The Articles of Confederation were the first constitution of the United States, adopted by the Second Continental Congress in 1777 and approved by all 13 states in 1781.
The Articles of Confederation established a loose union of states in which the central government wielded minimal power and local governments retained the majority of their independence.
The government was constituted of a single legislative body, the Continental Congress, which had the capacity to make decisions on behalf of the states but lacked the authority to carry them out.
The Articles also established a diplomatic system with foreign nations and Indian tribes, a currency and coinage system, and a military alliance structure among states.
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The Articles of Confederation provided frameworks for lot’s of different things such as trade and negotiating disputes but what it ultimately lacked was any serious way to enforce any of it’s rules or decisions.
Despite the strengths of the Articles of Confederation they were inadequate in dealing with the nation’s evolving economic and political difficulties, leading their replacement with the current United States Constitution in 1787.
What Were the Problems of the Articles of Confederation?
1. The central government under the Articles of Confederation had limited power and authority
Under the Articles of Confederation, the central government had limited power and jurisdiction, making it difficult for the government to successfully rule the nation.
The government was unable to enact and enforce laws, regulate business, or collect taxes. This resulted in issues such as economic insecurity, anarchy, and difficulties in protecting the country from external attacks.
The absence of a strong central administration also made it difficult for the country to respond to changing demands and address challenges that occurred as the country grew and expanded.
2. The Articles of Confederation had no power to regulate commerce between the states
Under the Articles of Confederation, the federal government lacked the authority to control interstate commerce, resulting in economic instability and confusion.
Without the capacity to regulate commerce, the government was unable to create a stable economic environment or address concerns like trade imbalances and state protectionism.
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Businesses found it impossible to function, while citizens found it difficult to exchange products and services. Furthermore, without the capacity to control trade, the government was unable to mediate disputes between states, adding to economic insecurity.
This was one of the reasons the Articles of Confederation were repealed in favor of the United States Constitution, which gave the federal government the authority to regulate commerce.
3. The government under the Articles of Confederation had no power to enforce its laws
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government lacked the authority to enforce its laws, making it difficult for the government to maintain order and safeguard citizens’ rights.
The government was unable to maintain order and protect citizens from crime and other forms of anarchy without the authority to enforce laws. In certain locations, notably in the western territories, this resulted in lawlessness and chaos.
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Furthermore, the government was unable to safeguard the country from external dangers like as invasion and piracy since it lacked the authority to execute laws.
This was one of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were repealed in favor of the United States Constitution, which gave the federal government the authority to execute its laws and preserve order.
4. The government under the Articles of Confederation had no power to raise an army or navy
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government lacked the authority to organize an army or navy, making it difficult for the government to defend the country from external attacks.
The Articles of Confederation only permitted the establishment of a “well-regulated militia,” not a standing army. Furthermore, because the central government lacked the ability to tax, it had no way of funding the military. As a result, the administration found it impossible to safeguard the country from invasions, piracy, and other foreign dangers.
This was one of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were replaced by the United States Constitution, which gave the federal government the authority to organize an army and navy, as well as to tax to fund the military.
5. Under the Articles of Confederation had no power to negotiate treaties, trade agreements, or alliances with other countries
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government had no authority to negotiate treaties, trade treaties, or alliances with other countries, making it impossible for the government to protect the nation’s interests in the international arena.
The government also lacked the authority to regulate foreign trade. This made it difficult for the administration to settle conflicts with other countries and preserve the country’s interests in international forums.
This was one of the reasons that the Articles of Confederation were repealed and replaced by the United States Constitution, which gave the federal government the authority to negotiate treaties, trade agreements, and alliances with other countries, as well as the authority to regulate foreign trade.
6. The Government had no Authority to Manage the Currency
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government had no authority to manage the currency, resulting in economic instability and confusion.
Each state was permitted to produce and issue its own currency, which resulted in a lack of standardization and made it difficult for businesses to operate and residents to exchange goods and services.
Furthermore, the lack of a centralized authority to govern money led to inflation and devaluation in some states, contributing to economic instability.
This was one of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were repealed and replaced with the United States Constitution, which gave the federal government the authority to regulate the currency and maintain a stable monetary system.
7. The government had no authority to administer the western regions
The government had no authority to administer the western regions under the Articles of Confederation, which resulted in land disputes between states and Indian tribes.
The government had no authority to regulate the sale or settlement of western regions, and it had no authority to deal with the Indian tribes who lived in these territory. This resulted in competing claims and disputes over property ownership among states, as well as clashes with Indian tribes living in these lands.
This was one of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were replaced by the United States Constitution, which gave the federal government authority over the western regions, as well as the authority to sign treaties and deal with Indian tribes.
8. Under the Articles of Confederation the Government did not have an executive official or a judicial branch.
Under the Articles of Confederation, there was no executive or judicial branch of government. The government was controlled by the Continental Congress, a unicameral legislature made up of delegates from each state.
The Congress had the authority to enact laws but not to enforce them. This made it impossible for the government to maintain order and protect citizens’ rights.
Furthermore, the government’s inability to enact legislation, make treaties, and engage with foreign countries was hampered by the absence of an executive official. The absence of a judicial branch made it impossible for the government to handle conflicts and defend residents’ rights.
This was one of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were repealed in favor of the United States Constitution, which established an executive department led by the President and a judicial branch with the authority to interpret laws and settle disputes.
9. The Confederation government could not assist in settling Revolutionary War-era debts
Under the Articles of Confederation, the Confederation government could not assist in settling Revolutionary War-era debts.
Because the government lacked the authority to collect taxes, it had no way of repaying the debts acquired during the Revolutionary War.
This caused economic instability and the government’s inability to pay its bills, resulting in the government’s inability to borrow money. Furthermore, this resulted in states amassing significant sums of debt, exacerbating the economic instability.
This was one of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were repealed and replaced by the United States Constitution, which gave the federal government the authority to collect taxes and regulate commerce, allowing it to pay off its obligations and stabilize the economy.
10. Under the Articles of Confederation, each state had only one vote in Congress, regardless of its size or population.
According to the Articles of Confederation, each state had only one vote in Congress, regardless of population or size.
This meant that minor states had the same authority in Congress as major states, resulting in a lack of representation for the larger states.
This was one of the reasons why the Articles of Confederation were repealed in favor of the United States Constitution, which established a bicameral government with the House of Representatives (representation based on population) and the Senate (each state had two representatives).
This resulted in a more equitable and representative administration, as well as a bigger say in the workings of the government for the larger states.