A Brilliant SolutionSample Lessons

A Brilliant Solution

Colonial Problems during the government under the Articles of Confederation (from Carol Berkin)

“A Sense of Gloom”

• Colonies were under a sense that there was a darker side to each of the hard won freedoms of the American Revolution; the loss of advantages of British citizenship

The Seas

• American Merchant Marine: no protection in the high seas

• Could not pay the ruler of Tripoli • New England fishermen• Barbary Coast pirates – vicious!

Economic Markets

• Post war depression• Foreclosures, evictions skyrocketed• Each state: currency• Angry debtors asking for money • Chesapeake tobacco planters• Backcountry farmers • States tried to exploit one another

Loss of ability to negotiate with foreign powers and tribes

• British openly defied the terms of Paris Peace Treaty

• Commanders operated as a “agent provocateurs” Spain closed the Port of New Orleans

• No military clout

Low Morale of Congress

• poor attendance• work nearly came to a halt• negativity• Sale of western lands?

Shay’s Rebellion

• Massachusetts farmer rebelled - realization of weakness

• More states were now committed to resolving the problems.

of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

We the People

of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

We the People

COLLECTIVEresponsibility

of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

We the People

SelflessnessTrumps selfInterest—Seeking the common good

of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

We the People

Importance ofMaintainingorder

of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

We the People

Importance ofMaintainingFREEDOM

of the United States, in order to form a more perfect Union, establish justice, insure domestic tranquility, provide for the common defense, promote the general welfare, and secure the blessings of liberty to ourselves and our posterity, do ordain and establish this Constitution for the United States of America.

We the People

ResponsibilityTo futuregenerations

Problem of Representation

• Small States vs Large States

Colony Populations

References

• Center for Civic Education• Dr. Stephen Frantzich, USNA• Carol Berkin, A Brilliant Solution