Shays' Rebellion, Jefferson, and Articles Weakness

• These notes cover the weaknesses of the Article of Confederation, Shays Rebellion and the Constitution

Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

• The Articles of Confederation, adopted in 1777, was the first constitution of the United States which established a loose union of the states.
• Under the Articles, the national government had limited powers.
• The national government lacked the authority to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws effectively.
• Most powers were held by individual states.
• The weaknesses led to challenges in governing and maintaining unity among the states.
• Calls for a stronger central government emerged due to these issues.
• The Constitutional Convention of 1787 was eventually prompted to address these problems.
• Congress did not have the power to collect taxes.
• Congress did not have the power to regulate foreign and interstate commerce.
• There was no executive branch to enforce acts passed by Congress.
• There was no national court system or judicial branch.
• Almost every state had its own militia.
• The national government was unable to gather a combined military force.

Shays' Rebellion Timeline

• 1775-1780: Daniel Shays fought in the American Revolution.
• 1780: Shays was summoned to court for unpaid taxes after returning home.
• 1780: Shays and other soldiers couldn't pay the taxes because they were not paid for their military service.
• 1782-1783: Shays joined disorganized protests and demonstrations.
• The protests aimed to prevent tax collectors from doing their jobs.
• 1785: James Bowdoin became governor and began raising taxes and punishing people who hadn't paid their debts.
• 1786: A group of protestors calling themselves "The Regulators" marched on Northampton demanding relief.
• 1786-1787: Protests began, and the governor sent militia to stop the rebellion.
• Many militia members joined the protestors' side so Shays led almost 1,500 others which attacked the federal armory but were pushed back by the state government.
• 1787-1789: The Constitutional Convention was held to create a new government which was partly in response to Shays' Rebellion.
• Shays' Rebellion underscored the need for a stronger federal government to maintain order and stability.

Daniel Gray's Letter Regarding Shays' Rebellion

• The current method of collecting debts is costly, causing hardship due to a lack of cash.
• Funds from taxes and charges are used to pay interest on untaxed government bonds, not foreign debt.
• The suspension of Habeas Corpus means individuals standing up for public rights can be unfairly punished.
• The Riot Act gives too much authority to local officials, which can lead to personal grudges being acted upon.
• Habeas Corpus is a law requiring those arrested to be brought before a judge or court.
• Justices of the Peace hear minor cases, perform marriages, and grant licenses.

Thomas Jefferson on Shays' Rebellion

• Thomas Jefferson was the U.S. Ambassador to France during Shays' Rebellion.
• Jefferson believed that periodic rebellions are necessary to preserve liberties.
• According to him, one rebellion per 150 years per state isn't excessive.
• Rulers should be warned to preserve the spirit of resistance among the people.
• Rebellion is a way for people to preserve the spirit of resistance.
• To end rebellion, authorities should present facts to pardon and pacify the rebels.
• Jefferson downplayed the significance of a few lives lost.
• The tree of liberty requires the blood of patriots and tyrants as natural fertilizer.

The Three-Fifths Compromise

• The Three-Fifths Compromise was reached at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
• It was an agreement between Northern and Southern states on how enslaved individuals would be counted for representation and taxation.
• Each enslaved person would be counted as three-fifths of a person.
• It increased the political power of slaveholding states in the House of Representatives.
• It also underscored the deep divisions over slavery in the early United States.
• The source acknowledges the importance of using more humanizing terms like "enslaved people" instead of "slave."

Representation: Virginia Plan vs. New Jersey Plan

• The Virginia Plan and New Jersey Plan were two proposals presented at the Constitutional Convention of 1787.
• The Virginia Plan proposed a bicameral legislature with representation based on population, favoring larger states.
• The New Jersey Plan advocated for equal representation in a unicameral legislature, supporting smaller states.
• The Great Compromise combined elements from both plans.
• The Great Compromise established a bicameral Congress having the House of Representatives based on population.
• The Great Compromise established a bicameral Congress having the Senate with equal representation for each state.
• The Virginia Plan proposed that the national government can legislate for states and veto state laws.
• The New Jersey Plan's national government would provide defense but not override state authority.

Federalists vs. Anti-Federalists

• Federalists wanted a strong central government and weak state governments.
• Federalists felt the Constitution was sufficient to protect individual rights, drawing major support from large urban areas.
• Key Federalist supporters: Benjamin Franklin, Alexander Hamilton, George Washington.
• Anti-Federalists wanted power in the states and not the federal government.
• Anti-Federalists supported the Articles of Confederation and believed the Constitution did not adequately protect individual rights.
• Anti-Federalists had major support mainly from rural areas.
• Key Anti-Federalist supporters: Thomas Jefferson John Hancock, Patrick Henry, George Mason.

Thomas Jefferson's Letter to James Madison

• Thomas Jefferson, an Anti-Federalist, wrote this letter to James Madison, who was also an Anti-Federalist.
• In the letter, Jefferson argued that everyone deserves a bill of rights against any government.
• Jefferson stated that his views applied to both general and specific rights.
• The delegates discussed whether a Bill of Rights should be added to the Constitution at the time the letter was written.