For years James Madison worked avidly to find a solution to the political and economic impasses that plagued America. State constitutions were the law of the land, and the Articles of Confederation that were approved by Congress in November of 1777 did nothing to keep America afloat on the high seas of Independence. .
Although the Articles of Confederation gave extensive powers to the national legislature "the abilities to declare war, make peace, appoint military officers, coin money, etc.""it could not levy taxes nor was there an executive branch. Even though this deliberate weakness created an Achilles' heel that nearly crippled the fledgling nation, it was not pioneered without incentive; Americans had just revolted against the distant power of King George III and longed for a weak federal government, as contrary to British Parliament as they could achieve. The Revolutionists' reasons for rebellion stemmed from the philosophies of John Locke. Locke stated that men enter into society to preserve their life, liberty, and property "and when the government takes away or destroys the life, liberty or property of the people, then they are put into a "state of war with the people, who are thereupon absolved from any farther obedience- against their oppressors. For these reasons, America ha!.
d gone to war to win her freedom, but her current administration was collapsing. Madison was convinced that America's government had to be replaced.
Less than a decade after the approval of the Articles of Confederation, a former captain of the Continental army named Daniel Shays proved the weakness of the United States to deal with internal problems. In western Massachusetts small farmers were deep in debt and when the lower house of the Massachusetts legislature opted to give the poor farmers monies for relief measures, the upper house defeated it. Immediately the poor farmers rallied behind the veteran of the Revolution and in 1786 they closed the county courts to keep their farms from being foreclosed "a clear violation of property according to Locke and cause for a state of war "and attacked the federal arsenal in Springfield.