Question

in the months after the war ended, the first attempt at a national government came from the articles of confederation. the articles were adopted by the second continental congress in 1777 but not ratified by all the states until 1781. they were in use until the constitution of the united states was signed in 1787. the articles were weak because the colonists were reluctant to give much power to a central government. they feared that a new central government might be no better than the english king had been. the states themselves had governments at this time, most with state constitutions.
when it became necessary to have a national or federal government for conducting the revolutionary war, the articles were so weak that the government could not pay its bills. it did have limited power to wage war or peace, but other powers were lacking. for example, the central government could not tax.
at the end of the revolutionary war, the american government was in severe financial trouble. soldiers who had served without pay were granted western land certificates instead of money, but most had to sell their certificates for cash. farmers with large debts rebelled against the courts taking away their farms. an example of such a rebellion was shays rebellion by farmers in massachusetts. jails were crowded with debtors. states were taxing each other harmfully and arguing about land claims to the west. tariff laws were needed for business and industry. prices soared, and credit disappeared. it became

weaknesses of the articles
listed below are weaknesses identified by the colonists:

• no national courts, only state courts.
• no power to tax.
• no real power to regulate commerce.
• all changes in the articles had to be approved by all of the states.
• all important laws had to be approved by nine states.
• no real president, only a president of congress who was like a chairman.

confederation
increasingly evident that the only solution was a stronger central government. robert morris, who became the superintendent of finance under the articles, forged a solution by stabilizing the value of paper money. his plan to fund the national debt and deposit federal money in a private bank helped save the united states from financial catastrophe.

civil rights and the articles
civil rights are considered to be unquestionable and deserved by all people under all circumstances, especially without regard to race, creed, color, or gender. the constitution guarantees and protects these personal rights. the fight for civil rights didnt wait until the 1950s. some started as early as the articles of confederation. paul cuffee was a free black from massachusetts. when he discovered he did not have the same property rights as whites, he refused to pay his taxes and was jailed. cuffee later became a successful trader with a fleet of ships and continued to fight for equal rights throughout his lifetime.

questions
match the statement in section a with the term in section b.
a

1. started by farmers in massachusetts who were losing their farms.
2. form of government during the american revolution.
3. had to approve important acts under the articles.
4. fear of this was in the minds of many american colonists in the 1780s.
5. this power was lacking in the articles of confederation.

b
a. states
b. shays rebellion
c. taxation
d. strong central government
e. articles of confederation

true or false? write a t or f in the space provided.

1. the articles of confederation acted as the first u.s. constitution.
2. the articles were weak because of the fear of a strong central government.
3. shays rebellion was carried out to support a weak central government.
4. the declaration of independence was signed before the articles of confederation were written.
5. the articles were drawn up by the second continental congress.
6. freedom from discrimination is considered an example of a civil right.

short answer
explain what morris meant by his statement \preaching to the dead.\

Explanation:

1. Shays' Rebellion was started by farmers in Massachusetts losing their farms due to debts.
2. The Articles of Confederation was the form of government during the American Revolution.
3. Under the Articles of Confederation, important acts had to be approved by the states.
4. Many American colonists in the 1780s feared a strong central government.
5. The Articles of Confederation lacked the power of taxation.

For True - or - False:

1. The Articles of Confederation was not the first U.S. Constitution (False).
2. Fear of a strong central government made the Articles weak (True).
3. Shays' Rebellion was against the weak central - government situation, not in support of it (False).
4. The Declaration of Independence was signed before the Articles of Confederation (True).
5. The Articles were drawn up by the Second Continental Congress (True).
6. Freedom from discrimination is a civil right (True).

Morris' statement "preaching to the dead" likely meant that trying to get the states to contribute money to the central government was futile, as the states were unresponsive, much like preaching to those who cannot hear (dead).

Answer:

MATCHING:

1. b. Shays' Rebellion
2. e. Articles of Confederation
3. a. states
4. d. strong central government
5. c. taxation

TRUE OR FALSE:

1. F
2. T
3. F
4. T
5. T
6. T

SHORT ANSWER: Morris meant that trying to persuade the states to give money to the central government was useless since the states were uncooperative.