US History: Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation was the first governing document for the newly formed United States.

The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government, with most power residing in the states. It was designed to prevent a strong central authority like the monarchy they had just overthrown.

Maryland's approval hinged on the western territory being held by the national government, not individual states. This ensured that the land would be accessible for the benefit of all thirteen states.

A republic is a form of government where power rests with the people, who elect representatives to govern for them.

A confederation is a union of independent states that cooperate and share some power, but retain significant autonomy.

The Founding Fathers were wary of a powerful central government because they had just fought a war against one. They chose a confederation to keep power decentralized and protect individual liberties.

The founders were concerned that a strong central government could become too powerful and overbearing, infringing on citizens' freedom.

The Articles of Confederation established a government that could not collect taxes effectively, regulate trade, or enforce laws consistently. This ultimately led to instability and financial strain for the newly formed nation.

The first governing document of the United States, adopted in 1781. It created a weak central government with limited power and favored state sovereignty.

The Articles of Confederation established a central government with very limited powers, primarily focused on national defense and dealing with foreign affairs.

The Articles of Confederation gave each state one vote in Congress, regardless of its size or population.

The Articles of Confederation lacked a strong executive branch, meaning there was no president or single leader to enforce the laws.

The Articles of Confederation lacked a national judiciary to settle disputes between states, leading to conflicts.

The Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent from all thirteen states to amend the document, making it very difficult to change.

The Articles of Confederation were ultimately deemed ineffective due to their inability to address national economic issues and enforce laws effectively.

The Articles of Confederation's emphasis on state sovereignty and limited central power ultimately led to its failure as a governing document.

The inability of the national government to impose taxes on its citizens, resulting in financial instability and difficulty fulfilling national obligations.

The Articles of Confederation granted only state governments the authority to collect taxes, leaving the national government reliant on voluntary contributions from the states. This led to significant financial issues for the national government.

The national government’s inability to raise sufficient funds resulted in a lack of resources to settle debts from the Revolutionary War and protect American interests, leading to issues in foreign relations.

The inability to tax citizens and the resulting financial instability made the national government’s currency, the Continental, virtually worthless and people were reluctant to use it.

The Articles of Confederation enabled both the national and state governments to mint currency, leading to the issuance of various state banknotes, which caused confusion and further economic instability.

The national government’s inability to impose tariffs on foreign imports resulted in British goods flooding the American market, harming American producers.

States often levied tariffs on goods from other states, hindering interstate trade and contributing to economic instability.

The national government’s lack of power to raise a military force made it difficult to defend American ships from attacks by the Barbary pirates and effectively respond to foreign threats.

The inability of the national government under the Articles of Confederation to collect taxes directly from citizens, making it reliant on state contributions, which were often unreliable.

Under the Articles of Confederation, the government lacked the authority to regulate trade between states or with foreign nations, leading to economic instability and disputes.

The Articles of Confederation did not grant the national government the power to raise a standing army, making it vulnerable to foreign threats and internal unrest.

The Articles of Confederation gave each state one vote in Congress, regardless of population, leading to an imbalance of representation and power.

The Articles of Confederation required unanimous consent from all states to amend the document, making it difficult to address issues or adapt to changing circumstances.

The Articles of Confederation lacked a national judicial system to settle disputes between states or enforce federal laws, leading to a fragmented legal system.

Shays' Rebellion, an uprising of Massachusetts farmers protesting economic hardship, highlighted the weakness of the national government under the Articles of Confederation.

A union of independent states that cooperate and share some power, but retain significant autonomy.

A form of government where power rests with the people, who elect representatives to govern for them.

Daniel Shays, a veteran of the American Revolutionary War, led a group of farmers in protesting high taxes and debt in Massachusetts. They demanded relief from these burdens.

The protesters in Shays' Rebellion were angered by the high taxes imposed by the state government. They viewed these taxes as unfair and burdensome, particularly as they were in debt from the Revolutionary War.

The rebellion ultimately failed, as the protestors were outnumbered and outgunned by a privately funded militia. However, this event revealed the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation and prompted calls for a stronger national government.

Shays' Rebellion demonstrated the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation. It could not effectively respond to the crisis. The event underscored the need for a stronger national government with more authority.