Problems in a New Problems in a New NationNation

7.27.2

International RelationsInternational Relations

►The young USA was very weak.The young USA was very weak.

►Congress could not force states Congress could not force states to provide money or soldiersto provide money or soldiers

►Britain & Spain took full Britain & Spain took full advantageadvantage

BritainBritain►Didn’t abandon their frontier fortsDidn’t abandon their frontier forts►Traded weapons to Indians in westTraded weapons to Indians in west►Closed West Indies & Canada to Closed West Indies & Canada to

U.S. tradeU.S. trade►Forced Americans to pay high Forced Americans to pay high

tariffstariffs

SpainSpain►Closed Mississippi to U.S ShippingClosed Mississippi to U.S Shipping

Effect of Closed Effect of Closed PortsPorts

►All American businesses sufferedAll American businesses suffered

►Congress’ inability to regulate Congress’ inability to regulate trade & trade & interstate commerceinterstate commerce allowed British goods to prosper allowed British goods to prosper in the U.S.in the U.S.

►U.S. opened trade with China in U.S. opened trade with China in 17841784

Internal ProblemsInternal Problems►States had to pay individual war States had to pay individual war

debts.debts.

►They illegally printed their own $They illegally printed their own $$$$$ Caused inflationCaused inflation

►States charged tariffs against States charged tariffs against eachothereachother

Problems in Problems in MassachusettsMassachusetts

►MA Govt. needed money to pay MA Govt. needed money to pay off its debts = taxed propertyoff its debts = taxed property Caused economic Caused economic depressiondepression Gold & silver in short supplyGold & silver in short supply

►Western farmers unable to pay!Western farmers unable to pay! Courts foreclosed on their farms.Courts foreclosed on their farms. Boston Govt. was unsympatheticBoston Govt. was unsympathetic

Shays’ Rebellion (1786)Shays’ Rebellion (1786)

►Farmers in Farmers in Western MA Western MA revolt & shut revolt & shut down court down court houses in houses in Springfield.Springfield.

►War vet. Daniel War vet. Daniel Shays was its Shays was its leader.leader.

►MA asked MA asked Congress for Congress for help, but it help, but it was was powerless!powerless!

►Eventually the Eventually the revolt was put revolt was put down & most down & most of the farmers of the farmers were set free.were set free.

Impact of Shays’ RebellionImpact of Shays’ Rebellion

►Showed that Congress under the Showed that Congress under the Articles could not protect the Articles could not protect the states or citizens’ propertystates or citizens’ property

►Many began to call for a Many began to call for a stronger central government.stronger central government.

►James Madison James Madison (VA) & (VA) & Alexander Alexander Hamilton (NY) Hamilton (NY) call delegates to call delegates to Philadelphia to Philadelphia to revise the revise the ArticlesArticles

►Led to a whole Led to a whole new Govt.new Govt.

A Convention Called 1787A Convention Called 1787