or support one another. Congress had no power to regulate either
foreign or domestic commerce, each state being free to control the
commercial activities of its citizens as it saw fit In many cases the
states engaged in trade wars, that is, they levied heavy duties upon
the commerce of one another, or even refused to allow their citizens
to buy goods from, or sell goods to, persons in neighboring states.
Matters calling for unity of action and friendly coöperation, such as
roads and canals, were ignored or neglected because of interstate
jealousy. Whereas they should have united against the grave dangers of
the period immediately following the war, the states often wasted time
and energy in controversy and strife.

26. FAILURE OF THE CONFEDERATION GOVERNMENT.--The Confederation
government, established in 1781, functioned weakly during the
remaining two years of the war, and then declined rapidly in power and
influence. The defects of the Articles could not be remedied, for
amendment was by unanimous consent only, and on every occasion that an
amendment was proposed, one or more states refused their assent.

According to John Fiske, the five years following the peace of 1783
constituted the most critical period in the history of the American
people. Business was demoralized. Most of the states were issuing
worthless paper money, and several of them passed laws impairing the
obligation of contracts. In a movement known as Shay's Rebellion
(1786-1787), a portion of the debtor class of Massachusetts attempted
to prevent the collection of debts. Paper money depreciated so greatly
that in many places it ceased to pass as currency. The central
government could not raise money to meet its ordinary expenses, and in
1783 Congress was forced to flee Philadelphia to escape the wrath of
some eighty Pennsylvania soldiers whom it could not pay.