Articles of Confederation Overview

Study Notes

Articles of Confederation Overview

First written agreement and constitution of the United States.
Established a framework for governance post-Independence.

Strengths

Granted Congress authority to manage foreign affairs, including declaring war and forming alliances.
Allowed for the creation of new states with populations exceeding 60,000.
Enabled Congress to establish key departments: Treasury, Postal Service, and Foreign Affairs.
Empowered Congress to handle Native Indian affairs.
Encouraged inter-state cooperation and dispute resolution among states.

Weaknesses

Each state received one vote regardless of its population size, leading to unequal representation.
Absence of national courts hindered the enforcement of laws and resolution of disputes.
Lacked power to regulate inter-state commerce, resulting in varied state-imposed trade taxes.
National government had no authority to levy taxes; relied solely on state contributions for revenue.
Congress could not enforce laws or taxation, leading to widespread disregard for its mandates.
No national military forces were established, leaving the country vulnerable.
Absence of a president contributed to a lack of strong, centralized leadership.
Different states issued their own paper money, complicating financial transactions.
Inability to gather funds for responses to border encroachments limited federal actions.
Any amendments required unanimous consent from all states, causing delays in necessary changes.
Overall state power overshadowed the weak central government authority.

Important Policies and Events

Land Ordinance of 1785: Provided a systematic method for selling and distributing land in the Northwest Territory to generate federal revenue.
Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Established guidelines for territories to transition into states, promoting orderly expansion.
Shays' Rebellion: Demonstrated the ineffectiveness and weakness of the Articles, highlighting the urgent need for a stronger federal government.

Description

Explore the Articles of Confederation, the first constitution of the United States that established a framework for governance after Independence. Discover its strengths, such as foreign affairs management and state creation, as well as its weaknesses, including unequal representation and lack of tax authority.