Chapter IV

DRIFTING TOWARD ANARCHY. The barbarous superstitions of the Middle Ages concerning trade were still rife in the eighteenth century 134 The old theory of the uses of a colony 135 Pitt's unsuccessful attempt to secure free trade between Great Britain and the United States 136 Ship-building in New England 137 British navigation acts and orders in council directed against American commerce 138 John Adams tried in vain to negotiate a commercial treaty with Great Britain 139, 140 And could see no escape from the difficulties except in systematic reprisal 141 But any such reprisal was impracticable, for the several states imposed conflicting duties 142 Attempts to give Congress the power of regulating commerce were unsuccessful 143, 144 And the several states began to make commercial war upon one another 145 Attempts of New York to oppress New Jersey and Connecticut 146 Retaliatory measures of the two latter states 147 The quarrel between Connecticut and Pennsylvania over the possession of the valley of Wyoming 148–150 The quarrel between New York and New Hampshire over the possession of the Green Mountains 151–153 Failure of American diplomacy because European states could not tell whether they were dealing with one nation or with thirteen 154, 155 Failure of American credit; John Adams begging in Holland 156, 157 The Barbary pirates 158 American citizens kidnapped and sold into slavery 159 Lord Sheffield's outrageous pamphlet 160 Tripoli's demand for blackmail 161 Congress unable to protect American citizens 162 Financial distress after the Revolutionary War 163, 164 State of the coinage 165 Cost of the war in money 166 Robert Morris and his immense services 167 The craze for paper money 168 Agitation in the southern and middle states 169–171 Distress in New England 172 Imprisonment for debt 173 Rag-money victorious in Rhode Island; the "Know Ye" measures 174–176 Rag-money defeated in Massachusetts; the Shays insurrection 177–181 The insurrection suppressed by state troops 182 Conduct of the neighbouring states 183 The rebels pardoned 184 Timidity of Congress 185, 186