How Did The Articles Of Confederation Influence The Government
We agree with this statement, as the Articles of Confederation had a major influence on the government that our Founders developed.
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had some successes, one being the ratification of the Northwest Ordinances. These ordinances provide principles that still exist in our government today. In particular, the Northwest Ordinances were the first American document to outlaw slavery. 88 years later, the thirteenth amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery. Additionally, the Northwest Ordinances required territories to have three branches of government, a concept later applied to the Constitution.
Moreover, the Northwest Ordinances required new states to have public education. Apart from the Northwest Ordinances, Congress also created executive departments. These were a precursor to the cabinets, involving military, pecuniary, and diplomatic responsibilities. Furthermore, the Confederation Congress created admiralty courts, the first federal courts. In spite of the achievements of our early congress, our first system of government had many shortcomings.
They created a government that stagnated, due to the states’ inability to compromise. This meant decisions could not be made efficiently. Furthermore, their system of confederate government did not produce a strong nation, but more a loosely tied collection of …show more content…
states. The government’s debts from the Revolutionary War magnified the issue. Congress requested 10 million dollars from the states, yet states did not want to give up money and only 1.5 million dollars were raised. In Federalist Paper 21, Alexander Hamilton wrote, “The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions…” The United States, under the Articles, had little power to enforce decisions.
The lack of funds for the government left America without a military. Shay’s Rebellion revealed this major flaw in the Articles, exemplifying the need for a stronger government. In this system, there was no powerful executive to make urgent decisions. The unicameral legislative body eliminated any checks and balances the Founders established. 9 out of 13 states had to agree for any law to be passed. Additionally, changes to the Articles were almost impossible to make because all 13 states needed to ratify the amendment. Also, 9 out of 13 states had to agree for any law to be passed. At the same time, Congress had the power to make agreements with foreign nations, but no power to make states recognize them. This damaged trade relations with other countries.
Although the Articles had many faults, they also had some redeeming qualities. The Articles provided a framework for our government, helping establish America as an independent nation. While the document failed to create checks and balances, the colonists’ fear of recreating a British monarchy ensured a single tyrannical ruler could not exist. The early Congress had minimal power when compared to that of the states, further ensuring that an oligarchy could not form. The manner in which states were to be represented eventually influenced the Great Compromise, emphasizing a need for a different system of representation.
In the initial Congress, each state was represented by one vote, which did not allow for a state's population to impact its vote in Congress.
Although this major weakness was one of the Articles’ significant flaws, the Articles of Confederation managed to improve representation in the government of today. In the modern government, the House of Representatives allows the population of our nation to be represented, which expands the ‘One Man, One Vote’ principle. The Articles influenced the many improvements of our government throughout history. Without the principles applied, our government would not be what it is
today.
Overall, the Articles of Confederation had many deficiencies, but also had some important benefits. Perhaps most importantly, the insufficient power of the Articles of Confederation helped to lead to the revolutionary nature of the Constitution. These benefits withstood the test of time and still influence our society today.
Under the Articles of Confederation, Congress had some successes, one being the ratification of the Northwest Ordinances. These ordinances provide principles that still exist in our government today. In particular, the Northwest Ordinances were the first American document to outlaw slavery. 88 years later, the thirteenth amendment was ratified, abolishing slavery. Additionally, the Northwest Ordinances required territories to have three branches of government, a concept later applied to the Constitution.
Moreover, the Northwest Ordinances required new states to have public education. Apart from the Northwest Ordinances, Congress also created executive departments. These were a precursor to the cabinets, involving military, pecuniary, and diplomatic responsibilities. Furthermore, the Confederation Congress created admiralty courts, the first federal courts. In spite of the achievements of our early congress, our first system of government had many shortcomings.
They created a government that stagnated, due to the states’ inability to compromise. This meant decisions could not be made efficiently. Furthermore, their system of confederate government did not produce a strong nation, but more a loosely tied collection of …show more content…
states. The government’s debts from the Revolutionary War magnified the issue. Congress requested 10 million dollars from the states, yet states did not want to give up money and only 1.5 million dollars were raised. In Federalist Paper 21, Alexander Hamilton wrote, “The United States, as now composed, have no powers to exact obedience, or punish disobedience to their resolutions…” The United States, under the Articles, had little power to enforce decisions.
The lack of funds for the government left America without a military. Shay’s Rebellion revealed this major flaw in the Articles, exemplifying the need for a stronger government. In this system, there was no powerful executive to make urgent decisions. The unicameral legislative body eliminated any checks and balances the Founders established. 9 out of 13 states had to agree for any law to be passed. Additionally, changes to the Articles were almost impossible to make because all 13 states needed to ratify the amendment. Also, 9 out of 13 states had to agree for any law to be passed. At the same time, Congress had the power to make agreements with foreign nations, but no power to make states recognize them. This damaged trade relations with other countries.
Although the Articles had many faults, they also had some redeeming qualities. The Articles provided a framework for our government, helping establish America as an independent nation. While the document failed to create checks and balances, the colonists’ fear of recreating a British monarchy ensured a single tyrannical ruler could not exist. The early Congress had minimal power when compared to that of the states, further ensuring that an oligarchy could not form. The manner in which states were to be represented eventually influenced the Great Compromise, emphasizing a need for a different system of representation.
In the initial Congress, each state was represented by one vote, which did not allow for a state's population to impact its vote in Congress.
Although this major weakness was one of the Articles’ significant flaws, the Articles of Confederation managed to improve representation in the government of today. In the modern government, the House of Representatives allows the population of our nation to be represented, which expands the ‘One Man, One Vote’ principle. The Articles influenced the many improvements of our government throughout history. Without the principles applied, our government would not be what it is
today.
Overall, the Articles of Confederation had many deficiencies, but also had some important benefits. Perhaps most importantly, the insufficient power of the Articles of Confederation helped to lead to the revolutionary nature of the Constitution. These benefits withstood the test of time and still influence our society today.