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Weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation

Late January, 1787, Daniel Shays led a group of insurrectionists against a Massachusetts state militia. The farmers were unhappy with foreclosure proceedings occurring in the state. The rebellion would be short lived, being halted on February 4, 1787
On February 3, George Washington wrote to Henry Knox, conveying his thoughts on the rebellion “if three years ago any person had told me that at this day, I should see such a formidable rebellion against the laws & constitutions of our own making as now appears I should have thought him a bedlamite - a fit subject for a mad house.” He wrote that if the government “shrinks, or is unable to enforce its laws . . . anarchy & confusion must prevail.” He wrote that if the government “shrinks, or is unable to enforce its laws . . . anarchy & confusion must prevail.”

Soon after, the Constitutional Convention would be called in order to amend the Articles of Confederation.
Gilder Lehrman Institute of American History

Question 1

Short answer
Explain how the Articles of Confederation made the above scenario possible.

Question 2

Short answer
Describe another issue with the Articles of Confederation, aside from those associated with the above scenario, and explain how the Constitution attempted to fix the problem you list.

Question 3

Short answer
James Madison would write extensively about the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and he placed much blame on the national government, however; he also would blame the states. Explain how Madison saw the states as contributors to the downfa

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