Analyze how and why the government was set up under the Articles of Confederation
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The government under the Articles of Confederation was set up with the aim of creating a weak central government that would primarily serve as a coordinator between the thirteen individual states. This was largely due to the fear of establishing a strong central authority, which they had just experienced under British rule.
One of the main goals of the Articles of Confederation was to prevent the abuse of power that had occurred under British rule. As a result, the central government was deliberately designed to be weak. The Confederation Congress, the central governing body, consisted of one representative from each state, and each state had only one vote, regardless of its population or size. This equal representation ensured that the larger states did not overpower the smaller ones.
The central government had limited powers under the Articles of Confederation. It could declare war, conduct foreign affairs, establish a postal service, and negotiate treaties, but it had no power to enforce laws or collect taxes. It relied on voluntary contributions from the states to fund its operations, which often led to financial instability and an inability to pay off war debts.
The Articles of Confederation also established a process for the admission of new states into the union, indicating a desire to expand the country's territory. However, it did not provide a mechanism for amending the Articles themselves, requiring unanimous consent from all thirteen states to make any changes. This made the government inflexible and hindered its ability to address issues and respond to changing circumstances.
The weaknesses of the government under the Articles of Confederation became evident over time. There was a lack of unity and coordination among the states, and the central government was unable to effectively address economic issues, regulate trade, or provide for the common defense. This led to economic problems, such as inflation and the inability to pay off war debts, and highlighted the need for a stronger central government.
Ultimately, the weaknesses of the government under the Articles of Confederation led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the current United States Constitution was drafted and ratified. The new Constitution aimed to create a stronger central government with separate branches, a system of checks and balances, and the power to tax and regulate trade, while still protecting individual rights and preventing the abuse of power.
The government under the Articles of Confederation was established in the following manner:
1. Background: The Articles of Confederation were written in 1777 and adopted in 1781, serving as the first constitution of the United States. This was during the American Revolutionary War period when the Thirteen Colonies declared their independence from Britain.
2. Formation of a Confederation: The states realized the need for a central authority to coordinate their efforts during the war, leading to the establishment of a confederation. The states would retain their independence, but the central government would have limited powers.
3. Structure: The government under the Articles of Confederation had a unicameral legislature called the Continental Congress, where each state had one vote, regardless of size or population.
4. Scope of Powers: The central government had limited powers, mainly consisting of conducting foreign affairs, declaring war, and managing relations with Native American tribes. It had no power to tax, regulate trade, or enforce laws.
5. Relevance of States: Each state could appoint its own delegates to Congress and had the authority to conduct its own affairs, such as collecting taxes and maintaining militia forces. This arrangement reflected the unwillingness to create a strong central authority due to fears of repeating British tyranny.
6. Weaknesses: The government under the Articles of Confederation had several weaknesses, including the inability to enforce laws, settle disputes between states, maintain a strong military, or address economic issues effectively. These shortcomings revealed the need for a stronger central government.
To summarize, the government under the Articles of Confederation was established to provide a central authority during the Revolutionary War period. However, it had limited powers and relied heavily on the states. The resulting weaknesses eventually led to the creation of a stronger central government through the United States Constitution.
Under the Articles of Confederation, the government was established as a decentralized structure with limited powers. Here's an analysis of how and why it was set up this way:
1. How the government was set up:
- Structure: The government created a unicameral legislature, known as the Confederation Congress, which consisted of delegates from each state. Each state had one vote, regardless of its population.
- Limited powers: The government had very limited powers. It could declare war, negotiate treaties, settle disputes between states, and manage relations with Native American tribes. However, it lacked the ability to levy taxes, regulate trade, or enforce its laws.
- No executive or judicial branch: There was no separate executive branch to carry out the laws or enforce them, nor a judicial branch to interpret laws or settle disputes.
2. Why the government was set up this way:
- Fear of tyranny: The Founding Fathers, having fought against British tyranny, were deeply concerned about creating a strong central government that could potentially abuse its powers. They wanted to ensure that no single authority could become too powerful or oppress the states or the people.
- Desire to protect state sovereignty: After gaining independence from Britain, the states were reluctant to relinquish their sovereignty completely and were more willing to cooperate on a voluntary basis.
- Weak central authority: The Articles of Confederation established a weak central government intentionally, as many states were wary of transferring too much power to a centralized entity. The intention was to maintain the independence and autonomy of the individual states.
However, the weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation soon became apparent as the government struggled to address critical issues such as economic instability, interstate conflicts, and the inability to levy taxes. These challenges eventually led to the Constitutional Convention and the drafting of the United States Constitution, which created a stronger centralized government in 1787.