The were adopted in 1781. Under
the Articles of Confederation, each made its own laws,
collected its own taxes, and printed its own money. This left
the central weak and caused many problems. In
1786 , a farmer in Massachusetts, organized
thousands of farmers to protest against taxes. Many of the
farmers were veterans of the , who were owed
money from Congress and could not pay their taxes. A bloody
battle, known as , ensued. were
called out to put down the rebellion and eight men died.
A Plan for New States
In 1787, the was passed and gave the
settlers in the Northwest Territory, which included what is today
the states of Indiana, Ohio, Wisconsin, Michigan, and Illinois,
the same rights as citizens of the 13 states. The ordinance
slavery and required land be set aside for public
schools. A former slave, Richard Allen, started the in 1787.