Simulation Packet.docx - American History I



Articles of Confederation Simulation Packet

|Powers of Congress |Powers of the State |

|To pass a law or make a decision 9/13 votes are required |States get one vote in Congress |

|To change the Articles of Confederation 13/13 votes are required |States can tax their citizens |

|Congress can declare war |States can create taxes on trade with other states |

|Congress can raise an army |States do not have to follow the orders of Congress |

|Congress cannot tax citizens |States can give money and troops to Congress if they choose |

|Can allow new states with 9/13 vote |States cannot wage war without the agreement of Congress |

New York

Money Available: $1000

Troops Available: 300

State Situation: Currently things are calm. The economy is improving and you believe there is a strong chance you will have more money available from your citizens taxes next year. One problem you have is a section of your state is trying to break away from New York to form a new state called Vermont. This part of the state is threatening to ally itself with Great Britain if you don’t let them form a new state.

Massachusetts

Available Money: - $700

Troops Available: All 300 troops are in use trying to put down a rebellion

State Situation: The situation is not good in Massachusetts. You are in debt and after you raised taxes on citizens a rebellion started. The rebellion is getting out of control and you need help!

Pennsylvania:

Available Money: - $100

Troops Available: 200

State Situation: Your states economy is struggling and it doesn’t look like it will improve in the near future. The government was not able to pay the state militia last month and some of the troops have begun to turn on the government. You will need to either raise taxes on your citizens soon, or tax other states who wish to buy or sell products with Pennsylvania. There have been reports of several protests, but they haven’t turned violent.

New Hampshire:

Available Money: $2000

Troops Available: 500

State Situation: Life is good in New Hampshire. The economy is steady and citizens lives are beginning to return to normal after the war. A lot of your success is due to the fact that your state produces products that other states want, and you have made lots of money by placing taxes on those products.

Rhode Island:

Available Money: $600

Available Troops: 200

State Situation: Your state is out of debt, because you created your own Rhode Island currency to pay it all off. Other states are not happy about this and don’t want to accept your currency when you try to pay for goods. You have further angered bordering states by charging high taxes and tariffs on trade goods. You are concerned about the situation in Massachusetts and worried it may spread to your state if not contained.

Connecticut:

Available Money: $400

Available Troops: 200

State Situation: Your states economy has been stable, but the problems in Massachusetts are starting to spread to your state. Citizens have been inspired by the riots in Massachusetts and they are starting to protest. The citizens want better pay at their jobs and less taxes. You are also unhappy with your neighbor Rhode Island who is imposing high taxes to trade with them and is insisting that you accept the new Rhode Island currency when selling goods.

New Jersey:

Available Money: $500

Available Troops: 50

State Situation: Your state recently put down a rebellion over the lack of jobs available. Things are calm for the moment, but your government is worried that protests could flare up again. Your troop numbers are low because many of them are still working to make sure the streets are calm in your cities.

Delaware:

Available Money: $300

Available Troops: 100

State Situation: Delaware is a small state, and although things are peaceful, your state is having a hard time keeping out of debt because of the high taxes some of the neighboring states are asking you to pay to trade.

Maryland:

Available Money: $1000

Available Troops: 300

State Situation: All is well in Maryland. Neighboring states are angry at you for the high taxes you are charging them to buy your products, but they have no choice because your state has a lot of skilled workers who make products that people need. You currently disagree with Virginia about navigation rights on the Potomac and Pocomoke River.

Virginia:

Available Money: - $200

Available Troops: 200

State Situation: Your state is in debt after rebuilding from the war. It has been hard to get out of debt, because you buy lots of products from Maryland and they charge heavy taxes. You are currently in a disagreement with Maryland over use of the Potomac and Pocomoke River. Your state is peaceful now, but you worry that if the debt continues people may protest.

North Carolina:

Available Money: $600

Available Troops: 200

State Situation: North Carolina is calm and the economy is improving. Citizens are optimistic about the future. South Carolina has been asking you to help them put pressure on Georgia to lower their trading taxes. Native American tribes pose a potential threat on your border, and you worry about them attempting to gain control of western parts of your state.

South Carolina

Available Money: -$500

Available Troops: 300

State Situation: Poor crop harvests have hurt your economy and forced you buy products from Georgia. Georgia is placing high sales taxes on your purchases and it has put your state in debt. You do not have enough money to pay your troops and you are worried they may quit.

Georgia

Available Money: $500

Available Troops: 200

State Situation: Your states economy has been successful because of trade with South Carolina. Without the tax money you are able to rise from that trade your state would be in trouble financially. Native American tribes pose a potential threat on your border, and you worry about them attempting to gain control of western parts of your state.

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Problem #1

Massachusetts is in extreme debt. In order to keep their government operating, they have imposed very high taxes on farmland. Farmers have rebelled against the government and fighting has taken place. Massachusetts has a small state militia (army), but they are losing control of the situation.

They are asking Congress:

-To send troops to help control the situation (9/13 votes required)

-To raise a force of 1000 troops and $2000 (each state decides what to send)

Problem #2

Part of New York under the leadership of Ethan Allen is demanding that they become a new state called Vermont. They are threatening to ally themselves with Great Britain if Congress does not grant them statehood.

Congress must decide:

-Should we allow Vermont to become a state (requires 9/13 votes to become a state)?

Problem #3

Georgia is charging South Carolina merchants extremely high taxes to buy their products. South Carolina farmers are threatening to riot if the South Carolina government cannot convince Georgia to lower its taxes. Georgia says that it must charge high taxes because their economy is doing terribly since the war.

South Carolina is asking Congress to:

Change the Articles to make it illegal for one state to tax another (Requires 13/13 votes).

Discussion Question:

1. Did this system work well for your state? Explain your answer.

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