Articles of Confederation

Articles of Confederation 13c 1977 issue

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Articles of Confederation

The Articles of Confederation and Perpetual Union was the first constitution of the United States of America, ratified by the 13 original states in 1781. It served as the nation's fundamental law until it was replaced by the United States Constitution in 1789. The Articles established a confederation, named "The United States of America," which was essentially a league of sovereign states agreeing to cooperate on matters of mutual concern while retaining their individual sovereignty and independence.

Background

The need for a unified government became apparent to the American colonies during the American Revolutionary War. The Continental Congress, a convention of delegates from the colonies, drafted the Articles in 1777 to formalize this cooperation. However, the Articles were not ratified by all thirteen states until March 1, 1781, when Maryland became the last state to approve them.

Content

The Articles of Confederation comprised 13 articles that outlined the form and function of the national government. Key provisions included:

• Establishing the name of the confederation as "The United States of America."
• Asserting the sovereignty, freedom, and independence of the states.
• Allocating one vote in the Congress of the Confederation to each state, regardless of size.
• Limiting the powers of the central government, with most powers, including taxation and law enforcement, remaining with the states.
• Requiring unanimous consent of all states for any amendments to the Articles.

Weaknesses

The Articles of Confederation had several significant weaknesses:

• The national government lacked the power to tax, relying on voluntary contributions from the states for revenue.
• There was no national executive or judiciary, leading to difficulties in enforcing laws and resolving disputes between states.
• Amendments to the Articles required unanimous consent, making changes difficult to achieve.
• The government had limited authority to regulate commerce, resulting in economic disputes and competition between states.

Impact and Legacy

The weaknesses of the Articles of Confederation led to economic turmoil and interstate conflict, which highlighted the need for a stronger national government. This led to the Constitutional Convention of 1787, where the current United States Constitution was drafted, creating a federal system with a stronger central government.

The Articles of Confederation hold an important place in American history as the nation's first constitution and a stepping stone towards the development of the United States' current system of government.

See Also

• United States Constitution
• Constitutional Convention
• Founding Fathers of the United States