A surgical instrument, comprising an articulatable end effector that is selectively articulatable about an articulation axis. The end effector comprises first and second jaws wherein the second jaw is pivotable relative to the first jaw about a pivot axis by an axially movable closure member. One of the first and second jaws supports a fastener cartridge that defines a proximal most fastener location therein. A first distance between the pivot axis and an area of camming contact between a closure member cam surface on the closure member and a jaw cam surface on one of the first and second jaws divided by a second distance from the articulation axis to the proximal most fastener location is less than 0.5.