The Articles Of Confederation Essay, Research Paper
As the Revolutionary War came to a close, the Continental Congress introduced a
new form of government as it instituted the Articles of Confederation. The articles
established a democratic government that granted the states sufficient power to control
their own laws and regulations. However, the Articles of Confederation were ineffective
and, hence; they failed to provide a strong government. During this time in an American
history, often known as the “Critical Period”, regionalism and anarchism began to expand
as a result of the following reasons. The Continental Congress controlled public affairs,
but the Articles of Confederation neglected to grant the Congress power to enforce laws
or unify the States. Under the Articles, the United States lacked a solid monetary system
to ensure that taxes would be paid and to protect commerce, both nationally and foreign
trade. Also, without leading national figure, the strong unity America gained during the
Revolutionary War began to diminish along with the nations overall strength.
Being that Congress had only the power to recommend actions to the states, the
Articles were incompetent. Law and recommendations could not be further enforced
by Congress. Each state obtained its own form of a constitution, monetary system and
method to enforce the laws. Each state committed strongly to the state laws and self
interests rather than to the recommendations of Congress. America’s sense of unity
began to plummet as regionalism pitted one state against another. For example, Rhode
Island voted to reject Congress’s recommendation of an impost on imported goods
because its leaders felt the idea objected the state’s constitution. (Document A)
Also, the Articles neglected to provide a solid and adequate monetary system to
ensure that taxes would be paid and to protect commerce. Congress was unable to collect
taxes that were established to pay pre-war debts. This yielded a period of chaos and
anarchism, as unpaid soldiers marched on to Philadelphia, and consequently,
Congress was forced to flee to Princeton, New Jersey.(Document C) The states
individually controlled their monetary system rather than one central and national
monetary system. Hence, one state’s currency was invalid after it crossed its state’s
borders. Therefore, Americans were forced to introduce the barter system within the
states. As a result, during this era economic progression and growth became stagnate
despite the increase in population growth. (Document B) Also, self interest of the states
and individuals produced additional problems. For example, John Jay attempted to create
a treaty with Great Britain that would have paid off war debts, but would have also been
tragic to American merchants. “You will represent in strong terms the losses which
many of our and also of their merchants will sustain if the former be unseasonably and
immoderately pressed for the payment of debts contracted before the war.” (Document
D)
The Articles of Confederation also began to cause the unified nation to divide.
Without a present leader or court system, unification lacked significantly. New land
territories were claimed by individual states rather than the nation as a whole. As
borders became inconsistent, a negative effect was added to the loyalty of citizens along
with the economy of each area. (Document E) Without a national court system, laws and
regulations to protect the nation could not be established or enforced. Also, without a
president, the nation lacked a leading figure to look to during this “Critical Period”. A
president was also needed to take a stand against enemies of the United States. Foreign
powers could have easily overthrown the American government. For example, Britain
still maintained posts within the United States’ boundaries, and the Spain also controlled
the lower half of the Mississippi River. “Many fruitless arguments passed between us;
and tho’ he would admit that the only any thing to complain of; yet he would still insist
that the Mississippi must be shut against us….”(Document F) Congress was unable to
act to gain the use of the Mississippi, and it could only negotiate a treaty with Spain, but
it was ineffective.
During this “Critical Period”, the Articles of Confederation failed to provide the
United States with an effective and powerful government. The American sense of
unification began to dissolve compared to the colonists’ attitudes during the
Revolutionary War. The states were divided separately into one nation, rather than
unified into one nation. Each state, with its own interests, currency, and government
debilitated economic progression. Congress had no authority to enforce
recommendations, or to unify the states. Without the presence of a president or national
court system, it became impossible to make necessary changes within the nation. If this
young nation was to survive, the Articles of Confederation needed to be altered or
replaced.