In June 1783, the Congress under the Articles of Confederation was meeting in the then-capital
of the United States, Philadelphia at Independence Hall. That month, Congress received a
message from soldiers of the Continental Army who were stationed in Philadelphia. The message
demanded that the soldiers be paid for their service during the American Revolutionary War. The
letter closed with an ominous warning that soldiers would take action if their complaints were
not addressed by Congress. Days later, the soldiers were joined by 80 more frustrated troops who
marched from 60 miles away to protest for their wages.
The next morning, with Congress in session, Independence Hall was mobbed by 400 soldiers
demanding payment. Congress, led by Alexander Hamilton, asked the state of Pennsylvania to
send a militia to protect the federal government from the angry soldiers. The state of
Pennsylvania denied the request, which forced the Congress to flee across the Delaware River to
Princeton, New Jersey.
(A) Explain how the scenario above highlights a key weakness in the Articles of
Confederation.
(B) Explain how the weakness you described in Part A was addressed by the U.S.
Constitution.
(C) Explain why the Articles of Confederation vested power mostly with states.
(D) Explain how the scenario above is similar to the events of Shays's Rebellion.
