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THE SAHYS' REBELLION
The postwar depression affected the most farmers, who fell into debt and could lose their farms. Due to this situation, a small band of Massachusetts farmers rebelled. This band was captained by Daniel Shays, who attacked courthouses to avoid judges from locking up farms. Massachusetts legislature asked Congress for help, but Congress had no soldiers and no money to offer. This problem showed how weak was the Confederation Congress and highlighted the need to revise the Articles of Confederation -
PHILADELPHIA MEETING
Alexander Hamilton called on states to send delegates to debate commerce and many affairs essential to adequate Articles of Confederations to the union needs. -
THE NORTHWEST ORDINANCE
The ordinance established a plan for settling the Northwest Territory, which included the lands that had delayed retification of the Articles. The ordinance gave the power to admit new states to the Union. It banned slavery in the territory and included a bill of rights that guaranteed several freedoms, like representative government, religious freedom and trial by jury.
