government was in debt owing to the Revolutionary War and,without an impost amendment or revenue from public land sales,turned to the states to contribute revenue voluntarily.The amount requested in 1785 was four times larger than the previous year's requisition.This was a tax that,if collected,would hurt,as states were already struggling under heavy tax burdens.Massachusetts had a fiscally conservative legislature that passed tough tax laws calling for payment in hard money.
Farmers' Complaints: Western Massachusetts farmers found it difficult to comply with taxation and protested by marching on a courthouse and petitioning the government.When the legislature ignored their complaints,farmers then increased their demands,asking for revisions to the state constitution to promote democracy,eliminate the elite upper house,and move the capital farther west in the state.
Dissident Protest at County Courts: Still unheard,dissidents began to target the county courts.Several thousand armed men shut down courthouses in six Massachusetts counties.These insurgents were not all poor farmers and included many veteran soldiers and officers in the Continental army,one of whom was Daniel Shays.
Elite Response to Dissidents: The governor of Massachusetts characterized the western dissidents as illegal rebels.He vilified Shays,and a Boston newspaper claimed that Shays planned to burn Boston and overthrow the government.The governor raised a private army by paying bounties provided by wealthy and fearful Boston merchants.In response to learning of the army's plans to confront them,the dissidents tried to capture a federal armory in Springfield to obtain weapons.A loyal militia met them with gunfire,killing four and wounding twenty.Later,at Petersham,the governor's army surprised the rebels and took several hundred prisoners.
Outcome: Shays's Rebellion made leaders throughout the country worry about the confederation's ability to handle civil disorder.There was much concern about more revolution.Ultimately the country's leaders decided to try to amend the Articles of Confederation,which led to the writing of the U.S.Constitution.

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Components of the Articles of Confederation: The Articles of Confederation defined the union as a loose confederation of states existing mainly to foster a common defense.There was no national executive and no national judiciary.The congress was composed of two to seven delegates from each state,but each state had only a single vote.Routine decisions by the congress required a simple majority;major decisions required nine votes;approving or amending the Articles required unanimous consent of the congress and the state legislatures.The congress issued bonds to pay for the war's costs and requisitioned money from the states to be paid into the treasury.
Problems with the Articles: Shortcomings of the Articles of Confederation included the need for unanimity to alter the Articles,empowerment of the states to a degree that the congress was frequently unable to achieve a quorum,lack of the power to compel the states to pay taxes and regulate trade,and limited power to negotiate treaties.