Articles of Confederation

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Articles of Confederation
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Articles of Confederation

• The articles established a firm league of
  friendship among the states.
• Each state kept its 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.

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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

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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

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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.

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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 congresss
  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 nations 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.

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The 1780s

• The long revolutionary war was over.
• Independence brought the nations 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 anothers goods
• All states had their own currency and didnt
  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?

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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.

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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 didnt 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.