theCongress because the sale of lands would provide a source of national revenue. In (Doc. F, August 6, 1786), the Spanish wants the United States to give uphighway rights of the Mississippi. The Mississippi was generally a moneyhighway for the United States. The siezing of the Mississippi river wasunnecessary and took away the opportunities of the Americans. However, JohnJay’s negotiation of a trade treaty with Spain was blocked by Congress.The Shay’s Rebellion showed the inablity of the Articles of Confederationto keep maintain things in order to satisfy the citizens. In 1786, farmers withdebts demanded more paper currency, postponement of debt and tax payments,and an end to mortgage foreclosures. In Rhode Island, government issued aflood of paper money. In western Massachusetts rebel farmers led by DanielShays attempted to interrupt the operations of the courts. The rebellion waseasily crushed, but fears of anarchy grew among the wealthy. In a letter fromJohn Jay to George Washingon June 27, 1786 (Doc. G), Jay addresses his fearof the failure of the Confederation and the various uproars. His faith in a newchanged constitution (as well as many other political figures) showed that theprevious Articles of Confederation was a sure failure. Unable to control foreignaffairs, financial problems, and rebellions, the Congress decided to revise theConfederations. In a speech to the South Carolina House of Representatives(Doc. H), Rawlin Lowndes explains the failures of the Confederation and thedemanding of a new and revised government with more central powers and moreregulations on the states. These changes were necessary to the Confederationand the United States to secure justice and organization.Overall, The Articles of Confederation did not provide an effectivegovernment. It did not satisfy the people,unify the states, nor keep the peoplefinancially and economically happy. The Confederation was too weak, while the...
