Alternative Assigment Extra Credit for Exam-History

Malana Smith

History to 1877

Alternative assignment

3-25-14

 

 

1. The weaknesses of the Articles of the Confederation were that congress had no power to lay or collect taxes, congress had no power to regulate interstate or foreign trade, congress had no power to enforce laws, approval of the nine states were required to enact laws, amendments to the articles required the consent of all 13 states, the government had no executive branch, and there was no national court system. Historians say that the 1780’s were filled with great difficulties that the Articles of Confederation could not solve. This is because many different states had different issues that they refused to agree with in comparison to other states, such as slavery, expansion, Indian’s rights, and even trade and land. Because 9 states had to approve a new law to be passed, and a lack of communication was present, it was harder to pass laws. Then, once they were passed, congress had no power to enforce those laws.

 

2. Shays Rebellion was a rebellion of debt-ridden farmers who closed the courts in Western Massachusetts to prevent the seizure of their land for failure to pay taxes. This rebellion convinced many that the constitution should be changed because they felt the national government must be strengthened so that it could develop uniform economic policies and protect property owners from infringements on their rights by local majorities. Thomas Jefferson felt that a little rebellion every once in a while helps keep patriotism alive, whereas Samuel Adams felt that there should no longer be riots like that, even though a revolt against a monarch is no different because both government systems were ineffective.

 

3. The Northwest Ordinance was an ordinance passed by congress to provide a path to statehood and outlaw slavery north of the Ohio river. This was a money incentive for congress. The ordinance stated that government, courts, and judges would be appointed once population reached five thousand free adult males, then become territories. Then from there, it can become a state once 60 thousand free adult males dwelled there. This ordinance also prohibited slavery and allowed religious freedom. One lot of townships was given to be set aside for education and establishment of schools.

 

4. Major Compromises that occurs during the Constitutional Convention were how to represent the states equally within congress, what to do about slavery, the slave trade, and tariffs. Representation within congress was determined by having equal representation in the Senate (with 2 senators for each state) and having proportional representation in the House of Representatives based on population. It seems that the founders combined two different proposals or “plans” brought by Virginia and New Jersey. This led to the Great Compromise.

            In terms of slavery, it was a hard decision to make when creating the Constitution because slavery was very relied on for economic stability, especially in the South. In Article 1, the Constitution states that Congress may not prohibit importation of slaves until 1808. The “Three-Fifths Clause” for purposes of determining representation in the House of Representatives, to be counting free persons, indentured servants, and “three fifths of all of persons” [slaves]. In article 1 of the Constitution, the “Fugitive Slave Clause” required states that prohibited slavery to return slaves who escaped to their state upon claim of a slave owner.

            Finally addressing tariffs, the Constitution stated that Congress now has the power to lay and collect taxes, duties and regulate trade with foreign nations and among the states, including tariffs.