Articles of Confederation
Articles of Confederation
The articles established a “firm league of
friendship” among the states.
Each state kept it’s sovereign power and
every other power, jurisdiction, and right
not given to congress.
It was more of an alliance of the states
rather than a government of the people.
On March 1, 1781 the Articles were
officially approved.
Structure of the Government
Government under the articles was fairly
simple.
A congress was formed where each state
had one representative.
Each year congress would elected a
president, of the congress NOT the United
States.
No judicial or executive branch was
established
Powers of Congress
Congress had several important powers
Congress could:
Make war and peace
Send and receive ambassadors
Make treaties
Borrow money
Set up a money system
Establish post offices
Build a navy and an army by asking the states for troops
Fix standards for weights and measures
And settle disputes among the states
State Obligations
By agreeing to the articles states promised to do several
things:
– They promised to provide the funds and troops requested by
congress
– Treat citizens from other states fairly and equally
– Give full faith and credit to public acts and laws from other states
– They would surrender fugitives who crossed state lines
– States would submit their differences before congress
– And they would allow for open travel and trade between states.
– The state would retain every other power not explicitly given to
congress including the safety of their people and property.
Weaknesses
At first glance congress appeared to be very powerful under the
Articles
However several key powers were lacking
Congress could not tax.
This meant that they could only raise money by borrowing or asking
the states
– Borrowing was a poor source because there was much debt still left
from the revolution.
– And no state came close to meeting congress’s financial requests even
though the pledged to.
Congress also had no way of regulating trade between the states.
– Basically there was no system set up to support the nation’s early
economy.
Finally congress had no way of forcing the states obey the Articles.
– When congress could enact their powers they had to have the consent
of 9 of the 13 representatives in the congress.
The 1780’s
The long revolutionary war was over.
Independence brought the nation’s economic and political weakness
to the forefront.
The central government was unsupported by the states in almost
every way.
With congress having no power to force them to obey the Articles
states did whatever they wanted.
Several states made agreements with foreign powers
Several raised their own military
States taxes one another’s goods
All states had their own currency and didn’t accept money from
another state.
Economic chaos was everywhere.
George Washington said “We are one nation today and 13
tomorrow. Who will treat with us on such terms?”
Finally Change
Inevitably demand grew for a stronger national
government.
It was Maryland and Virginia that started the ball rolling.
Both were having bitter trade disputes with each other.
Both states ignored congress and set up a conference to
resolve trade disputes.
George Washington invited them to his house on Mount
Vernon.
They were so successful that the Virginia general
assembly called for a joint meeting of all the states to set
up a federal plan to regulate commerce.
Annapolis
The meeting ended up in Annapolis Maryland.
Turnout was poor. Only 5 of the 13 states had delegates
come. Several others were appointed but didn’t show
up.
However Alexander Hamilton and James Madison
managed to convince states to attend another meeting in
Philadelphia.
Eventually 12 of the 13 states sent representatives to the
Philadelphia meeting.
This became known as the constitutional convention.
Here a new form of government would be drafted for the
United States derived from the constitution.