Articles of Confederation Dbq

The United States government from 1781-1789 used the Articles of Confederation. The Confederation provided a form of national government, legislative branch, and the enlargement of the land to the west. Articles of Confederation were written to create a powerful and a successful government. It was only a dream because they were terribly wrong it caused them to have a very weak government. The articles were weak and would not let this new government become an effective government. The Articles of Confederation failed because it never developed a sturdy central government. They citizens of America did not want a strong central government like they had under George III's control. The Articles of Confederation weakest areas were leadership over states' rights, did not impose taxes, and regulate trade effectively.

The First weak area in the Articles of Confederation was the leadership over states laws. The state governments had most of the power to do what they pleased. In the Articles of Confederation, Article II states "Each state retains its sovereignty, freedom, and impendence." This article is saying each state held supreme authority, rights, and is not dependent on another group. Through this each state would be technically its own country instead of every state working together to become one. Throughout the colonial times people referred themselves as living in a certain colony instead of the American colonies, therefore, during this period of time being separated stuck. There were a quite a few political issues that the Articles had no real power over at the time. Because of this, it caused many of the problems in the government to take full control. Every government needs an executive or judicial branch, and because they did not it caused them to be unsuccessful. Also in Article III of the Articles of Confederation states "The said States hereby severally enter into a firm league of friendship with each other, for their common defense, the security of their liberties, and their mutual and general welfare, binding themselves to assist each other, against all force offered to, or attacks made upon them, or any of them, on account of religion, sovereignty, trade, or any other pretense whatever." So when one state is in trouble the other states will help, but just to set up and learn to be on your own each state had to fend their own selves. An example would be a parent letting their teenager do whatever they want when they turn sixteen, but if something bad happen they will step up and help.

The second weak area the Articles of Confederation had was it didn't impose taxes. Probably the most popular topic throughout the duration of the American Revolution was taxation. Taxes were the reason that brought the colonists to declare their independence from Great Britain. Article VIII states that "the taxes for paying that portion shall be laid and levied by the authority and direction of the legislatures of the several states within the time agreed upon by the United States in congress assembled." Most agreed that taxation was important to support a strong government so it didn't go in debt. However, they also felt like that the power to tax should be powered by the government that represents the people. After the Revolutionary war United States had to borrow money from private suppliers or tax the individual states to