Preview

Why Are The Articles Of Confederation Weak

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
651 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Why Are The Articles Of Confederation Weak
From 1781 to 1789 the Articles of Confederation failed to provide the United States with an effective government. It acted as though a loose confederation, or “firm league of friendship.” The Articles of Confederation created a weak central government that linked the thirteen states in common problems such as foreign affairs, and a judicial arm. Although, there was no executive branch, which meant no leader to enforce laws. Also, the Congress was weak (it was designed that way), and therefore the government could merely advocate and appeal. The United States faced two main problems: the lack of the central government’s power, and its inability to collect and/or create revenue. Each state was in fact not very coherent with the central government.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Satisfactory Essays

    Haley Mason US History I Honors DBQ Between 1781 and 1789 the United States used the Articles of Confederation as a guide to governing the country. Due to fear of a powerful monarchy like the one they had experienced in England the colonies were wary of allowing a central government certain powers. These certain powers included control of commerce, and the ability to tax. While the Articles provided a confederation to unify the new country, the Articles were only a temporary solution due to the weakness in several areas. Even though the Articles of Confederation was the first established government to run the United States, it failed to be effective.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    While the Articles of Confederation unified the American colonies for the first time, the individual states had a hard time allowing a central government to solely control their territory. Due to fear of an all powerful monarchy like the one they had experienced in England the colonies were wary of allowing a central government certain powers. These certain powers included control of commerce, ability to tax, and even the ability to act directly upon individual citizens of a state. While the Articles provided a loose confederation to unify the new country, they were only a temporary solution due to their obvious weaknesses in several areas. The Articles of Confederation were essentially ineffective in their ruling over the newly formed 13 states.…

    • 793 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation of 1781 produced the first endeavor of government structure. This attempt of forming a national and state government failed. Some of the issues that transpired from the constitution include: Each state only had one vote in Congress, regardless of state size; Congress did not have the powers to tax or regulate foreign or interstate commerce; There was not a recognized national court system or executive branch to enforce acts passed by Congress; While amendments to the Constitution required a unanimous vote, the passing of a law required a 9/13 vote. The lack of involvement of the national government allowed states to become self-governing and sovereign. States printed their own money that only had value within that territory which created a hindrance in trade and in turn produced an unstable economy. The national government having no enforcing authority and the United States of America was in a state of chaos. This generated an out lash from individuals.…

    • 780 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although it provided an outline to how future government should be formed, The Articles of Confederation did not provide America with an effective government from 1781 to 1789. Nicknamed “The Articles of Confusion”, The Articles of Confederation lacked stability and the power to truly govern the states. Under the articles there was no executive branch and no way for the federal government to raise money.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The central government was also unable to defend american interets in foreign affairs. without a chief executive or a standing army, and with the states holding a veto power over the actions of the central goverment, the confederation lacked the capacity to reach bind agreements with other nations.…

    • 697 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “From 1781 to 1789 the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an effective government." During those years the United States government was still developing and the Articles of Confederation was not an effective form of government. The states had a strong objection against the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation was not a government well suited for this new country. The United States needed power over the states to make it a better place to live and have separate states with different laws.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    Under the control of the Articles of Confederation, the central government was weak. Congress was a unicameral legislature that made laws. There were no executive or judiciary branches. Some of the weaknesses included that Congress can't pass laws unless nine states supported it, the Articles could not be amended unless all thirteen states approved it, Congress could not collect taxes, and they also could not raise an army. The seventh article states "When land forces are raised by any state, for the common defense, all officers of or under the rank of colonel, shall be appointed by the legislature of each state respectively by whom such forces shall be raised, or in such manner as such state shall direct, and all vacancies shall be filled…

    • 261 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Even though the Articles of Confederation did have some achievements like bringing peace and unity, they were more ineffective than effective for providing a stable government for the United States. The Articles of Confederation were ineffective for these reasons. First, The Articles of Confederation did not allow Congress to impose a tax, so this prevented the new nation of the United States of America to have a strong economic system. Second, The Articles of Confederation prevented the Chief Executive (President) from having any power and thus also having no military. Lastly, The Articles of Confederation didn’t allow the United States to have very good foreign relations with any foreign nation since we were viewed as weak.…

    • 888 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The weak central government that existed under the Articles of Confederation were the main problems that led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787. The Articles created a confederation of independent states, not a nation. The Constitution is different, the balance of power fell under the authority the federal…

    • 49 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    morgan overcomes

    • 293 Words
    • 1 Page

    From 1781 to 1788, the government of the U.S. was based on the Articles of Confederation. Congress, as defined by this early document, wasn't strong enough to prevent the 13 states from acting independently. Each state had its own government and could make its own laws. Each could coin its own money and arm its own soldiers. The states competed with one another for business and trade. They were like 13 separate nations rather than one. Congress couldn't raise taxes, borrow money, issue national money, control trade between states or with foreign nations, raise armies, or establish post offices. Most important, it couldn't settle quarrels between states. The new nation was divided…

    • 293 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    In the Articles of Confederation the writers made it to where the state governments had great power and the federal government was weak. After some years people began to see the weaknesses and decided to make a change. One of the weak points in United States' first constitution was commerce regulation. There was no provision to control interstate or foreign trades. Congress could only regulate trade and business with Native Americans, and sometimes they could not even do that.…

    • 265 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    I agreed with your post this week given the fact that we took an almost identical way of describing and pointing out the weakness of the Articles of Confederation. An aspect that you covered by I missed was the issues of states not paying federal taxes. Without taxes being made it would not allowing funding for the government to function and create institutions necessary for a the states and country to survive. Yes, a huge part of the colonies reason to gaining their independence was British unfair taxes but the value that taxes had financial was missed. In cases of fear and angry we tend to make rational decision by way of irrational behavior and thought. This is not to say the colonies actions were irrational but just to acknowledge…

    • 154 Words
    • 1 Page
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation were very ineffective because it didn’t give the Federal government enough power, they couldn’t enact tariffs and each state did what was in the best interest of its own state not what was best for the country as a whole. The Articles of Confederation was more of a league of friendship than an actual government. The mere fact that it took four years to ratify should have warned the country of its shortcomings. It was very difficult to amend the Articles because a unanimous vote from each state. Under the Articles of Confederation, there wasn’t even a national currency.…

    • 422 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The weak and reactionary Articles of Confederation failed to adequately address the rights of colonies; each state had diverse needs that were not being represented in the government. The Articles were drafted in fear that a tyrannical government would emerge after the Revolution, but they were too powerless to enforce taxation. These issues were rectified by the Constitution’s strong centralized government.…

    • 714 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation gave the states the right to govern themselves, all laws were made by states, all taxes went to states, etc. This would keep the states from reaching a point of representation and unity. While the US did have a central government, most of the control was in the state government, and most of the states did not have much representation in the central government. The states regardless of size, had only 1 vote in the central government. To sum up, the Articles were a disaster for representative-hungry…

    • 533 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays