Preview

Articles Of Confederation Dbq Analysis

Good Essays
Open Document
Open Document
477 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Articles Of Confederation Dbq Analysis
DBQ: The Articles of Confederation The Articles of Confederation had no power to regulate the economy nor could they demand the payment of taxes. However, they provided some sense of unity among the colonies. They also helped to expand American territory and they were a stepping stone that led to the development of the Constitution of the United States of America. Therefore, the Articles of Confederation provided the early United States with an effective government. The unity the Articles of Confederation provided helped America’s solidarity. The Articles of Confederation helped to create a cohesive union which made it easier to make agreements with other countries. John Jay directed his minister to give England a series of requests, asking …show more content…
The United States learned how colonies should not be treated thanks to England, so this Ordinance would solve that problem. Not only would money from the sale of western lands benefit the government, but these areas could eventually become states and increase the size of the United States (Doc. E). John Jay even remarked to congress how "the adjacent country was filling fast with people", (Doc. F).
The Articles of Confederation were a significant stepping stone toward the Constitution. They were filled with weaknesses which resulted in protests like Shay’s Rebellion. But according to John Jay, “A state of fluctuation and uncertainty must disgust and alarm such men, and prepare their minds for almost any change that may promise them quiet and security”, (Doc. G). The Articles did not provide Congress with much authority, and Joseph Jones noted how slow and unable Congress was to make payments and decisions (Doc. C). These things would eventually direct the leaders of the United States to go back to the table and develop a better and more efficient document to lead the

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    Although the Articles of Confederation provided a working government for the United States, it was not necessarily an effectively working government; an effective government would be one that not only establishes control and authority, but one under which the nation flourishes. Certainly the Articles set down a basic government with the idea of a democratic republic. However, the Articles of Confederation didn't impose an effective government as much as it set the basis for one. It was unable to enforce many laws and many of those set were also unequal in operation, as unfair to some states as fair to others. Thus, from 1781 to 1789, the Articles of Confederation established a working, yet ineffective government, with very little control or authority over foreign relations, the economy, and western lands.…

    • 927 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    They also stated that Congress would become independent of their constitutes (Document A). In addition, the Articles of Confederation did not grant the central government the power to regulate taxes. Instead taxation was left to the individual states. Under The Articles of Confederation the government could not levy taxes which added to a huge economic problem.…

    • 440 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Regarding structure, the Articles of Confederation, or simply Articles, were relatively ‘bare-bones’ when compared to the complex constitutions and declarations of government other countries had. It laid out a simple and ultimately primitive government: the power of the government was to lie solely in Congress, a group of delegates from all states. It was to be Congress and only Congress to create laws and run most of the government. This concept did not work well in practice: Congress, the only branch of the government, was weak and unable to bring about policy change for the country. First, all amendments to the Articles required a unanimous vote of all thirteen states - something that was quite rare - and even the simplest of national laws required a two-thirds majority to be established. This became a major issue. As a new country, a lot of issues were going to come forth to Congress, and due to the bureaucratic rules that were in place, it was difficult for a treaty or policy to be approved. Furthermore, the Articles did…

    • 2437 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation created a one-house legislature as the Confederation's main institution, making the government a unicameral system of government. In addition, Congress could settle conflicts among the states, issue coins, borrow money, and make treaties with other countries and with Native Americans. Congress could also ask the states for money and soldiers.…

    • 1340 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    With intentions of creating a united nation, colonial leaders developed the Articles of Confederation. Although the Articles of Confederation helped lead the United States to the creation of the Constitution, it did not provide for an effective government from 1781 to 1787, do to its lack of power to control commerce and impose taxes, the failure to amalgamate its people as a country, and its inability to enforce laws.…

    • 837 Words
    • 4 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation was the first American constitution completed by the Continental Congress in 1777. The Articles of Confederation created a “firm league of friendship” between all 13 states. Each state agreed to send delegates to the Confederation Congress where each state will cast one vote in Congress. Under the Articles Congress had no possession over trade or passing laws regarding taxes. However, Congress can declare war, appoint military officers, coin money, and foreign affairs. Unfortunately, there were some downsides to the Articles of Confederation that people from all 13 states did not agree with or argued about it such things as alliance, passing laws, courts, money, and trade. (Davidson, 189)…

