Dashboard _ 2024_2025_Okamura_U.S. History 8_2 _ McGraw Hill

As the colonies fought for independence from British rule, there was a need to establish a central government to unify the thirteen states.
In 1777, they adopted the Articles of Confederation as a plan for the national government.

Adopted by the Second Continental Congress in November 1777 as the nation’s first constitution.
Aimed to create a bond of friendship among states for defense and welfare.
- Article III: Emphasized mutual support among the states against external threats.

The government was structured as a weak central authority. Key features included:
- No executive branch: Lack of a president or chief executive.
- No national judiciary: No federal courts to interpret laws.
- Each state retained significant sovereignty, leading to a decentralized government.

Limited powers were conferred to Congress, including:
- Conducting foreign affairs.
- Maintaining armed forces.
- Borrowing money and issuing currency.
Congress could not regulate trade, impose taxes, or force states to comply with laws.

The Articles established a federal structure that proved ineffective, leading to several weaknesses:
- Congress needed approval from nine states to pass laws and all thirteen states to amend articles.
- Inability to raise funds through taxation, depending on state contributions.
- Lack of enforcement power over state laws, causing non-compliance issues.
The financial instability led to economic difficulties, characterized by rampant inflation of currency (Continentals).
Trade conflicts arose, particularly with Britain and Spain, exacerbating the chaos.

Before the Confederation was formed, each state began drafting its own constitution:
- Aimed at limiting the power of governors and ensuring a representative government.
- Most states established bicameral legislatures.
The Articles, in principle, were meant to preserve independence while allowing states to work together for common goals.

Each state had one vote in Congress regardless of population size, leading to tensions, especially among larger states seeking more representation.
Disputes over western land claims created delay in fully adopting the Articles.
Maryland withheld its approval until other states relinquished land claims in the west.

The Confederation government managed to reach some accomplishments:
- Successfully negotiated peace with Britain.
- Established a framework for settling and governing western territories through ordinances.

The Ordinance of 1785 set up a method for surveying and selling western lands into townships, facilitating orderly settlement.
The Northwest Ordinance of 1787 created a policy governing new territories, ensuring processes for statehood and rejecting slavery in new territories.

The Articles of Confederation underscored the challenges of governance in a new nation, revealing the need for a more robust federal system to address issues of finance, representation, and territorial organization.
The weaknesses ultimately led American leaders to realize the necessity of a stronger government, setting the stage for the drafting of the U.S. Constitution.