3.7 - The Articles of Confederation

Development of State Governments

• Context: As the Revolutionary War progressed, the colonies transitioned into states, each drafting its own constitution to establish governance independent of British rule.

• Features Common to State Constitutions:

  1. List of Rights: Often beginning with a declaration of rights, these documents typically included the right to a jury trial and freedom of religion, establishing protections against state infringement.

  2. Separation of Powers: Reflecting a fear of tyranny, most state constitutions divided government power among legislative, executive, and judicial branches.

  3. Voting and Office-Holding: Voting rights were generally extended to white males with some property, a stipulation based on the belief that property owners had a vested interest in stable governance. Higher property requirements were typically set for those seeking office.

The Articles of Confederation

• Drafting and Ratification:

  • Initial Drafting: Concurrent with the drafting of the Declaration of Independence in 1776, John Dickinson penned the first constitution for the United States, focusing on protecting state powers.

  • Adoption and Ratification: The Articles were adopted by Congress in 1777 and ratified in 1781, after resolving disputes over western land claims, notably with Virginia and New York agreeing to cede their territories to central control.

• Structure and Powers of the National Government:

  • Unicameral Congress: The Articles established a single-body Congress where each state had one vote. Key decisions required a supermajority, and amending the Articles needed unanimous consent.

  • Limited Powers: The national Congress could conduct diplomacy, borrow money, and manage warfare, but it lacked the power to regulate commerce or levy taxes. This meant the government depended on state contributions, which were unreliable and insufficient.

  • Lack of Executive and Judiciary: There was no distinct executive branch or federal judiciary under the Articles, which hindered effective governance and law enforcement.

Challenges and Criticisms

• Inefficacy and Calls for Reform: The government formed under the Articles faced significant operational challenges, notably in finance and interstate relations. This inefficacy prompted figures like Henry Knox and eventually others at the Constitutional Convention to call for a stronger central government.

• Historical Context: The Articles represented a cautious approach to national governance, emerging from the colonies' fears of tyrannical rule similar to what they experienced under British monarchy. This cautious approach led to a weak central government that was soon found to be ineffective in addressing broader national needs.

Accomplishments Under the Articles of Confederation

Despite inherent weaknesses, the government established by the Articles of Confederation achieved several notable successes:

• Victory and Independence: Congress managed to oversee the conclusion of the Revolutionary War, including negotiating favorable terms in the Treaty of Paris which formally ended the conflict.

• Land Ordinance of 1785: Established a systematic method for surveying and selling the western lands, setting aside land in each township for the support of public education.

• Northwest Ordinance of 1787: Created a structured process for the creation of new states within the territory between the Great Lakes and the Ohio River, providing for limited self-government and prohibiting slavery in the region.

Weaknesses of the Articles

Despite these achievements, the Articles of Confederation presented significant challenges that showed the need for a stronger federal government:

• Foreign Affairs: The U.S. struggled with international respect and authority as it could neither enforce treaty provisions nor protect its economic interests against European powers, notably failing to remove British military posts on the western frontier or to ensure British and Spanish respect for American sovereignty.

• Economic Problems: Without the power to tax, the federal government depended on voluntary state contributions, which proved inadequate. This led to severe fiscal problems, including the inability to pay national debts or stabilize the currency, contributing to an economic depression.

• Internal Conflicts: States acted as sovereign entities competing against each other rather than as part of a union, leading to tariffs and trade restrictions that hindered economic unity and growth. Additionally, unresolved boundary disputes exacerbated interstate tensions.

Shays’s Rebellion (1786-1787)

This significant uprising led by Massachusetts farmer Daniel Shays showed the critical weaknesses of the Confederation:

• Causes: Economic distress and harsh fiscal policies, including high taxes and aggressive debt collection, spurred the rebellion.

• Events: Rebels, largely war veterans, protested the economic conditions by stopping tax collections and closing debtors courts. The attempt to seize a federal armory was eventually quashed by state militia.

• Implications: The rebellion showed the inadequacy of the Articles of Confederation in maintaining public order and supporting economic stability, catalyzing calls for a stronger central government.