Why The Articles Of Confederation Failed

Quinn 9/22
How The Articles of Confederation failed
The Articles of Confederation was a document stating the laws of early America. This essay will state how and why they failed. The Articles failing led to a better document, so it worked in the end. John Dickinson was the writer of these articles, with the help of 12 other congress members. It was a good start to a great nation. “The Stile of this Confederacy shall be: The United States of America.”
The Articles of Confederation failed for many reasons, Finances are one of them. The States only had state taxes. This means that states could refuse to give money to the Federal government. There were 14 different currencies among America, which lead to some weird trading and payments. These currencies included coins, crops, land, and many other things.
There were some iffy laws about war and
fighting in the Articles of Confederation. States only had militias, and there was no federal army to fight against an official war against, say, Britain if they attacked. To have war against another country, 9 out of 13 states must agree to it. War can be for good, so if 5 or more states say “No, we won’t go to war.” That is an issue if war was needed. States were not able to join with each other as one, no matter what their intentions. This was to protect the nation’s safety, in case they use their bond to attack each other. The only exception was when the Congress fully approved of the states joining. “Every state shall abide by the determination of the United States in Congress assembled, on all questions which by this confederation are submitted to them. And the Articles of this Confederation shall be inviolably observed by every State, and the Union shall be perpetual; nor shall any alteration at any time hereafter be made in any of them; unless such alteration be agreed to in a congress of the United States, and be afterwards confirmed by the legislatures of every state.”

Government was an issue in the early States.
Delegates were appointed annually, one for each state. These delegates met yearly to discuss the Nation’s laws and issues. There wasn’t a president, so there were different people every year for each state. Of the 13 states, 9 of 13 states must agree to change laws or introduce a single currency. “Whenever any Form of Government becomes destructive of these ends, it is the right of the people to abolish or alter it, and to institute new Government, laying its foundation on such principles and organizing its powers in such form, as to them shall seem most likely to effect their Safety and Happiness”
All in all, these reasons are why the Articles of Confederation failed. Every flaw, every rule. They led to a better, brighter future for the United States of America. The United States moved on and forward, progressing throughout the world, becoming a better and more stable nation. All of this was added onto from the Articles of Confederation. “There is no place better than America.” - Thomas Paine
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