The Articles of Confederation

Question 1

What were the articles of confederation?

Answer 1

They provided the basis for the political system of the newly independent United States. Most agree that they provided weak government and paved the way for the Constitutional Convention of 1787.

Question 2

7 poins

What were the key features of the Articles of Confederation

Answer 2

• Congress to act as a central government, with each state having one vote (regardless of population size).
• Congressmen appointed annually by state legislatures.
• No national executive or judiciary.
• Congress could declare war, raise forces, borrow and print money, conclude treaties, settle inter-state boundry disputes, regulate native American affairs, establish and regulate post offices.
• Treaties and other measures required support from 9 states.
• Articles could only be ammended with support from ALL states.
• Congress had no power to raise taxes, regulate trade or force states to contribute funds.

Question 3

6 points

What were the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation?

Answer 3

• Americans were eager not to create a system that might recreate problems associated with British rule, i.e. a strong central government that could threaten their liberties, impost taxes ect.
• State identity was strong, states were eager to protect their freedoms from the government.
• The Articles were established by the states, not the people. Congress wasn’t directly elected.
• The Articles did not give congress any power over states or indivudials within states.
• Once war ended, the need for cooperation and unity between states declined. States increasingly focused on thier own affairs with congress largly ignored.
• Congress couldn’t raise taxes.