Problems of the Confederation Congress

 

British refusal to evacuate Northwest Posts

 

Spanish denial of rights of deposit in New Orleans

 

Indian raids on the frontier

 

Barbary pirates seizing American ships

 

Reduced trade with England

 

Inability to pay debts to France

 

Conflicting land claims in the west: General Wilkinson's plan for western secession

 

Merchants hurt the most: excluded from British West Indies

 

Lack of a uniform trade policy gave merchants less ability to respond

 

Some states placed duties on British goods imported through another state: interstate trade wars!!

 

Farmers were unable to pay back debts with hard currency and paper currency was worthless

 

Foreclosures on farmers: Shay's Rebellion

 

These problems led to:

 

Mount Vernon Meeting 1785 (2 states, 2 added later)

Annapolis Convention 1786  (5 states)

Philadelphia Convention 1787