    • 396 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation had many flaws within it; it made the States more independent but the federal government have very limited control. They weren't allowed to make trade treaties, or allowed to tax which resulted in them not being able to pay their debts. The Constitution was made to tighten up the Articles and set a standard within the States. “ All legislative Powers herein granted shall be vested in a Congress of the United States, which shall consist of a Senate and a House of Representatives.” (A-3) This is what caused a change, and tightened up the government. The government had 3 branches now, each with its own responsibilities and neither was more powerful than the other. The legislative had the power to create a new currency…

    • 193 Words
    • 1 Page
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Although it provided an outline to how future government should be formed, The Articles of Confederation did not provide America with an effective government from 1781 to 1789. Nicknamed “The Articles of Confusion”, The Articles of Confederation lacked stability and the power to truly govern the states. Under the articles there was no executive branch and no way for the federal government to raise money.…

    • 392 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    During the American Revolution the French needed some security before they would ally themselves with the Colonists, and thus the Articles of Confederation was created. Between 1781 and 1789 the United States used the Articles of Confederation as a guide to governing the country. With that came the questioning of whether or not the Articles of Confederation was an effective form of government. An effective form of government requires the ability to rule productively, have beneficial relationships with other countries, and do what is best for the people it governs. Although the Articles of Confederation gave states their sovereignty and had productive means of governing territory, overall it did not provide an effective form of government on account of the domestic issues and foreign policy problems.…

    • 1317 Words
    • 6 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Due to fear of a strong central government, the Continental Congress began drafting the Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union, our first Constitution of the United States, in June 1776. By November 1777 the final draft of the Articles was completed, by March 1781 all 13 states had ratified it, establishing a government of the states, known as the Congress of the Confederation. Under the Articles the national central government was limited, and depended on the consent of the States. Because of the limitations under the Articles, the government lacked the power to “maintain peace and order in the new nation” (Schmidt/Shelley/Bardes 30). Needing to address the weaknesses of the Articles, the Congress of the Confederation called for…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation were meant to give the United States a loose, weak central government, making the Articles ineffective. With the Articles of Confederation, the United States was unable to support soldiers due to the inabilities of Congress. The United States was also unable to remove British trading posts from their home soil. The weakest states, who were not influential and least populous, had power over those that were strong and heavily populated. Also, the United States did not financially thrive between the years of 1781-1789. By 1789, citizens of the United States started to become weary because of the weak central government. The United States was unable to flourish and to unite under the Articles of Confederation.…

    • 905 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    The Articles of Confederation were well written, especially considering the fact that the U.S.A. was a brand-new country and had no knowledge whatsoever on how to run a country. Though they were good, the articles didn't provide America with a very effective government. Since the people were afraid of a centralized government that would become too powerful, they decided to move most issues to a state level, rather than a national one. This is problematic because of it's economic effects, and because of the effects on politics and the limitations of the federal governments.…

    • 681 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    The Continental Congress wrote the Articles of Confederation during the Revolutionary War. The articles were written to give the colonies an idea of a unified government. The Articles of Confederation was the first constitution of the United States and specified how the Federal government was to operate. The government under the Articles of Confederation has been considered a failure. It is evident that the Articles of Confederation had a negative impact on the colonies. Many problems began to arise due to some of the laws in the Confederation. One of the major weaknesses was how it limited the national government's power and Congress' control over the citizens in the states. Next, the…

    • 498 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Between 1781 and 1789, the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an ineffective government, Although there were flaws, strong steps were taken in the attempt to try and make the United States a better country. The Articles set up a government that gave individual states the power to make their own laws and enforce them. This was ineffective for the following reasons: 1) The Continental Congress controlled public affairs but there was nothing in the Articles that gave Congress the power to enforce laws or unify the states. 2) There was no solid system of money to ensure that taxes would be paid or protect commerce, both nationally and with foreign trade. 3) The country lacked unity and strength because there was no leadership.…

    • 672 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    “From 1781 to 1789 the Articles of Confederation provided the United States with an effective government." During those years the United States government was still developing and the Articles of Confederation was not an effective form of government. The states had a strong objection against the Articles of Confederation. The Articles of Confederation was not a government well suited for this new country. The United States needed power over the states to make it a better place to live and have separate states with different laws.…

    • 405 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays