Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation

The thirteen states that banned together in 1776 had begun to experiment with new forms of government. There had been many disagreements on how the nation should be governed. Something more regular and permanant was clearly needed. The government established by the Articles hadn't been a complete failure. However during the 1780's the states faced many problems. These problems caused a threat to the nation's survival and many people began to worry the nation would fall apart. People began to explore new ways to meet the needs of the nation. The stronger central government proposed in the Constitution was essential for the survival of the nation and it allowed the states to become more stable and helped guide the nation.
The first attempt to establish a lasting government came in 1781 when the Articles of Confederation were adopted. From 1781 to 1789 the new nation was governed under the Articles. The Articles reflected the wariness by the states of a strong central goverment. The states were afraid their individual needs would be ignored by a national government with too much power, and the abuses that often result from such power, the Articles purposely established a constitution that vested the largest share of power to the individual states. Under the Articles each of the states retained their sovereignty, freedom and independence. Instead of setting up executive and judicial branches of government, there was a commitee of delegates composed of representatives from each state. These individuals comprised the Congress, a national legislature called for by the Articles. Congress was responsible for conducting foreign affairs, declaring war or peace, maintaining a army and navy and a variety of lesser functions. But the Articles denied Congress the power to collect taxes, regulate interstate commerce and enforce laws (Document C]. In attempting to to limit the power of the central government, the Second Continental Congress created one without sufficient power...

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