Changes

The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] provided for surveying and dividing territories west of the colonies into towns 6 miles square, and selling 640 acre chunks at public auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted to pay so much money in order to obtain much land, so these chunks were often bought and divided by investors, and then sold to farmers.

The [[Land Ordinance of 1785]] provided for surveying and dividing territories west of the colonies into towns 6 miles square, and selling 640 acre chunks at public auctions for a minimum of $1 per acre.  Almost no one wanted to pay so much money in order to obtain much land, so these chunks were often bought and divided by investors, and then sold to farmers.

The [[Northwest Ordinance of 1787]] was the most important achievement of the Confederation period.  Keep in mind that the "northwest" in 1787 consisted of the territory north of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the [[Great Lakes]].  It is the land that is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (east of the Mississippi River), which was territory located northwest of the 13 colonies.  [[Image:Northwest Territory.jpg|right|thumb|imprecise map of Northwest Territory from the late 1700s]]

The [[Northwest Ordinance of 1787]] was the most important achievement of the Confederation period.  Keep in mind that the "northwest" in 1787 consisted of the territory north of the Ohio River, east of the Mississippi River, and south of the [[Great Lakes]].  It is the land that is now Ohio, Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Wisconsin and Minnesota (east of the Mississippi River), which was territory located northwest of the 13 colonies.  [[Image:Northwest Territory.jpg|right|thumb|imprecise map of the Northwest Territory from the late 1700s]]

The Northwest Ordinance established a way to create no less than three and no more than five new states.  It established a three-stage process based on population for new states to be created and join the Confederation of colonies.  It also specified what type of government the new territories and states must have, a requirement that would later become part of the [[U.S. Constitution]].

The Northwest Ordinance established a way to create no less than three and no more than five new states.  It established a three-stage process based on population for new states to be created and join the Confederation of colonies.  It also specified what type of government the new territories and states must have, a requirement that would later become part of the [[U.S. Constitution]].

==Shays' Rebellion==

==Shays' Rebellion==

Shays' Rebellion was an armed revolt in Massachusetts that lasted from August 1786 until February 1787, demonstrating how weak and inadequate the national government was under the Articles of Confederation.  The cause of the revolt was money.  It was an armed uprising of Massachusetts farmers burdened with high debt.  This was the first of many future clashes between Americans who owed money (debtors) and those who lent money (creditors).  The farmers were angry that they had to pay back their loans in “specie” (gold or silver) rather than cheaper paper money.  Every other state had issued paper money, and the sudden inflation that occurred appealed to the people of Massachusetts.  Little did they know that the money would soon become worthless and lead to a depression.

Shays' Rebellion was an armed revolt in Massachusetts that lasted from August 1786 until February 1787, demonstrating how weak and inadequate the national government was under the Articles of Confederation.  The cause of the revolt was money.  It was an armed uprising of farmers in Massachusetts who were burdened with high debt.  This was the first of many future clashes between Americans who owed money (debtors) and those who lent money (creditors).  The farmers were angry that they had to pay back their loans in "specie" (gold or silver) rather than cheaper paper money.  Every state other than Massachusetts had issued paper money, and the sudden inflation that had occurred in other states would have helped the farmers in Massachusetts by decreasing the value of their loans and increasing the prices of their agricultural products in the stores.  Little did the farmers know that the paper money in other states would soon become worthless and lead to a depression.

The farmers lost their farms when they could not pay their loans, and because of that they lost their right to vote, because at the time only property owners could vote.  They violently took over the town courthouse to prevent any additional court-ordered seizures of their farms.  The Massachusetts governor sent in the militia but there were more farmers in the rebellion then there were in the militia.  Daniel Shays then led 1200 men to Springfield to capture the federal arsenal, but by then there were enough state militiamen to win.  Shays fled to the Vermont area.  Everyone was panicked by this uprising, and a newly elected Massachusetts legislature subsequently enacted some debt relief.

The farmers lost their farms when they could not pay back their loans, and by losing their property they also lost their right to vote, because at the time only property owners could vote.  The farmers took to violence to help themselves.  Specifically, they violently took over the town courthouse to prevent any additional court-ordered seizures of their farms.  The Massachusetts governor sent in the militia but there were more farmers in the rebellion then there were in the militia sent by the governor.  Daniel Shays then led 1200 men to Springfield to capture the federal arsenal, but by then there were enough state militiamen to protect it and defeat Shays.  Shays fled to the Vermont area.  Everyone was panicked by this uprising, and a newly elected Massachusetts legislature subsequently enacted some debt relief for the farmers.

This incident proved to many that a new government was necessary.  In particular, this incident impressed upon George Washington himself that a stronger national government was needed.  Later, when George Washington was president, he personally led a national army to easily put down a similar revolt in Pennsylvania (the Whiskey Rebellion).

This terrifying incident convinced many that a new national government was necessary.  In particular, this rebellion impressed upon George Washington himself that a stronger national government was needed to maintain law and order.  Later, when George Washington was president, he personally led a national army to easily put down a future revolt in Pennsylvania (the Whiskey Rebellion).

==The Constitutional Convention==

==The Constitutional Convention==